(12 Jan 2020, 11:19 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote What is the longest you would be on a bus service in order to avoid one particular company/stick to one particular company?

Last year, I used the 42A all the way from Wallsend to Kingston Park, in order to use only GNE services. This was a Sunday, and it took 72 minutes. Alternatively I could've got a GNE bus into town and got the Q3 or 33A to Gosforth High Street. I am sure there wasn't much time difference, and I had already walked to Gosforth to get the Q3 to Wallsend in the morning, so the walk from Kingston Park was something different and is a easier walk (and meant I could go to McDonalds!).

Impressions are important, first impressions are lasting impressions. I have been a fan of GNE for years now, because Stagecoach has let me down a lot of times, badly. GNE hardly ever has amazingly. I can't remember when GNE became my favourite operator, but I don't think it will change!

I mean, last year I went from Tindale Crescent to Cramlington using only GNE services. That took a fair bit of time!
In total I did 98 miles on GNE services, spending 8 hours sitting on a bus! 

The strange thing is, I lived in a GNE area until a few years ago, and I absolutely hated them. Since moving down here and using Arriva, I realised that GNE were far superior and the things I hated about GNE weren't unique to them, and were far worse with Arriva.

When I moved out of my mother's house, I specifically looked for a house that was on a GNE route, just so I wouldn't have to use Arriva. That's how much I try to avoid using them!