Essential Things to Check Before Confirming Any Travel Reservation

“Prior preparation prevents piss-poor performance.”

— Anthony Bourdain (American Author)

Booking travel reservations or tickets is not a tough game to chase, but for a great win, you need preparation!

In my family, I am the only one who books tickets every time. Being the younger one, I feel proud of this, but at the same time, it makes my shoulders heavy too. My one mistake and uncountable blames with hours of lecture will be written in my fate automatically. 

So, I always make sure to check essential things before confirming any travel reservation, and today I will tell them to you too. Let’s begin!

Verify Travel Dates and Timings

I have seen people being too excited for their trips that they even forget to check the dates and timings (including me)! I remember one day, I was going to my hometown, and the train time was 12:15 am. Me being me, I thought it was 12 o’clock in the afternoon, and I missed my train. To not be a fool like me, it’s important for you to verify the dates and timings. 

So, double-check if the platform uses 12 hour or 24 hour clock to avoid confusion between 12 pm and 12 am. Hence, if your train time is 00:15, that means you need to be at the station on the night of the previous day. 

I repeat, do not repeat the mistake I did, and verify your travel dates and timing from whichever platform you are booking. Whether it’s through makemy trip, redbus, IRCTC booking, or anything else. Just be mindful!

Confirm Boarding and Drop Points

Next, an important thing to check before confirming any travel reservation is the boarding and drop-off points. I know, you might be thinking that I’m silly, as its basic to check these details. But I am telling, because it’s essential. Sometimes, it happens that you search train from a different boarding, but the booking sites show the available trains, and the boarding can change in such cases. 

Therefore, it is important to fill in each detail carefully and double-check your boarding and drop-off points to avoid unnecessary hassle. 

Review Seat Type and Coach Preferences

Comfort is a necessity, not a choice!

You can’t compromise with your comfort, whether it is a short journey or a long one. So, review seat type and coach preferences before confirming any travel reservation.  And eliminate discomfort words from your dictionary when you’re travelling.

Cross-Check Fare, Charges, and Refund Rules

Do not overspend, let your pocket breathe too!

At the time of flight or Train ticket booking, you will see only the ticket price. Once you proceed and fill in your details, the final price will appear. The final price includes all taxes, insurance, and ticket information. Be sure to double-check them and compare different trains and flights to calculate your travel expense and avoid overspending. 

Also, it is essential to read the refund rules. In case you need to cancel your ticket, it will give you an idea of the amount you will get back.

Look at Operator Ratings and Policies

Before confirming your bookings, you need to look for the operator ratings, customer feedback, and policies. This is especially important if your reservation includes any private bus or feeder service. Checking reviews helps you to understand the reliability, punctuality, and overall service quality of the operator. It also ensures that the company follows proper safety standards and has fair cancellation or refund policies. 

Being aware of details in advance can help you to avoid unexpected issues and ensure a smoother, safer, and more secure travel experience.

Pay Attention to Trip Duration and Breaks

Be attentive to the trip duration and breaks!

Check for the timings of intermediate stations if you’re travelling by train. Also, when you are booking your tickets, check for the speed of the train to calculate your arrival time. Reaching the destination at midnight can be dangerous and risky. 

If you are travelling via bus, then be sure to check the duration of their scheduled breaks and the locations for the breaks. Locations for dinner or restroom breaks should be at a safe and well-lit place.

Check Passenger Details and ID Requirements

Your tickets are invalid if it does not match your identity! 

Check for the required identity card for your travel, it can be aadhar card, pan card, a passport, a voter ID card, etc., and double-check the details(name, age, etc.) mentioned in your tickets and match them with your identity card. 

Compare Different Platforms Before Finalising

Before confirming your travel reservations, compare platforms and check for the best deals. You may find third-party apps convenient, but sometimes the official IRCTC or airline sites are cheaper. Official sites do not ask for an extra convenience fee. Also, you can check if the platform provides any credit card or UPI cashback offers to save more.

Keep an Eye on Payment and Security

Financial security is also a part of your security!

The last step is to be careful with your payment and security. Be sure to use a secure connection where the URL starts with https:// and has a padlock icon. 

Also, do not refresh the page or hit the back button while the payment proceeds. Just in case, if your amount is deducted but you didn’t get tickets, then immediately take a screenshot of the transaction ID and contact customer support.

Conclusion

Your single mistake can create many blunders! 

Hence, I recommend being careful, checking all details multiple times, considering your budget, and travelling stress-free. A journey holds uncountable moments, and you cannot ruin it just doing silly mistakes.

Wishing you a happy and safe travel!

• Dates and timings
• Confirm arrival and departure times
• Seat and coach preferences
• Fare, charges, and refund rules
• Operator ratings and policies

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