When you buy a flight ticket, and you arrive at the airport, you’d expect to board a plane, right? Well, a passenger from Portland getting on a connecting flight to travel from Chicago, Illinois, to South Bend, Indiana, was shocked to discover there was no plane, but a bus instead. It was an airport gate agent who told the passenger that the bus was a “new thing” as of two weeks ago. That explained why the “flight” was oddly long for the short distance.
The Portland passenger explained on r/mildlyinfuriating that they booked an American Airlines flight via Google Flights, and nothing during the reservation process noted that the connecting flight was a bus. “Even has a flight number,” they exclaimed. While at baggage claim, they asked an employee for American Airlines about the bus ride “flight” they took to the destination. She responded, “What bus? This is an airport; we don’t do bus rides.” Even on the return “flight” home, the passenger had to go through airport security, only to arrive at a gate with a bus awaiting them.
Reddit Explains Bus Rides Can Be in Flights If a ‘Landline Company’ Is Involved
Fortunately, there’s an answer to the confusion, as the Reddit post’s top commenter explains that they, too, have experienced this sort of “bus flight” before. Whenever “landline company” is mentioned on a flight itinerary, it refers to a bus service. And contrary to what the first airport employee told the Portland passenger, bus rides as “connecting flights” are not new or two weeks old. “Wow that’s so frustrating, you’d think theyd be more transparent about that stuff,” remarks a reply.
Others shared screenshots of checking whether “bus rides as flights” were a thing, and true enough, they are. However, there was fine print that explained a “Aircraft type: bus” would be taken to the destination. Still, many will probably think of an Airbus when reading “bus,” not to mention most people probably won’t read too much into the little details when all they expect is a plain light. Whatever the case, if you see “landline company” in a flight plan, get ready to board a bus at the airport, as odd as it might be.
