Examples of "smart bookings"
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Book using a different starting station, ending station or both to get confirmed berths.
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Dont spend money on booking in GN quota, or unnecessaily going for Tatkal when you...
more... existing WL ticket is sure to get confirmed.
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If no confirmed berths are available in any train (of suitable time), analyze various WL in various trains and book in the one which has most chances of confirmations. Lower WL does not mean high chances. It all depends on pattern of travel by that train. For example, a WL 30 in 3AC from Bhopal to NDLS will get confirmed in Karnataka Exp, but even a WL15 in Shane Bhopal exp may not get confirmed.
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If all passengers are not getting berths in same cabin/compartment, allow the bookings to get full, and wait for RAC to start. RAC 1, 2,3, 4 has 100% chances of being alloted berths in same cabin when confirmed. This will happen at charting.
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When you hold backup bookings, the bookings should be done in such an order that the charting for the most preferred ticket happens before the charting for the lower preferred ticket. Otherwise this does not serve as backup purpose.
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In cases when I am not sure of my travel plans, but book a tentative ticket, I try to find out trains which have WL, but sure to get confirmed at charting. This way I save cancellation charges even if I had to cancel my ticket 1 day before the travel date.
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