If you are planning a trip during holidays such as Durga Puja, Diwali, or Chhath, but are facing difficulties finding train tickets, it is because available seats in trains become extremely scarce as the holidays approach. In many regular trains, tickets sell out immediately after sales open, and others have a long waiting list, which causes concern among passengers. In some cases, ticket booking reaches the stage of regret.
In such a situation, urgent tickets (Tatkal) remain the last option for travelers, but even here, getting a seat is not easy. Seats can run out within minutes of the urgent ticket booking starting. Therefore, if you plan to travel by train on this holiday and intend to use urgent booking to get a confirmed ticket, it is crucial to know several simple tricks.
Preparation for booking should begin before the sales even open. For example, pre-logging into the IRCTC system, saving passenger details, preparing train information, and determining the payment method can save you precious time during the booking process.
The most important thing when booking an urgent ticket is to avoid mistakes and not log in at the last moment. If you try to enter your username and password at the start of sales, it will take some time. It is much better to log into your IRCTC account a few minutes before the booking starts to be ready to proceed directly to the next step of the process as soon as sales begin.
Save Passenger Details in Advance
Booking tickets can take a lot of time to re-enter the name, age, and gender of each passenger. In the context of urgent booking, even a few seconds are critical. The IRCTC system provides a passenger list feature that can be used to pre-save information about regular travelers. During booking, you can select the desired passenger from the saved list, which saves time on entering details.
Determine Train and Station in Advance
Do not waste time after urgent tickets open searching for a train or deciding which train to take. If your trip is already planned, write down the train number, departure station, and destination station in advance. This will allow you to enter only the necessary information and move forward after the booking starts. The less time spent deliberating, the faster you will complete the booking process.
Pay Attention to Internet Connection
During urgent ticket booking, it is critically important that your internet connection is stable. If the page keeps loading intermittently or the internet slows down, it can negatively affect the booking process. Therefore, always check your connection before purchasing a ticket. You can use mobile internet or Wi-Fi, whichever is more reliable for you.
Memorize Ticket Opening Time
The most important thing when booking urgent tickets is to be ready at the right time. Urgent ticket bookings in AC classes usually start at 10:00 AM, and in non-AC classes, at 11:00 AM. Therefore, before starting the booking, keep information about the train, passengers, and other necessary data handy. Instead of starting preparations at the last minute, it is more convenient to check everything a few minutes before the start.
Prepare Payment Method in Advance
Sometimes problems arise during payment after selecting a ticket. Therefore, decide beforehand how you will pay before starting the booking. Prepare the payment method you use regularly—whether it is UPI, a card, or other available options. Searching for a new payment method during the transaction can take a lot of time.
Do Not Press 'Back' or 'Refresh' During Booking
During urgent ticket booking, do not panic and press the 'Back' or 'Refresh' buttons repeatedly. If the page is performing any operation, interrupting it can cause problems. Therefore, after starting the booking, follow the on-screen instructions and do not refresh the page unnecessarily.
Always Verify All Information After Purchasing the Ticket
The work is not over after the ticket is purchased. First and foremost, carefully check the PNR number, train number, travel date, departure station, and passenger details. If you find an error in any information on the ticket, take the necessary steps promptly according to the rules. Rushing forward without checking the information after purchase can lead to problems later.
Preparation Simplifies Urgent Booking
Due to high demand for urgent tickets, the importance of timing increases during booking. Steps such as pre-logging in, preparing passenger data, determining the train and station, and choosing a payment method can simplify the entire booking process. However, these tricks do not guarantee receiving a ticket, as booking depends on seat availability and current demand. If you are also booking urgent tickets, make sure to prepare in advance and avoid entering incorrect information in a hurry during booking. Losing a few seconds due to haste can lead to choosing the wrong train, date, or passenger.