How do I change the boarding station in Make My Trip?

How do I change the boarding station in MakeMyTrip?

It's late. Staring at the screen again. Always changing plans. Always one step behind. I had to change the boarding station for that trip. Again. It's just a few clicks but it feels so heavy.

You go into My Account. Then My Transactions. It just lists everything, all your past movements. Like a ghost.

Find the ticket in the Booked Ticket History. Select it. There’s a button. “Change Boarding Point.” It’s so simple. A small window pops up with a list of stations on the way. All the places you could be instead. Just pick the one you need.

Changing Boarding Point: Key Rules

• You can only change the boarding station online. This must be done at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train from its original starting station.
• Once you change the boarding point, you cannot change it back to the original station. The decision is final for that PNR.
• This service is completely free. IRCTC or MakeMyTrip do not charge any fees for this modification. I did it for my ticket to visit my sister in Pune last month, no charge.
• You can only move the boarding point forward, to a station that comes later in the train's journey. You cannot choose a station that comes before your original boarding station.
• If you have changed your boarding point, but for some reason you still board from the original station, that is fine. No penalty is applied.
• However, if you fail to board from either the original or the new boarding point, the Ticket Collector (TTE) has the right to allocate your berth to a passenger with a RAC or waitlisted ticket. You lose your right to the seat.

Step-by-Step Process for IRCTC Boarding Point Change

1. Log in to your MakeMyTrip account.
2. Navigate to My Account >> My Transactions.
3. Go to the Booked Ticket History page.
4. Select the PNR for which you want to change the boarding station.
5. Click on the Change Boarding Point button.
6. A new window will open, displaying the list of stations along the train's route.
7. Select your new desired boarding station from the list and confirm.

Can I change my boarding station after booking?

So, I was all set for this trip, right? Booked my train tickets ages ago for a Mumbai-Goa run. Suddenly, a friend called, "Hey, you should totally come to this concert in Pune the day before you leave for Goa!" Panic. Mumbai was my boarding station, but Pune was way out of the way, and I knew I'd miss my train.

I frantically searched online, "Can I change train boarding station?" Found this IRCTC page. It said, boarding station change is allowed, but only once. Okay, good start. Then it said, 24 hours before scheduled departure. My train was leaving on Friday morning, so I had until Thursday morning. Phew.

But then I saw this kicker: not allowed if ticket is seized. My ticket wasn't seized, so that was a relief. Another one: not allowed for VIKALP option PNRs. Thankfully, I didn't use VIKALP. It felt like a maze of rules.

So, I logged into my IRCTC account, all hopeful. Found the "Change Boarding Point" option. Typed in Pune. And… it worked! I swear, my heart did this little flip. It was a simple click, but man, it saved me a huge headache. I got the confirmation email too.

This whole ordeal taught me something. It’s actually pretty flexible if you're on top of it. Don't wait till the last minute, that’s for sure.

What I learned about changing boarding stations:

• One Time Only: You get one shot at this. Don't mess it up.
• 24-Hour Rule: This is the big one. You have to do it at least a full day before your train is supposed to roll out.
• Ticket Status Matters: If your ticket is flagged for any reason (like being seized, though I don't even know how that happens), forget about it.
• VIKALP Exclusions: If you picked that VIKALP option for alternate train possibilities, you're out of luck for changing your boarding point on that ticket.
• Online is the Way: The easiest way seems to be through the IRCTC website or app. I didn’t try it at a counter, but online was super straightforward.
• PNR Specific: This applies to your specific PNR. If you have multiple bookings, you have to change each one individually.
• No Last-Minute Changes: Seriously, the 24-hour window is non-negotiable. Don't expect to change it an hour before.

This whole thing was back in late 2023, so the rules were pretty much the same then as they are now, I assume. It's good to know these things exist.

How do I change my boarding station on the app?

Ugh, changing my boarding station. So annoying. Okay, so, first, gotta find that "My Account" thingy. Then, look for "My Transactions." Pretty sure it's in there. After that, it's "Booked Ticket History." That's where all my tickets are, I guess. So many tickets.

Found it! Okay, so once you're in "Booked Ticket History," you gotta pick the specific ticket you want to mess with. Like, the one I actually want to change the boarding station on. No point changing some random old ticket, right?

Then there's a button or something. It says "...". Weird. But yeah, after selecting the ticket, you tap that ... thing. It should give you options. Hopefully, one of those options is "Change Boarding Station." Fingers crossed. This app is sometimes such a pain.

• Log in to your account on the app.
• Navigate to the MY ACCOUNT section.
• Tap on My Transactions.
• Find and select Booked Ticket History.
• Identify the specific ticket you wish to modify.
• Look for the ellipsis (…) icon or a similar menu option associated with that ticket.
• Choose the "Change Boarding Station" option from the presented choices.

