Finding a train ticket can be challenging, but did you know you can travel in an AC compartment with a sleeper class ticket?
IRCTC has introduced a new option called the auto ticket upgrade. This feature ensures a comfortable journey. Here’s how to utilize this facility in detail.
When making reservations for train travel, if you cannot find a reserved seat, you can purchase a general ticket, board the sleeper class, and ask the train conductor (TC) if there are any available berths.
The TC will check for vacancies; if there are any, they will assign you a berth. Otherwise, they might impose a fine or drop you at the next station.
However, if you book a sleeper ticket, you can choose to take a berth in the Third AC compartment. Similarly, if you book a ticket for the Third AC, you can opt to travel in the Second AC.
IRCTC is offering this upgrade option to enhance the passenger experience. Many travelers have expressed satisfaction with this initiative from Indian Railways. One of the main advantages is that you can travel in Third AC for the same price as a sleeper ticket.
Third AC Travel with Sleeper Booking
The facility allows passengers to travel in an AC coach with a sleeper class ticket or an auto ticket upgrade. To use this service, you must select this option when booking your ticket.
Indian Railways recently launched the IRCTC Auto Upgrade scheme to eliminate vacant train seats. Berths in upper-class coaches, such as AC coaches, often go unoccupied, causing significant financial losses to the railways.
To mitigate these losses, the railways introduced this auto upgrade facility to inform passengers about the amenities available in upper-class coaches. When lower-class passengers are upgraded, seats in the upper class are freed up.
For instance, if there are four vacant seats in the AC First coach, tickets for Second AC passengers will be upgraded to the First AC.
Likewise, if seats are available in the Second AC, passengers from the Third AC will be upgraded to the Second AC. Any vacant seats in the Third AC will then be offered to waiting list passengers, and sleeper class passengers will be given berths in the Third AC if there are additional vacancies.
This ensures no berths remain unoccupied in any reserved coach on the train. Thus, the railways can minimize losses while passengers benefit from the upgraded accommodation. Just remember to select the auto upgrade option when booking your ticket.
On the IRCTC website, you will receive a prompt asking you to choose the Auto Upgrade option. You need to select either ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ If you choose ‘Yes,’ passengers with sleeper class bookings will be assigned a ticket in an AC coach.
Please note that when you receive an auto upgrade, your PNR will remain unchanged even if the coach class changes. This means you will use the same PNR to access any information related to your ticket.
Additionally, according to IRCTC rules, if you cancel your ticket after being upgraded, only the original fare will be refunded, not the upgraded fare. Therefore, everyone should take advantage of this opportunity to travel in AC coaches without extra cost.