Usman Ayub Personal Experience: A "Luxury" Bus Service That’s Only Luxury in Name
By: Usman Ayub
Email: usmanayub.ua@live.com
Pakistan offers a variety of travel options, including economy and business-class buses. Recently, there was a lot of hype surrounding a new "luxury" bus service operating between Lahore and Islamabad. Curious to see if it lived up to its high claims and hefty price, I decided to try it firsthand.
One of the most shocking aspects was the ticket price. While regular buses charge Rs. 1,800 and business-class fares range from Rs. 2,100 to Rs. 3,000, this so-called luxury bus charged me Rs. 5,964, which increased to Rs. 6,024 at the time of payment. With such an expensive ticket, I had high expectations, but the reality was entirely different.
Inside the Bus: A Lack of Promised Comfort
1. Broken Seats and Furniture
The first thing I noticed upon entering was the poor condition of the seats. Some seats had damaged armrests, while the attached remote controls were either broken or non-functional.
2. Low-Quality and Damaged Headphones
A "luxury" bus should provide premium entertainment facilities, yet the headphones given to passengers were damaged and of low quality. To make matters worse, they were handed over without any packaging, which raised concerns about hygiene and service standards.
3. Faulty Audio Jack System
Instead of a built-in audio system, each seat had a random dangling wire where passengers had to plug in their headphones. This setup was highly unprofessional and gave the impression of a poorly maintained bus.
4. Non-Functional Screens and Useless Internet
Each seat had an entertainment screen, but most of them were broken or non-functional. Even the few that worked did not support YouTube or social media apps, despite the bus having an internet connection. It was frustrating that such a costly bus service failed to provide even basic entertainment options.
5. Lack of Cleanliness
One of the biggest disappointments was the poor hygiene inside the bus:
- Seats were dusty and stained,
- Air conditioning and lighting panels were covered in grime.
For a service marketed as "luxury," such negligence was completely unacceptable.
6. A Noisy and Faulty Overhead Compartment
Each seat had an overhead compartment for luggage storage, but the lock on mine was completely broken. Throughout the journey, it remained slightly open, constantly rattling and making a disturbing noise that made it impossible to relax.
Exterior Condition: A Disappointing First Impression
Even from the outside, this bus did not look premium at all.
The paint was peeling off,
The exterior structure appeared worn out,
It was evident that no proper maintenance was being carried out.
For a bus that claims to be luxurious, its appearance alone was enough to disappoint passengers.
Staff Behavior: Polite But Ineffective
The staff members were polite, but they were unable to resolve any issues.
When I complained about the non-functional screens, I was told, "Maybe it’s a network issue."
This clearly indicated that the staff was either untrained or lacked authority to address passenger complaints.
Final Verdict: The Most Expensive but the Worst Service
After experiencing this so-called luxury bus, I can confidently say that it was not worth the price at all.
✅ Pros:
- The bus was air-conditioned.
- The staff was polite.
❌ Cons:
- The fare was nearly three times higher than other buses.
- Seats, furniture, and screens were in poor condition.
- The bus was unclean and lacked maintenance.
- The exterior was worn out and unimpressive.
- Continuous noise and technical issues made the journey uncomfortable.
Despite being Pakistan’s most expensive bus service, this turned out to be one of the worst travel experiences I’ve ever had. If you're planning to travel between Lahore and Islamabad, I strongly recommend choosing another bus service because this one is luxury only in name, not in reality.
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