Quality, Service & Comfort

Operators that provide scheduled service, charter, tour and contract services are driven to satisfy customer demands and provide exemplary service, an increasingly valued attribute in an era when many travelers have become accustomed to hassles and routinely expect them when traveling by other means. The motorcoach driver is safety officer, customer service representative, ticket-taker and baggage handler -- as well as tour guide in some instances -- all at the same time, a striking contrast to other travel modes that have one or more people performing each of these critical responsibilities. These professionals make the difference between merely providing transportation and providing customer-focused, pleasantly convenient travel experiences.

Motorcoaches are equipped with the most modern advances in technology and engineering, including wireless internet, DVD entertainment systems, satellite TV, IPod hook-ups and more. Panoramic windows provide travelers the chance to enjoy the trip as they see, rather than fly over, America. Reclining seats with footrests, elevated passenger decks, personal climate controls and onboard lavatories allow passengers to ride in comfort.

The motorcoach industry provides vehicles for a variety of budgets and groups. Charter buses are available in a wide range of configurations, from the most basic bus to the pampered opulence of an executive coach, including leather wrap-around sofa seating, high-definition flat-screen TVs, refreshment centers and more. Executive coaches offer the most spacious configuration, which is especially appealing to corporate clients.

Just as there are luxury, mid-level and budget tiers in other travel industries to accommodate every passenger, there are many ranges of motorcoach choices for people of all means. Even with the trend toward going upscale to cater to today's luxury-minded consumer, the motorcoach industry has never left its roots as the most affordable, convenient, and cost-effective way to move groups of travelers from Point A to Point B.

The motorcoach industry was the first public mode of transportation to accommodate travelers with disabilities. Since the 1950s, the industry has had a policy of offering free attendant fares to passengers with visual impairments. Bus companies and tour operators have invested in lift equipment vehicles for passengers traveling with wheelchairs and scooters.

Members of ABA are required to follow a code of ethics focused on safe, quality operations. Because each operator must abide by ABA's rigorous Code of Ethics, it's small wonder millions of Americans trust their travel to ABA members!

• ABA Code of Ethics [1]