Vonlane

THE EXPENSE and hassles of air travel have many people turning to the open road. But hours behind the wheel can be exhausting. There is another way: Take a bus. Some specialty lines—including The Jet, Napaway, Red-Coach and Vonlane—are out to prove that bus travel doesn’t have to be cramped and uncomfortable. Instead, they’re offering amenities typical of first-class plane cabins. You might find plush reclining seats, internet, TV, movies, snacks and drinks, onboard attendants or even private mini-suites with lie-flat beds and ride-smoothing technology. “We tried to eliminate every pain point,” says Chad Scarborough, founder and CEO of The Jet, an East Coast line. —Veronica Stoddart