JJ Kavanagh & Sons Avis 

Got the 736 from Waterford up to Dublin airport all was fine. When about to board on way home I double check if the route is going back the same way I.e. through Dublin as me and my friend plan on hopping off early in Dublin not Waterford. The driver says “no my first stop is carlow” I say “but would the way back not be the same as the way up” he said “no the way back is different” real snappy. What the driver didn’t know was my parents were also on board and did confirm with me over the phone that he did in fact go the same way home and did in fact stop in Dublin City and outside heuston station where he previously told us he wasn’t. I think he might have pre judged my friend as she had a travel pass in her hand. He was also refusing another woman whose child had a travel pass and eventually let her on after her begging. This man needs to be seriously investigated for his lying and outrageous behaviour. Tall man, rectangular glasses and dark hair. 736 route just be aware. I was also not refunded for the ticket I didn’t get to use that I paid for online as my return.
(My response to the below comment: he did stop though on the way up and down in multiple stops in Dublin City and I have photo evidence to prove this as my family were on board and said people hopped off and on at the Dublin City stops and it is advertised on the bus route timetable that you stop in Dublin City at multiple stops)

A group of 66 of us travelled to the UK with JJ Kavanagh coaches. Hans and Robert were gentlemen, we were punctual, safe and treated kindly.
Sheelagh in the office was a pleasure to deal with.

I lost my phone on their 139 service from Blanchardstown to Naas. I called them up and they were super helpful in trying to locate it. They found it once the bus had come to its last stop in Naas. They were going to send it back on the next bus to Sallins but that would have been after their office had closed so one of the office workers went out of their way to drop my phone back to Sallins. Really impressed with how helpful they were. Great service!

Lots of "poor" reviews- no surprise! Certainly the 717 service (Clonmel to Dublin Airport) seems to depend on the competence of the driver (27/10/23 he knew nothing about road closures in Dublin tomorrow or about JJKavanagh's revised arrangements. Nor how to get through Kilkenny,due to a road closure. The passengers had to guide!)Always late, in my experience. Sometimes rude and incompetent drivers. Buyer beware!

It’s so bad, buses are always late. Wouldn’t count on the airport bus from Waterford ever. Plus. 7 euro for a single student ticket is a bit steep considering the train is 4.50 same journey. Don’t travel with them if you can avoid it.

Bus late by 30 mins. 717 Clonmel to Dublin. Bus driver sat in the bus on his phone while we waited to get on mind you. Knowing full well passengers there waiting.
Bus driver ignorant and unapologetic. Many passengers late for airport flights or some even missed flights.
ABSOLUTELY DISGRACFUL.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS

20.30 bus from Dublin airport with driver Abdul was exactly on time on 20 th October.The driver was courteous helpful and friendly . The bus was very comfortable and warm , and we arrived at our destination more or less on time taking into account the severe weather condition that night .
I think Kavanaghs bus is a wonderful service ,perhaps you may consider including Carrick on suir on your route.Thank you Abdul for getting us to our destination safely .
Eithne Brazel Ck on suir .

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.