Cookie Policy

Cookies are small text files that a website can store on your device when you visit. They allow a site to remember things about your visit, recognise you on a return visit, or measure how the site is used. Similar technologies include browser-side storage like localStorage andsessionStorage, and pixel-based tracking.

AusBus is currently in a pre-launch phase. The live public site is a single waitlist page. Today, we set one non-essential first-party cookie of our own (described below), and we do not embed any third-party advertising or marketing trackers.

We do use a privacy-friendly analytics service (see below) which is configured to be cookieless. On parts of the site that are built but not yet live, we use browser sessionStorageto remember non-personal interface state — for example, keeping the values you typed into a search form populated as you navigate within the site during a single browsing session. This data stays on your device, is cleared when you close the tab, and is not sent to a server as a tracking identifier.

We also set a single preference cookie, ausbus_prefs, when you choose a display language or display currency. It stores only the language and currency codes you picked (for example, locale=en&currency=AUD) so the site can keep using your choice on your next visit. It is not used for tracking, never contains personal data, and is sent only to aus-bus.com.

Strictly necessary

These keep the site working: routing requests, enforcing security headers, rate-limiting forms, and protecting against abuse. They are essential and do not require your consent. We do not currently set a strictly-necessary cookie of our own; our hosting provider may set short-lived security or load-balancing cookies as part of serving requests.

Analytics and performance

In production we use Vercel Analytics to understand which pages people visit and how the site performs. Vercel Analytics is configured to be cookieless: it identifies unique visitors using a daily rotating hash derived from request data rather than a persistent identifier. It is loaded only on the production site, not in local development.

Functional

We use a single first-party cookie, ausbus_prefs, to remember the display language and display currency you choose from the preferences picker. It only ever contains those two codes (for example locale=en&currency=AUD), is set withSameSite=Lax and Secure in production, and expires after twelve months. It is not used to identify you, profile you, or track you across sites. You can clear it from your browser settings at any time; the site will simply revert to its default English / AUD display.

On the search and route-comparison pages (built but not yet live in production), we use browser sessionStorageto remember non-personal interface state — for example, the values you typed into a search form so they are still there when you go back during the same browsing session. This data stays on your device and is cleared when you close the tab.

Marketing and advertising

We do not currently use marketing or advertising cookies. We do not run third-party ad networks, retargeting pixels, or social-media trackers. If we add any in the future we will update this page and, where required, ask for your consent first.

Affiliate tracking

When you click through from AusBus to an operator's website to book, the operator (or the affiliate network they use) may set cookies on the operator's site so that any booking you complete can be attributed to AusBus and the referral commission paid. Those cookies are set on the operator's site, not on aus-bus.com, and are governed by the operator's and the network's own cookie policies.

Based on the current codebase, the following third-party services may receive request data when you visit AusBus.

• AusBus— sets one first-party preference cookie, ausbus_prefs, that remembers your chosen display language and currency. Twelve-month lifetime, SameSite=Lax,Secure in production, no personal data.
• Vercel — hosts the website and may set short-lived cookies for security, request routing or load balancing as part of delivering pages.
• Vercel Analytics— collects aggregate page-view counts and browser/device metadata. Configured to be cookieless. Loaded only on the production site.
• Supabase — hosts the database that backs the waitlist and the public bus operator catalogue. It receives request data for API calls but does not set browser cookies on aus-bus.com.

We will keep this list current as the site evolves. If we add a new cookie-setting service we will list it here before or at the time it goes live.

You can control cookies and similar tech in several ways:

• Browser settings. Most browsers let you block or delete cookies, clear browser storage (including sessionStorage), and run in private/incognito mode. See your browser's help pages for details. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may stop parts of the site from working.
• Do Not Track / Global Privacy Control. If your browser sends a Do Not Track or Global Privacy Control signal, our analytics provider may treat that as an opt-out signal where it supports doing so.
• Consent for non-essential cookies. If we introduce non-essential cookies in future, we will request consent in line with UK PECR, EU ePrivacy rules and other applicable laws before they are set, and you will be able to withdraw consent at any time.

We may update this Cookie Policy as the site changes. The version that applies is the one published at the top of this page on the date you visit. Material changes will be reflected in an updated “last updated” date.

Questions about cookies on AusBus? Email support@aus-bus.com.