JJ Kavanagh & Sons Reviews 

Not only the bus is usually late in the evening, my bus never showed up one day after college stranding me in waterford. Customer service was closed couldn’t ring them or anything had to wait till Monday to get a reply via email. Two weeks later I still had no reply regarding the ‘investigation’. I had a return ticket (4.50euro one way) and then had to spend additional 7euro for one way back to carlow. Not only did I not get a reply for two weeks I had to email them regarding it. They offered me a single way ticket or a 4,50 refund like I didn’t spend 11.50 on a one way ticket. Customer service also useless . Offered me 4.50 back but sending me emails regarding a getting me a new ticket. Like make up your mind. Honestly ridiculous considering the fact most their customers are primarily college students that don’t have the time and money to waste on this company.

I can’t reply to the below reply, but nope I wasn’t offered a refund for the additional fare I had to purchase I only received 4.50 for the bus that didn’t show.

I emailed them after I received a reply to this review and they decided to send me the 7euro that I emailed them about weeks before that they refused. Thanks at last

Customer service people are wonderful.Dealt with Ana twice and twice this Lady was extremely professional , grateful for assistance offered. Also,special thank for kind gesture and that extra mile went by Goran from Naas, amazing people and and excellent professionals, you take pride in what you do.sincere wishes of all the best for the future to Everyone.

Be more helpful to passengers with free travel

I took the Dublin Airport -Killkenny Bus which was supposed to leave on Friday 06/10/23 at 18:30.
First the driver sat in the bus until 18:45 on his phone and only opened the door to let people in after Passengers started banging on the door,
Next the bus had not been cleaned the seat next to me was covered in old wrappers and 2 empty cans of beer,
The bus toilet stank so bad that people almost got sick and the driver had to be asked 3 times before he would turn on the air conditioning
And finally the driver was extremely rude telling all customers to sit down in a gruff voice when a question was asked or when someone dared to risk going to the toilet.
A disgraceful experience that I would never recommend or repeat.

I had work at 2 O'Clock so I arrived at the bus stop at quarter to 1. No bus arrives until half 1. The bus that did arrived refused to depart for unspecified reasons. Another bus arrived at 2 O'Clock and then both buses departed. I do not understand this system at all and am now half an hour late to work. This is not a one time issus and happens consistently.

Disappointed with JJ Kavanaghs new policy of not allowing purchase of return tickets on board, only online. In Dublin Airport this evening, I was unable to buy on board and when I tried to buy online, the next bus available was not the one I was to board, rather the one 2 hours later. Buying 2 single tickets for my weekend trip home will cost me 14eur extra!

I don’t believe that JJK care in the slightest about (or even read) these posts… so I think of these posts as, hopefully, warnings to prospective travellers.
I’d preface this by quoting TFI’s website - “JJ Kavanagh and Sons operate Route 139 on behalf of Transport for Ireland”, so TFI bear large responsibility for allowing this shoddy service to remain in place.

SO - todays ‘service’ review…
139 supposed to leave Clane for Naas at approx. 08:00; my friend has just started his first ever paid-job in Johnstown; work starts at 09:00. Ideally he gets 139, gets to ‘Big’ Tesco Naas, alights and then cycles to work and gets there just about ‘on-time’ i.e. before 09:00. Today, 139 trundles along at 08:50 - he’s thus 50mins late for his work.
JJK & TFI, you’re directly responsible for jeopardising a person’s employment.
Tuesday night (3rd Oct.) 139 didn’t show up at all at Naas post office for the Naas to Clane return journey, so he was left marooned for over one hour.
Out-sourcing to private enterprises is (at best) questionably stupid - the above provides ample, simple, evidence that’s it’s NEVER done in the interests of normal citizens.
A totally inept, inefficient and anti-citizen service. Shame on TFI and JJK.

Edit: I write in response to JJK’s reply; A non-dependable service is just that. Traffic conditions notwithstanding, peak-times busses must be adequately sized to cope with peak-time user numbers, BUT please, a collection time of 17:00 hrs in a major-employment town like Naas (or Newbridge) is pointless given that many (most?) people only stop their workday AT 17:00 hrs - surely an 18:00 hrs, or even 17:30, service could be rostered, to adequately serve your customers?
TFI - knock heads with JJK (and vice versa) and provide a sensible and fair service.