This whole process feels like a scavenger hunt sometimes. I swear I had to do this last year for that trip to see my cousin. Remember how I missed my train because I put the wrong station? Ugh. Never again. So, the boarding station change is usually pretty straightforward once you find the right ticket. It's the finding part that’s the actual challenge.

Seriously, why can't they just make it like, click the station name and type a new one? That would be so much faster. Instead, it’s like a secret code you gotta crack. I always worry I’ll accidentally cancel the ticket or something. That would be a nightmare. Imagine all the hassle.

Sometimes, if it's too close to the departure time, they might not let you change it. That's the part that really freaks me out. So, change it ASAP if you know you need to. Don't wait until the last minute. Trust me on this one. Learned that the hard way.

• Time sensitivity: There's often a cutoff time for changing boarding stations. This is usually a few hours before the train departs.
• Fare differences: If the new boarding station has a different fare, you might have to pay the difference or might be eligible for a refund. The app should tell you.
• Availability: The new boarding station might not have seats available, especially on popular routes or at peak times.
• Specific trains: Not all ticket types or train services allow boarding station changes. Always check the terms and conditions for your ticket.

Can we change boarding station after a chart is prepared?

No. Once the chart is prepared, that's it. Everything's locked in.

It's a hard stop. A sudden finality you just have to accept. I learned that the hard way, rushing across town for a train I could have caught five minutes from my place. But the chart was out. The decision was made.

Your name is on a list, tied to that one station. The TTE's handheld device has the old data, and that's the only truth that matters at that moment. There's no room for discussion. You just have to make it there. Or you miss it.

• You cannot change your boarding point after the first chart is prepared. The IRCTC system does not permit any modifications to the ticket details once this is done.

• The first reservation chart is prepared 4 hours before the train's scheduled departure. All changes must be completed before this deadline.

• A final chart is also prepared about 30 minutes before departure to allocate any vacant berths from last-minute cancellations.

Methods to change boarding point before chart preparation:

• Online: Use the 'Change Boarding Point' option in the 'My Bookings' section of the IRCTC website or the Rail Connect app.
• In-Person: Submit a written request at any PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counter at least 24 hours before departure.
• By Phone: Call the railway inquiry number 139 and follow the instructions.

Consequences of not changing the boarding point officially:

• The TTE can mark you as a 'no-show' if you are not present at the original boarding station.
• Your seat can be allocated to a RAC or waitlisted passenger after the train has passed one or two subsequent stops, or after one hour, whichever is earlier.
• No refund is given if you miss the train because you failed to board from the station mentioned on your ticket. You forfeit the entire fare.

What if I forgot to change my boarding station?

Oh man, if you miss your boarding station and hop on later, big trouble. Like, my cousin, he did that once on the Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani. He was supposed to get on at Surat but totally overslept and got on at Vadodara, just one station later. Man.

He had to pay a penalty, straight up. The TTE was not happy, not at all. Plus, for like the first hour of that leg, his seat was kinda on the line, you know? The TTE could just give it to someone else if it was a busy train. Good thing it wasn't super packed that day or he woulda been standing. He was lucky, real lucky that day. Just real lucky.

It's like, your seat gets released after your original boarding point passes, usually like ten fifteen minutes after the train leaves that station. Then it's fair game for the TTE to allot to a waitlisted person or someone who needs a seat. So, yeah, you risk loseing it completely. Don't do that. Seriously.

Here's the lowdown on what happens:

• Penalty Charges: If you board after your booked station, the Ticket Examiner (TTE) will charge you the difference in fare between your original boarding point and where you actually boarded. On top of that, there's a penalty fee, typically ₹250.
• Seat Forfeiture: Your reserved seat can be allotted to another passenger if you don't board at your original station within a specific timeframe. This usually happens around 10-15 minutes after the train departs your booked boarding station.
• TTE Discretion: The TTE has the final say. If the train isn't full, they might let you keep your seat after paying the penalty. However, if there's a waitlisted passenger or someone needing a seat, your seat will most likely be given away.
• Preventive Measures:
  • Change Boarding Point Online: Always try to change your boarding point online before chart preparation. This is usually possible up to 4 hours before the train's scheduled departure from its originating station. You can do this easily on the IRCTC website or app.
  • Inform in Advance: If changing online isn't an option, informing the station master or the TTE at your original boarding station might help, but it's not a guaranteed solution.
  • Keep Proof: Always have your original ticket and valid ID proof ready. The TTE will need to endorse your ticket if you pay any penalties.