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Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

economist.com

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Re: Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

#21

Post by seanp2k2 »

archagon wrote: post #7

I’ve taken Megabus from LA to SF (for like $20) and it’s one of the most beautiful routes I’ve ever been on, especially from the observation seats on the second floor. Just miles and miles of rolling, golden hills. Sleeping through it seems like a waste.

The 5 is horribly boring once you've done it a couple of times. It also smells very badly (like cow blood + poop) for a long stretch. Hot, dry, high winds, farms on both sides, just 2 lanes, cops around, many semis...

Door to door, driving is the same as the airport, but having a car in LA is nice given the lack of public transit (Bay Area too).

Re: Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

#22

Post by cvsh »

dopeboy wrote: post #17

I make this commute pretty often (albeit to Orange County, not LA) and I've been following these guys for awhile. I was under the impression their price would be a lot less than a flight. Their price roundtrip is $230. A roundtrip flight from SF to LA usually runs $160-$350 depending on how far in advance you book it. Taking the $350 ceiling - is a $120 savings enough to justify a ~6 hour difference? It's still a gre…

It also potentially eliminates the need for 1-2 nights of hotel rooms. Depending on your travel situation, that might be more convenient.

Re: Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

#23

Post by cwilson »

clamprecht wrote: post #4

"The drivers intentionally go slowly and take back roads so that the trip, normally six hours, lasts eight." Why not just get there 2 hours early, park, and sit for 2 hours. This would (1) reduce vehicle motion, so you can sleep better, and (2) allow people who aren't asleep anyway to get out early if they want. It may also save gas, although once buses are electric, this becomes less of a factor.

I've taken quite a few overnight buses during a 6 month trip through South America. Even when paying for the luxury option (which is literally $10-$15 more, totally worth it) and having fully reclining comfortable seats, it all comes down to one thing, the drivers.

If the drivers are maximizing for time you're not going to sleep very well because they are driving like a maniac. Sudden halts, near misses, and sharp corners make for a particularly terrifying experience when you're attempting to sleep.

The fact that this endeavor is focusing on drivers that go slow is 100% a positive for me and I would now consider trying it.

This is an issue that really just exists with overnight buses, as trains don't make sudden stops and they are not competing with other trains for a lane.

Re: Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

#24

Post by chrischen »

sixQuarks wrote: post #19

I'd be too worried about a tired driver causing an accident while I'm in a "sleeping pod" with no seatbelts, and potentially ramming head first into a wall. Honestly, I would consider this with a self-driving bus when the time comes. For now, I know human nature too well to assume that all drivers had a nice rest and can easily stay up 3rd shift fully alert.

They could have done this as reclining seat overnight buses like they already have in the rest of the world.

Also, buses have a large mass so collisions aren't that bad. That's why school buses don't need seat belts.

Re: Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

#25

Post by lulu_rowe »

While I think the sleeper bus is an interesting niche offering, I can't help but wonder: why would anyone in their right mind want to travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles? The other way round, I can totally understand. But intentionally going to one of the world's least appealing cities is beyond my ken.

Re: Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

#26

Post by marquis_wyman »

There's something similar in Russia with trains. Minsk, Moscow and St Petersburg form a triangle with about 8 hours of train time between each. A colleague based in Minsk used to do week long trips with with only a night or two in a hotel. I seem to recall that there were many trains to Moscow from St Petersburg leaving between 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM.

Re: Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

#27

Post by SOLAR_FIELDS »

mschuster91 wrote: post #20
FTA wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amtrak offers this with "roomettes" all the way up to 4-person rooms, though whether it's an overnight or a day trip depends on your origin and destination (for example, Chicago to Dallas is an overnight). You mention that Germany had eliminated all but the profitable ones--well, the U.S. government loses money on these routes to keep them running even in spite of the high prices. I'd usually pay $800 roundtrip for C…

> I'd usually pay $800 roundtrip for CHI->DAL; By car (and Google Maps measuring) that's about 3.000km total. Hamburg-Munich is about 1.500km total, so half the distance. But ÖBB Nightjet tickets start for ~160€ to 250€ roundtrip, about half the price and Amtrak is losing money? How is that even possible?

Probably because the trains never fill up.

Re: Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

#28

Post by ricky_kutch »

It would be a great business between Sydney and Melbourne or Sydney and Brisbane. When I was on secondment from London in Sydney I would often drive to Melbourne. By the time I added up arising early, 45 minute taco ride to airport, check in, clearing security, having brekkie then the flight, and massive taxi queue plus 45 min ride into Melbourne it was less than 1hr difference. I was comfortable, could stop and eat, see countryside on roads with little traffic it was a joy!

Re: Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

#29

Post by chrischen »

mschuster91 wrote: post #20
FTA wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amtrak offers this with "roomettes" all the way up to 4-person rooms, though whether it's an overnight or a day trip depends on your origin and destination (for example, Chicago to Dallas is an overnight). You mention that Germany had eliminated all but the profitable ones--well, the U.S. government loses money on these routes to keep them running even in spite of the high prices. I'd usually pay $800 roundtrip for C…

> I'd usually pay $800 roundtrip for CHI->DAL; By car (and Google Maps measuring) that's about 3.000km total. Hamburg-Munich is about 1.500km total, so half the distance. But ÖBB Nightjet tickets start for ~160€ to 250€ roundtrip, about half the price and Amtrak is losing money? How is that even possible?

They're losing money because that's a ridiculously expensive price and people looking to just get from point A to B would not pay that.

Re: Why an eight-hour bus ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco might beat a flight

#30

Post by ecollier »

The time comparison is larger than you think - you still have to get to the boarding point of the bus and get to your final destination when you arrive on the other side. Given that you arrive at your destination just in time for rush hour traffic, this may be significant
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