New Boston-NYC Bus Option: FlixBus Debuts With $5 Bus Tickets

BOSTON— Headed to NYC via bus? There's a new option in town: FlixBus, a Europe-based company, started taking making the trip Thursday with introductory fares for $4.99, according to a press release.

It's not clear how long the introductory rate will last, but according to a FlixBus official prices aren't expected to go too high.

"The fare will last based on demand, so we can’t announce an official end date. That said, even after the promotion many tickets will still be at that price point," said FlixBus official in an email to Patch. "Our average prices for New York – DC are currently $15 to give you an idea of a standard line that has been in service for a few months now."

A quick search on the Wanderu travel website for one way bus tickets to New York through the next week across the usual bus companies - Megabus, Bolt, Greyhound and Peter Pan- put the range at $15 to $65.

FlixBus, which calls itself “Europe’s largest mobility startup,” started in 2013 in Germany and expanded to 28 countries across Europe. In the states it popped up last year and boasts 76 destinations, with plans to continue expanding.

FlixBus picks up at either 90 Traveler St. in Boston or at Tufts University and plans to make the 4 hour and 15 minute trip to NYC or the nearly 13 hour trip to Washington D.C. three to five times a day. Watch for a direct route from to Washington, D.C., in the coming months.

The company isn't your usual bus company. It partners with local bus companies like BMJ Trans out of Quincy, Star Tag out of Worcester and Union Express based out of Hawaii and Westford. FlixBus handles technology development, network planning, operations, marketing and sales. The charter buses do the driving.

The company also has plans to roll out a FlixTrain, a charter and ride share concept in Europe in 2020.

Check out the founder Jochen Engert describe his company and vision at the Axel Springer NOAH 2016 Conference in Berlin:

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).