THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Don’t abort your trip plans if you did not get the train ticket. For, now Railways will give you the option to fly to your destination at a competitive fare. Thanks to IRTCT’s (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) special tie-up with Go Air and Spicejet airlines.
Under the new arrangement, IRCTC sends a mail to all waitlisted passengers booked through its website after the reservation chart of a train has been prepared.
To make use of this facility, the date of ticket booking has to be three days prior to the date of journey.Sandip Das, chief PRO, IRCTC Ltd, explained that the name of the passenger has to be same while the date of flight booking has to be the same day (date of original train journey or the day after).“The passenger can cancel the train ticket and try for air ticket through www.air.irctc.co.in for a sector in which the flight and seats are available. The facility is available on only those train routes that are also served by airlines,” he said.
The official said the price of flight ticket is lower than the dynamically priced air fare of the day for the particular airlines. “Go Air has tied up with us while Spicejet is yet to pass on its inventory. Talks are on with other airlines as well,” he said.
An important feature of IRCTC’s tie-up with the airlines is that the passengers will not have to pay dynamically priced air fares. On the contrary, fares would be incremental and competitive by even 30-40 per cent as compared to the prevailing spot prices. “However, sectors and seats are limited; hence bookings are on first come first serve basis,” he explained.
The arrangement could be a win-win situation for all the stakeholders. And airlines will be able to find customers for their unsold tickets, especially during off-season, by placing them on the IRCTC website. As for the waitlisted passengers, they may be able to buy air tickets cheaper for their journey.
