An Indian Railways passenger was in for a pleasant surprise after they received an SMS from IR-CRIS (Centre For Railway Information Systems) ahead of their planned journey. The message read: “PNR-[redacted], Congratulations! Your ticket has been upgraded. Enjoy travel in higher class without extra payment. IR-CRIS.” In a follow-up message, the passenger was provided with their updated cabin and seat number in First Class AC car. The passenger, who had previously received a class upgrade, was ecstatic for their maiden travel in the First Class AC.
“Previously I’ve been upgraded from sleeper class to 3AC. But my was I surprised by IRCTC upgradation message. Will be my very first 1AC journey! (sic),” the passenger wrote on Reddit.
The post received
a range of reactions from the r/indianrailways community.
“Chosen One”
First Class AC is the top-of-the-line class one can avail on Indian Railways. Costing significantly higher than the other classes, the 1st AC features private cabins, quieter travel, and cleaner restrooms. The 1st Class AC passenger is also provided with personalised service, meals and refreshments throughout their journey.
“God’s fav child?” wrote one.
“Kese karte he upgrade means is there any option while booking or kuch alag karna padta he? (How do you upgrade? Is there an option while booking or something else has to be done to receive one?)”, asked another.
Scrolling through the comments, it was clear that several passengers had received an upgrade by Indian Railways in the past, but landing the top-tier seat still felt like a rare jackpot for most.
“Damn, I have only gotten Sl to 3ac. My brother got 3ac to 2ac.”
“Muje toh max 2AC tak hua hai (I’ve been upgraded to 2nd AC.)”
So, how exactly does the auto-upgradation work? And do you need to pay extra while booking tickets to be eligible for one?
IRCTC Auto Upgradation
IRCTC’s auto-upgradation is a complimentary service that is primarily aimed at seat optimisation. When a train is running with vacant higher-class seats, passengers in lower classes are upgraded to fill those empty seats. This helps waitlisted passengers hop on the train and grab seats in the lower-class berth. The auto-upgradation service helps passengers enjoy a superior journey while also enabling waitlisted ones to ride without worrying about booking new tickets in the next available train to their final destination.
How To Opt For Auto Upgradation?
While booking your tickets on the IRCTC website, check the box that reads: “Consider for Auto Upgradation”. Skipping this option doesn’t make a passenger ineligible for class upgrade. The Indian Railways notes that not checking the box was considered as “yes” for the auto-upgradation service.
Is The Upgrade Random?
Yes, the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) randomly selects passengers for auto-upgradation. “The Passenger Reservation System (PRS) randomly selects eligible passengers for IRCTC ticket upgrade online if berths are available in a higher class. This means there’s no predicting who gets upgraded, adding an element of pleasant surprise to your trip!” Yatri Restro stated.
Notably, all the passengers on a ticket are upgraded together.
What Is The Fee For Auto Upgradation?
As mentioned, auto-upgradation by Indian Railways is a complimentary service, enhancing the passenger comfort while simultaneously ensuring that the trains fill up berths and run efficiently. The service does not carry any additional fee.
What Happens If An Upgraded Passenger Cancels?
If the upgraded passenger chooses to cancel their travel, cancellation charges would apply to their original class ticket, not the upgraded class.
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