Alternation of China High Speed Train Tickets

You may feel confused about how to make an alteration of your tickets in China. Don’t worry, your problems can be solved after read the below details.

China Train Ticket Alteration Policy & Charges

For each train ticket, passengers can change the booking once. Under the premise that the railway transportation company has the transportation capacity, the change shall be handled in accordance with the following regulations:

● More than 48 hours before departure, tickets can be changed free of charge for trains during the advance booking period.

● Less than 48 hours before departure, tickets can be changed free of charge for trains before the travel date stated on the ticket.

● Less than 48 hours before departure, tickets can be changed for trains during the advance booking period after the travel date stated on the ticket, and a change fee will be charged.

● After departure, tickets can be changed free of charge for other trains on the same day before 24:00.

● After departure, before 24:00 on the same day, tickets can be changed for trains during the advance booking period after the travel date stated on the ticket, and a change fee will be charged.

When changing the destination station, it should be done more than 48 hours before departure. If luggage has already been checked in for the original ticket, luggage change or cancellation service should also be handled.

When You Cannot Make an Alteration?

● When you have already made an alternation

● When there is no ticket available

● When you cannot provide your original valid passport (or other valid documents) used for online booked tickets

Fees for Train Ticket Alternation

1. No change fee will be charged when changing the ticket more than 48 hours before the departure station stated on the ticket, or when changing to a train on or before the travel date stated on the ticket less than 48 hours before departure, or when changing to another train on the same day after departure but before 24:00.

2. If changing to a train after the travel date stated on the ticket between 24 to 48 hours before departure, 5% of the lower ticket price before and after the change will be charged.

3. If changing to a train after the travel date stated on the ticket less than 24 hours before departure, 15% of the lower ticket price before and after the change will be charged.

4. If changing to a train on or after the next day after departure but before 24:00 on the same day, 40% of the lower ticket price before and after the change will be charged.

China train ticket Alternation Charges - Price Difference

If the original ticket was purchased with cash, for the new ticket: when the fare is higher than the original ticket, the difference will be charged; when the fare is lower than the original ticket, the difference will be refunded, and a cancellation fee will be charged for the difference amount according to the current cancellation fee standard (all in cash).

If the original ticket was purchased at a railway ticket office with a bank card, or purchased on 12306.cn using an online payment tool, according to the regulations of the issuing bank or online payment tool: when the new ticket fare is higher than the original, please pay the full fare of the new ticket with the bank card. The fare of the original ticket will be refunded to the bank card or online payment tool used for the original purchase within the specified time. When the new ticket fare is lower than the original, the difference will be refunded, and a cancellation fee will be charged for the difference amount according to the current cancellation fee standard. The refund amount should be returned to the bank card or online payment tool used for the original purchase within the specified time.

Where and How to Alter China Train Ticket

Passengers can change bookings at railway station ticket offices, on the 12306 website, and at automatic ticket vending machines with change booking functionality.

Tickets purchased with any valid ID document can be changed at railway station ticket offices. However, tickets for which a reimbursement receipt has been printed, and tickets purchased with cash payment, can only be changed at railway station ticket offices. Tickets purchased with ID documents from the 12306 website and paid for electronically can be changed on the 12306 website. When changing bookings at automatic ticket vending machines with change functionality, follow the system prompts.

Only a few staffs in the train station can speak English, so you can show the below sentences when you encounter with language barrier:

● English: Hello, I couldn’t find the ticket office, could you help me?

   Chinese: Chinese:你好！我找不到售票厅，可以帮下我吗？

● English: Hello, I want to alter my train ticket, is this the correct line?

   Chinese: 你好！我想要改签车票，请问是在这里排队吗？

● English: Hello, I want to make an alteration. Here are my passport and ticket, thank you!

   Chinese: 你好！这是我的护照和车票，我想改签，谢谢！

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>>Check more about How to Book China High Speed Train Tickets

>>Check more about How to Read China High Speed Train Tickets

>>Check more about How to Collect China High Speed Train Tickets

>>Check more about China High Speed Train Ticket Cancellation - Documents, Policy & Charges