I Tried Vonlane for the First Time. Is it Better Than Flying?

For a recent trip to Austin, Texas, I splurged on a round-trip bus ticket on Vonlane. I had already experienced a first-class trip on RedCoach, so I was curious how this “Elevated Regional Bus Transportation for Discerning Travelers” on Vonlane would compare.

Booking Vonlane

I booked my bus ticket on Vonlane from Plano, Texas to Austin for $129 each way. A similar route from Frisco to Austin on RedCoach first class bus was $53. However, I wanted to experience the amenities of Vonlane, including the onboard attendant that RedCoach doesn’t have. Plus, the times were more convenient for my trip.

The bus stop is at the Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West in far north Plano and a convenient ride from my house. The bus began boarding 15 minutes prior to departure.

Vonlane Onboard Experience

The leather seats are almost identical to the seats I had on RedCoach (see my prior post here) with a 1 X 2 row configuration.

The seats all have power and USB outlets, lights and fan controls, tray table, water bottle and a leg rest. I was able to fit my backpack under the leg rest.

After a safety video, the bus attendant came around with some amenities including eye masks, ear plugs, tissues, Tylenol, etc.

Full list of amenities available:

Note that the safety video requested everyone use their “library voices” and keep phone calls to a minimum.

The attendant then came around offering pillows, blankets and laptop desks. I requested a blanket, and I learned my seat back to start the ride to Austin. On the ride home, the service was a bit different. The attendant didn’t come around with the amenities, but she brought them on request. Your mileage may vary.

Soon, the attendant came around with the snack basket and took our drink and lunch orders. She offered us snacks 3 times during the ride:

I chose a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich for lunch, and it tasted fresh. On the ride home, I had a chicken salad sandwich:

I was hoping to avoid the bathroom, since bus and train bathrooms are usually gross. But I did use it once, and I was surprised by the size and cleanliness of it:

The attendant appeared to clean it after each use.

We hit some traffic on I-35 on the way to Austin, so we arrived about 15 minutes past our schedule. However, on the way back to Plano, we arrived 15 minutes early.

As we unloaded the bus, the attendant offered us mints. And no tips are accepted by Vonlane employees!

Vonlane vs. RedCoach vs. Flying vs. Driving Own Car

I really enjoyed my experience on Vonlane. Even though the seat was the same as RedCoach, I felt pampered with the attendant and the extra amenities.

The main differences between Vonlane and RedCoach (first-class bus):

• Vonlane has a dedicated attendant (RedCoach only has a driver)
• Vonlane offers free food, drinks, blankets, etc.
• Vonlane has a nicer onboard bathroom
• Vonlane is more expensive than RedCoach

Vonlane vs. Flying:

• Bus travel takes more actual travel time, but you can arrive closer to departure time without security checks and lines at airport
• Vonlane seats are more comfortable than airplane coach seats and have more amenities
• For some people, the motion of bus travel is not conducive to reading (I’m one of those people who can’t read on a car or bus but I can read on a plane)
• Bus travel is not subject to airport delays (like weather, crew time out), but is subject to traffic jams.
• You can utilize airline miles for free flights, but currently, you can’t book Vonlane through credit card travel portals. You can, however, use Capital One miles to erase a Vonlane purchase from your statement.
• Bus travel has a lower carbon footprint compared to flying

Why not just drive?

In many places, driving your own car is more practical because you’ll need it once you get to your destination. In my case, the bus unloaded close to my friend’s house, and I didn’t need my own car after I arrived. But I also enjoyed being able to sleep and watch shows during the ride, which I can’t do if I’m driving myself. And of course, I didn’t have to stress about the highway traffic.

Have you been on a Vonlane bus?