FlixBus $1.49M Seat Reservation Refund Settlement

If you purchased a seat reservation on a FlixBus trip between January 12, 2020, and January 15, 2023, and did not receive a refund, you may be eligible to claim a portion of a $1,490,000 class action settlement.

FlixBus has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit for allegedly charging consumers for seat reservations that could not be used on certain buses, violating California consumer protection laws.

Who are the class members?

To qualify for a settlement payment you must have:

• Purchased a seat reservation for any FlixBus trip between January 12, 2020, and January 15, 2023
• Did not receive a refund for the seat reservation payment before January 15, 2023

If you meet these criteria, you are automatically included in the settlement class.

How much can class members get?

The exact amount each class member will receive will depend on the number of claims and court-approved fund expenses, such as deducting legal fees, administration costs, and a service award for the plaintiff.

The settlement fund of $1,490,000 will be divided among class members after covering the expenses.

No action needed to receive compensation

Class members do not need to take any action to receive their payment. The payment will be automatically sent to the PayPal account associated with their email address.

If preferred, class members can elect to receive payment via Venmo or by check by visiting the Payment Election form.

Payment methods

Class members can receive their payment through:

• PayPal
• Venmo
• Paper check

Digital payments must be accepted within 60 days.

Settlement fund distributions

The settlement fund of $1,490,000 will cover:

• Legal fees: Up to $496,666.67
• Administration costs: Up to $30,000
• A service award of $7,500 to the plaintiff, Matthew Peterson
• Payments to class members

Important dates

• Deadline to opt out: March 7, 2025
• Deadline to elect a different form of payment: March 7, 2025
• Fairness Hearing: April 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

When is the FlixBus Settlement payout date?

The court will hold a Fairness Hearing on April 14, 2025, to decide whether to approve the settlement. If approved, payments will be distributed to class members as long as there are no appeals filed.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The lawsuit alleged that FlixBus charged consumers for seat reservations that could not be used on certain buses, violating California consumer protection laws. The settlement allows both parties to avoid the costs and risks associated with going to trial.