“It's an experience to be enjoyed with friends! Now, they laugh about it… so far, if it had to be done again, they would rather avoid. From primary school to their 25th birthday, Sophie and Gaëlle, two Parisians, have had some adventures. But being forgotten by their FlixBus coach, at night, in the middle of a Normandy motorway rest area: that is a first.
In her phone, Sophie keeps, as a souvenir, the map of the Bosgouet (Eure) motorway area. It is here, near the A13 and 30 km from Rouen (Seine-Maritime), that the two young women found themselves stuck for more than 1:30, last Sunday evening. “We were coming back from a weekend in Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine). We had for 7 hours of bus without toilets. When that break came, we said fun ! », Recalls the student in Parisian architecture school, with a smirk.
"We must have taken 10 minutes, big max"
Around 10 p.m., the steering wheel swings, the brake is pulled: the driver gets up and leaves. “He mumbled something, everyone looked at each other without really understanding and, little by little, people came out. I had heard a 15-minute break ”.
With their feet on the asphalt, the passengers find themselves in the middle of a crowded highway area. Gaëlle calculates: "We had to queue for the toilets, look for a bottle of water… In all, we must have taken 10 minutes, big max". However, once back in the parking lot… no more FlixBus!
What about the luggage?
Panicked, first, the two girlfriends try everything for the whole thing: "We tried to contact the driver but his number was not found, we then wanted to join FlixBus but no one answered… We even sent an email but radio silence ! "
From panic, they then pass to despair: “A cashier from the area called to find out if there were others forgotten like us, but nothing at all. So she ended up contacting the gendarmes who couldn't do much… ”
What to do then? Sleep at the hotel? Too expensive. Take a cab ? It would cost around € 200. And, above all, another problem torments the friends: their luggage, some of which has remained in their bus seats.
From stress to giggles
Armed with their cellphones, the Parisian students then set up a real commando operation. On the one hand, they send a friend to collect their belongings at the Paris Bercy station, on the other hand, they warn the parents of Gaëlle, living near Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines). Neither one nor two, they set out to get them out of there. Relief for Sophie: “I thought I was going to cry, but when it came to an end, we both burst into laughter. "
The giggles have now passed, the young women ask to be compensated: "We paid our tickets 50 € in all, our friend had to pay for an Uber, Gaëlle's parents had to pay the tolls… Not to mention the anguish that that. generated ”, list Sophie.
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Message on Twitter, reimbursement form, phone calls to customer service… Since then, they have been clapping their feet and hands to understand what happened: “We're laughing about it, but, basically, we had luck: how would we have done if no one had been able to get us back? What if it happens to younger passengers? "
FlixBus disclaims all liability
When contacted, FlixBus explains: “The driver in question has indeed announced a 15-minute break. Passengers told him he was missing people so he waited an additional 4 minutes. At the end of these 4 minutes, late passengers returned and he left. "
If he claims to have counted the number of travelers on board, the company specifies: “Drivers are not required to recount. They have a very precise driving time, with a roadmap including breaks… It's like the train, it's the customer's responsibility to be on time. "
In addition, she stresses that she finds "regrettable" this kind of event which, she affirms, remains "fortunately rare". And, for customers who would experience the same mishaps, she invites them to request a refund: "But, if the driver's liability is not involved, as is the case here, the commercial gesture is not automatic. . "
In the meantime, unlike Gaëlle who will not move from her apartment in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, Sophie will soon be going on vacation. For the journey, this time, no hesitation: “I'm going to take a break with FlixBus. We will opt for carpooling. "