I'm not from Ireland however I do understand that some of the people within the country, are entitled to free travel and have been issued a free travel card via the various means tested welfare benefits.

However what I find disgusting and what I have witnessed during a recent visit to Ireland with JJ Kavanagh & Sons bus drivers and ticketing staff is them being quite discriminatory towards people over using these cards just because they haven't pre booked a seat which costs them €3 for each leg of the journey for the reservation it's disgusting.

Sometimes in life people are not always able to pre plan and pre book in some emergency circumstances. All for the sake of €3 your giving customers who are entitled to free travel agro over not making a reservation for a seat it's disgusting and like I said sometimes people might have to travel in emergency circumstances where they are unable to plan and pre book seats.

It really is disgusting how JJ Kavanagh & Sons discriminate these people who have free travel all for the sake of a €3 reservation of seats.

I have traveled from Waterford to Dublin on the 21st of September and was an experience I wouldn't repeat. The temperature in the bus was 6° and outside 10°; arrived at the destination about half an hour late; ticket price was €18 one way, because apparently the driver cannot sell return tickets. Overall a disappointing experience

We were hugely impressed by Abdul, our driver. He was friendly, helpful, patient and happy to explain what was happening. He drove with confidence but was never aggressive or impatient. He has a good sense of humour and recognises the dignity due to his passengers. Definitely I would be very happy to have Abdul as my driver in the future.

We booked a coach with J.J Kavanaghs for a corporate 3 peak-challenge event, over 2 days, the 2 lovely drivers brought us all around the country to complete our hikes, the bus was great and had AC and charging ports for each seat. The customer service and bookings team were brilliant and made the planning of the trip very easy and the transport manager even rang me the day before to go through all the timings and ensure everything was arranged. Would definitely recommend and will be using for future trips.

we chartered a bus for our team from Dublin Airport to Kilkenny where the majority of the group was staying. First there was an issue with someones luggage, the driver waited for them to secure it and get on bus. Second amazingness of this driver was that there was a cab scheduled to meet bus at hotel to transport a few passengers to the castle we were staying at. He took them to the castle without having to change vehicles. This is an above and beyond work ethic in my opinion!

Just wanted to leave a review for one of the lovely drivers, Abdul. I was travelling on the 717 route from Dublin airport to Clonmel and I had the pleasure of being on the bus driven by Abdul. He was very lovely to all his passengers and went out of his way to make sure everyone was comfortable. It was an extremely hot day and he individually checked everyone’s AC above their seats to make sure they were working. He helped his passengers load their luggage. He was so very helpful. He also drove very calmly and confidently and it was a very comfortable and smooth journey. Thank you so much Abdul, it is very much appreciated.

I was traveling from Dublin airport to clonmel. It was a warm day and the bus broke down a few times. Eventually The bus broke down middle of the very busy motorway. I got a severe panic attack. The driver Jason took care of me while we were waiting for an other bus to arrive He was wonderful he helped me out. Thank you I am very grateful.

Worst Customer Service. Booked a wrong itinerary. Called the customer service to change it and reschedule it for the same day. No refund or not even able to reschedule it. Never going to use the service and will advise others not to

Was on the 10:30 airport bus to Clonmel, and had the nicest driver ever. Very helpful and cheerful to everyone who had some sort of a problem, and helped with suitcases and all.

Drivers dont use indicators. Nearly ran into me on the m1

Bus driver was inconsiderate of other vehicles amd just plain aragant.

Appalling service on the Waterford to Dublin Airport route. Service was due to arrive at 3:30pm at Dublin Airport but we were informed at 3:45pm at the Red Cow roundabout that there had been a change to the route and we wouldn’t arrive at the airport until 6pm.

Finally persuaded the driver to bring us but we arrived an hour later than planned. I just about managed to make my flight but there were a lot of other passengers who missed theirs. Overall, an absolutely terrible service that I would avoid at all costs.

I travelled from Clonmel to Dublin on the 6.30am bus on 10th August 2023. The bus arrived on time and the driver was very nice and helpful. He also hadn’t blocked off the 4 front seats like some of the drivers do with no explanation. A very enjoyable journey.