I took Vonlane, a luxury motorcoach company that operates between major Texas cities, from Dallas to Austin.
The $109 bus ride was comfortable and filled with complimentary WiFi, foods, and beverages.
The plush seats, steady WiFi, and great service made it feel like a business class flight.
Why take a personal car when you can take a bus.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Unless you're a public transit enthusiast, you might not hear that very often.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But when the bus run by Vonlane, I bet you'd be more inclined to agree.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Vonlane is a luxury intercity motorcoach service that operates between major Lone Star State cities for $109.
Brittany Chang/Insider
This ticket price can be double, maybe even quadruple, the price of your typical Megabus or Greyhound ticket …
Two Megabus buses in New York in 2012.
Hyungwon Kang/Reuters
… but that's because Vonlane isn't your average discount bus service.
Brittany Chang/Insider
"I was never very happy with what I saw on the inside of a motorcoach," Alex Danza, founder and CEO of the company, told Insider. "It was almost worse than a commercial aircraft."
Brittany Chang/Insider
On Vonlane, there are no crowded rows, slow Wifi, or uncomfortable fabric seats that are often associated with budget motorcoach companies.
A Greyhound bus in Texas in 2021.
Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters
Instead, picture plush leather seats, complimentary snacks, and a friendly attendant. A sort of "private jet on wheels," according to the company.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The Texas-based company isn't the only bus service targeting the luxury segment.
But unlike Vonlane, which was founded much earlier in 2014, the Jet only operates between Washington, DC and New York City.
The Jet on a cold January morning.
And the two companies service different markets and target customers.
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Vonlane picks up and drops off its passengers at hotels in Texas cities like Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio …
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…as well as a stop in Oklahoma City …
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… providing Texans an alternative to Amtrak, budget bus services, and personal cars.
Brittany Chang/Insider
"We've got a really good position in Texas. We're very defendable" Danza said, citing Vonlane's "robust" schedule.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The company is now also exploring routes outside of Texas, including plans to begin services between Nashville and Atlanta this year.
Brittany Chang/Insider
After the Nashville and Atlanta launch, it'll potentially begin a route between Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And while the Jet targets leisure travelers, Vonlane's biggest customer base before the COVID-19 pandemic was business travelers, a once steady repeat customer base, Danza said.
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Before Vonlane, most Texans either drove themselves or flew between cities, an "exhausting endeavor" for busy business travelers, Danza said.
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But unlike flying, Vonlane doesn't have any long security lines, boarding wait times, and slow WFi, saving travelers hours in their day.
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However, the once-reliable business traveler base became practically nonexistent overnight with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Vonlane was forced to cut back its schedules.
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In an attempt to supplement this slow-to-recover segment, the company has begun targeting leisure travelers by offering more weekend routes.
Brittany Chang/Insider
At the start of the pandemic, Vonlane's customers were approximately 70% business and 30% leisure travelers. Now, that's been flipped.
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Regardless, Vonlane's services and amenities could appeal to any traveler.
Brittany Chang/Insider
I decided to try the service from Dallas to Austin, Texas, and my ride's driver Marvin and coach attendant Liz were two of the friendliest and warmest people I met on my Texas trip.
Brittany Chang/Insider
I was so comfortable, it felt like my nearly three-and-a-half hours on the road went by in a flash.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Think of Vonlane as a business class plane ride on wheels, albeit much slower.
Brittany Chang/Insider
There's even a safety video at the start of the ride reminiscent of the ones played on airplanes.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Vonlane also has an onboard attendant that functions similarly to a flight attendant …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… a clean, well-sized bathroom …
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… complimentary snacks, beverages, and, on select rides, meals …
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… and stable WiFi that was strong enough for me to feed my TikTok addiction.
Brittany Chang/Insider
There were also plenty of outlets right by my seat.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Liz was the point person for all things amenities and services related: She checked the passengers in, passed out snacks and beverages, and patiently fielded every question.
Brittany Chang/Insider
She was chipper and accommodating throughout the entire journey, and checked up on the passengers more than most flight attendants do.
Brittany Chang/Insider
She even asked to hang my coat in the closet for me, a luxury I've never experienced on a motorcoach.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The bus is separated by rows of single and double seats, which means there are no middle seats.
Brittany Chang/Insider
I opted for a single-seat, leaving me neighbor-free and relaxed during my approximately three-and-a-half hours on the Texas road.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And thankfully, the passenger seats were more comfortable than any budget bus I've ever been on.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The leather seat was so large, it felt like I was being swallowed by the plush sides.
Brittany Chang/Insider
When my seat was reclined and my footrest was up, it felt like I was sitting on an old but comfortable lounge chair.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Vonlane also offers its customers noise-canceling headsets, blankets, and pillows, creating a cocoon of plush padding and relaxation.
But if I had wanted to work during the ride, I could've used the tabletop stored in the seatback in front of me. All you have to do is pull it out and click it into your seat.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And while the rows weren't as spaced out as the Jet, I still had a comfortable distance from all the other passengers.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The seats were great, but in my opinion, Vonlane's strongest suit was its complimentary mid-ride offerings.
Brittany Chang/Insider
While I didn't take everything that was offered, it was nice knowing I had the option to.
Brittany Chang/Insider
At the start of the trip, Liz offered the passengers a tray of items like eye masks, tissues, earplugs, toothbrushes, and Advil.
Brittany Chang/Insider
She then came around and offered us an assortment of snacks like Oreos, granola bars, and nuts …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… as well as a variety of beverages like sodas, juices, and water. I ended up ordering hot tea to soothe my travelers stress.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Passengers were also given several options for lunch, including my pick of a satisfyingly sweet croissant sandwich that was big enough for two meals.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And towards the trip, Liz offered us a piping hot hand towel, the perfect send-off after hours on the road.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But the ride was so comfortable, I could've easily spent another hour or two on the road with no complaints, and I've been known to get carsick.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And unlike flying, I didn't have to spend hours in a security line and at the terminal. All I did was check in with Liz and find my pre-booked seat.
Brittany Chang/Insider
My Vonlane experience had all of the luxuries of flying business class, but none of the airport lines, downtime, or inconveniences.
Brittany Chang/Insider
All in all, my ride with the Texan service was one of the most relaxing coach rides I've ever been on.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But in my opinion, Vonlane's small touches — from the attendant to the seemingly endless options of food — made riding in the motorcoach a truly luxurious experience worthy of the $109 ticket.
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