Train Ticket Not Confirmed 3x Refund? Know The Real Truth Of Ixigo Lucrative Offer

Ixigo Refund: Nowadays, while booking train tickets on various online platforms, we often come across lucrative offers of ‘3X Refund’ or ‘Travel Guarantee’. Especially on popular apps like Ixigo, passengers are presented with an option called ‘Travel Guarantee’ during booking. While it seems extremely profitable at first glance, it is crucial for regular passengers to understand the strict conditions hidden behind these ads. Do you really get three times the money back if the ticket is not confirmed? Let’s understand the real calculation and reality behind it.

The Mathematical Calculation of Ixigo’s 3X Refund

Many people assume that if the ticket is not confirmed, they might get three times the entire amount back in their bank account. However, the reality is quite different. Let’s understand this with an example. Suppose you booked a train ticket from Howrah to Puri with a base fare of ₹730.

If you opt for the ‘Travel Guarantee’, you have to pay an extra service charge along with the ticket fare. Let’s say this charge is ₹339. So, your total expense becomes ₹1069. Now, if your ticket is not confirmed after chart preparation and gets automatically cancelled, only then you become eligible for this refund. In that case, the refund breakdown will be as follows:

The point to note here is that the extra ₹339 you paid as a service charge will not be refunded under any circumstances. Moreover, the ₹1460 is not given in cash but as a voucher or coupon.

Hidden Conditions and Limitations of Travel Guarantee

Although the company advertises a 3X refund, availing of this benefit is quite difficult for ordinary passengers due to several strict conditions:

• Time Limit: You must use the refund coupon within just 7 days from the date of ticket cancellation. If you do not book a new bus or flight ticket within this period, the coupon will lapse.
• RAC or Partly Confirmed: If your ticket moves from the waiting list to RAC, you will not get this refund. Additionally, if there are multiple passengers on a single PNR and even one ticket gets confirmed while others remain waiting, this offer will not apply.
• Maximum Refund Limit: Regardless of the ticket price, you can receive a maximum coupon value of ₹6000. Even if the 3X calculation exceeds ₹6000, the company will not issue a coupon worth more than this cap.
• No Passenger Change: The passengers named in the original ticket must be the same when booking an alternative ticket using the coupon. You cannot transfer this coupon to friends or relatives for their use.

The Radius Rule Restriction

The most complex condition lies in selecting the destination. You cannot simply book a ticket for any route using the refund coupon.

1. For Flights: The airport must be within a 300 km radius of your origin or destination.
2. For Buses: The bus stand must be within a 100 km radius of the original station.
   
   For example, if a Howrah to Puri ticket is cancelled, you cannot use that coupon to book a ticket to Delhi. You must plan your travel within the specified distance around Puri.

When Will You Not Get a Refund?

In certain situations, you will not receive any benefit from this ‘Travel Guarantee’:

• If you cancel the ticket yourself before chart preparation.
• If the train is cancelled by the Railway authorities.
• If you decide not to travel after a waiting ticket gets confirmed.

Conclusion

Ixigo’s ‘Travel Guarantee’ essentially works like an insurance policy, for which you have to pay a premium or extra money in advance. Due to the short validity of the coupon and strict distance conditions, it may not be very profitable for the average passenger. Therefore, instead of being lured by flashy advertisements, it might be wiser to book tickets directly following IRCTC’s official rules without spending extra money.