€1.80 TBM ticket gets you on Corol 39 from BOD
Corol 39 is a TBM orbital bus that serves Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport and the western suburbs, and it runs on the same €1.80 single ticket as Ligne 1+ (price as of 2024). This line mainly moves locals between Mérignac and nearby communes, and most official airport guides only talk about Ligne 1+ and the 30’Direct shuttle. If you already live or stay in the west (Saint-Médard, Le Haillan, Mérignac) and know TBM routes by heart, Corol 39 can spare you a detour through central Bordeaux.
Stops, halls, and basic logistics
The Corol 39 stop sits outside the terminal forecourt shared by Hall A, Hall B, and the low-cost billi terminal, next to other TBM buses marked “1+” and “30’Direct.” Frequency varies by time of day, but you’re generally looking at around 3–4 buses per hour at peak and fewer in the evening. The same €1.80 TBM ticket gives you 1 hour of transfers onto trams A/B/C/D or other buses, which matters if you’re hopping from Corol 39 to another suburban line instead of going downtown first.
Who this bus actually helps
Locals on r/bordeaux mostly recommend Corol 39 for suburb-to-suburb trips, not for tourists heading to Quinconces or Gare Saint-Jean. To reach central Bordeaux, you’ll usually add at least one extra transfer and 15–30 minutes versus simply walking outside Hall B and grabbing Ligne 1+. Regulars explicitly tell newcomers to stick with Ligne 1+ or pay for the faster 30’Direct rather than trying to stitch together orbital routes like Corol 39 for a first arrival.
How to ride it: step-by-step
- 1. Exit arrivals in Hall A, Hall B, or billi and follow signs for “Bus / Navette” to the forecourt (2–4 minutes’ walk).
- 2. Look for TBM stops showing “Corol 39” on the pole or electronic display; check the direction so you’re heading toward your suburb, not back toward another interchange.
- 3. Buy a €1.80 ticket from the TBM machine by the stops or pay on board if the driver allows (have coins or a contactless card ready in case machines are busy).
- 4. Validate the ticket in the orange or yellow validator as soon as you board; the 1-hour window for transfers starts from that first beep.
- 5. Ride Corol 39 to your planned interchange (for example, a tram A stop in Mérignac) or directly to your suburb stop, then transfer within 60 minutes if needed.
One last tip
If you’re landing at BOD and your hotel or apartment is anywhere near central Bordeaux (Hôtel de Ville, Saint-Pierre, or around Gare Saint-Jean), skip Corol 39 completely and walk straight to Ligne 1+ outside Hall B to keep the trip under roughly 45–60 minutes.