I tried 2 luxury bus services in New York City and Texas and saw how they’re revamping the intercity motorcoach industry

When you think of an intercity bus ride, you probably don’t think of business class service with complimentary drinks, comfortable seats, and hot hand towels.

Over the last several years, new companies looking to dispel the stereotype of uncomfortable long-haul bus rides have popped up across the US …

… turning stifling motorcoach rides into “private jets on wheels” with meals, booze, and even motion-canceling seats.

And so far, it seems like this luxury bus concept has resonated with travelers around the US.

In 2014, Alex Danza founded Vonlane, a luxury motorcoach service that operates between major Texas cities. At the time, it was an “almost nonexistent” industry, Danza told Insider in March.

Since then, companies like Rapid Overland Express and the Jet have popped up, capitalizing on this niche but growing segment of luxury travel.

I’ve taken both the Jet and Vonlane in the past several months and I now understand how the companies are giving motorcoach travel a new luxury reputation.

I’m not one to enjoy long bus rides, but my trips with the motorcoach companies were two of the most comfortable travel experiences I’ve ever had …

… and I’ve since endorsed travel by (luxury) bus to plenty of my friends, a recommendation I previously never thought I would make.

Of course, the Jet and Vonlane aren’t your typical budget bus rides.

The Jet operates exclusively between New York City and Washington DC, while Vonlane runs throughout major Texas cities with plans to expand to Tennessee and Georgia.

Source: Insider

But don’t expect a cheap $20 bus ticket. Tickets start at $99 for the Jet and $109 for Vonlane, which is double to quintuple the price of a Megabus or Greyhound ticket on the same route.

Source: Insider, Insider

This may seem like a hefty fee to pay when there are alternatives like passenger aircrafts and Amtrak, but the two motorcoach companies are offering more services and amenities than any planes, trains, and budget buses I’ve been on.

“I was never very happy with what I saw on the inside of a motorcoach,” Danza said. “It was almost worse than a commercial aircraft.”

Unlike many popular budget bus companies, Vonlane and the Jet don’t board inside crowded bus terminals, saving passengers the time it takes to navigate the large corridors of a bus station.

Instead, Vonlane picks up and drops off its passengers at hotels, while the Jet starts and stops on the side of centrally located streets.

Best of all, there are no uncomfortable fabric seats and cramped rows of people inside either of the luxury motorcoaches.

Both have distanced rows of single and double seats, a win for travelers who hate being sandwiched into middle seats just to have no available armrests.

The seats are also more plush, and it felt like I was being enveloped with soft leather while traveling with both Vonlane and the Jet.

I took the Jet from New York City to Washington DC in early January and Vonlane from Dallas to Austin, Texas in late February.

I was on the road for hours at a time, but the comfortable seats saved me from feeling cramped and uncomfortable.

When my seats were reclined and the footrests were engaged, it felt like I was sitting on a comfortable lounge chair or a movie theater seat at an expensive boutique cinema.

The Jet even uses Bose-developed suspension technology to make its seats motion-canceling.

These “hoverseats” block out the small bumps in the road, although I could still feel the swaying motions of the bus.

Vonlane didn’t have this futuristic capability, but the plush sides of its seats still made the bus ride as comfortable as the Jet’s. I didn’t find myself missing the suspension technology as much as I thought I would.

Both buses also had clean bathrooms …

… strong WiFi, and plenty of accessible outlets near my seat. It was the perfect setup for working remotely or scrolling on social media for hours at a time.

Sure, comfortable seats are nice. But in my opinion, the service and complimentary offerings are the Jet and Vonlane’s best assets.

Passengers on both carriers have their pick of snacks like granola bars, chips, nuts, and crackers and beverages like coffee, teas, and sodas.

Alcohol is complimentary on the Jet, although Vonlane riders have to pay between $6 to $8 for beer, wine, or spirits.

But unlike the Jet, Vonlane offers mid-service meals, which include a list of different sandwiches and salads.

My sweet croissant sandwich was big enough for two meals and curbed my hunger during the three-and-a-half hours on the Texas road. It was a nice touch that contrasted long-haul flights without the discomfort of, well, long-haul flights.

Besides a meal, Vonlane also offers a list of additional items and services like pillows, Advil, sleeping eye masks, a coat closet, toothbrushes, noise-canceling headphones, and a hot hand towel near the end of the motorcoach ride.

Source: Vonlane

I didn’t take advantage of many of these items but knowing I had the option to was luxurious enough for me.

And unlike budget buses, Vonlane and the Jet have an attendant that’s in charge of passing out food, drinks, and the complimentary items.

The attendants also check in the passengers at the start of the journey and intermittently walk through the bus mid-ride to make sure everyone’s comfortable and happy.

Source: Vonlane

I’ve never seen an attendant outside of passenger flights but their attentiveness made the bus ride feel like a private jet.

The Vonlane attendant was one of the kindest and friendliest attendants I’ve ever met, and her warm Texas charm instantly made me feel at ease. Her affability, the included meal, and the complimentary items were Vonlane’s strongest suits.

The Jet’s attendant was also friendly and quick to accommodate guests, but in my opinion, the coach’s motion canceling seats were its biggest draw.

The kind workers, plush seating, easy boarding process, and complimentary goodies all make Vonlane and the Jet standout from any traditional motorcoach service I’ve taken …

… and made the travel experiences feel more luxurious and comfortable than any mode of transportation I’ve used before.

Traveling by bus may be slower than by plane, train, or private car …

… but the stress-free boarding process and ability to mentally unplug during the entire trip made the longer travel times worth it.

And I’m not the only one that’s been wooed by their kept promises of first-class service.

Leisure travelers have been flocking to Vonlane and the Jet throughout the past several months.

Vonlane was primarily used by corporate travelers until COVID-19 decimated the business travel segment.

It has since shifted its schedule to include more weekend routes in a bid to attract leisure travelers. And so far, customers are responding positively.

Vonlane’s customers are now about 70% leisure and 30% corporate travelers, which was reversed before COVID-19.

Source: Insider

Similarly, the Jet has been angling for leisure travelers since its conception late last year. And it’s already proven the success of its New York and Washington, DC route: The Jet is now seeing fully booked coaches.

“We’re taking what has become a discount way to travel and making it the single nicest way to travel,” Chad Scarborough, the Jet’s founder and CEO, told Insider in 2021. “We’re not just a nice bus, we’re a more luxurious experience than the first class on the Acela and Delta shuttle.”