New luxury bus service for travelers between SBN and O’Hare
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Starting October 6th, American Airlines will have a motor coach service to and from SBN and O’Hare provided by The Landline Company.
The service will run four times daily, in both directions, on a 35-seat motorcoach with in-seat power and Wi-Fi.
Travelers can check in, check bags, go through TSA, and wait to board the bus at their gate, like getting on an airplane.
You’re then dropped off post-security and your luggage is transferred to your flight.
Then, the same thing happens on your way back.
Mike Daigle, CEO and Executive Director of the South Bend International Airport says American Airlines is doing this to better serve travelers in our region.
“One of the reasons this works really well is for the frequent fliers who are american airlines loyalists, they'll be able to begin and end their travel right here just as if they were doing anything else. So they don't have to take the long drive to O’Hare. They don't have to do that, but they can still connect through there to their final destination,” said Daigle.
Airport officials say this is a year-round service, and that prices could look different depending on where you’re traveling and your final destination.
You can book on the American Airlines website.
In a statement shared with ABC57, American Airlines states:
This is sold and operated under an American Airlines flight number and customers can choose their favorite seat and earn their benefits like AAdvantage® miles just as they would on any flight. Travelers flying from another city connecting in ORD to South Bend can also check their bag and clear security once at their departing airport and head straight to their gate for their journey to South Bend.
We already have this innovative service in operation in Philadelphia (PHL) – another American hub – that provides nonstop connectivity to four destinations (with a fifth one beginning Sep. 22).
There is no need for travelers to book this service separately or do anything differently than they would for a normal American Airlines itinerary.
Example of view when selecting flight.