IRCTC + Smart Buy - Is it just me, or getting a desired train seat on Smart Buy is more difficult compared to IRCTC website?

[Batman]

It seems like when I book a 3AC ticket on IRCTC, I can always get my desired seat (assuming 20+ seats available) - Side lower. But whenever I book on Smart Buy, I get Upper or Middle.

Generally, a pissed off experience. It makes me wander away from Smart Buy.

I understand that IRCTC algo favours old people. But I've never had an issue. I only face this issue on Smart Buy.

 

[HumorSimpson]

@Vasuki

May be they trained the algorithm so 🤔

 

[desiviru]

I have booked many a times using sbuy and always get window seats or lower berths. But when seats are limited, it generally push 1 ticket booking passengers and if you are booking 2 or more it gives only one window side or lower birth. That's how algorithm works. Better to book well in advance when atleast 50+ seats are available.

 

[Learner]

I booked seat for 55+yrs aged female recently. It still has 230+ seats but got upper seat. Not even side upper even after setting preference.
My experience is similar to OP

 

[desiviru]

I booked seat for 55+yrs aged female recently. It still has 230+ seats but got upper seat. Not even side upper even after setting preference.
My experience is similar to OP

As I said, single passengers mostly don't get their preferred seat as algorithm is such. Mostly it goes by 3 seats, 2 seats formula and 2+/3+ tickets are preferred. IRCTC will have to rework their algo.

Why don't you tick option where it says, book only if preferred seat is allotted?

 

[HumorSimpson]

I booked seat for 55+yrs aged female recently. It still has 230+ seats but got upper seat. Not even side upper even after setting preference.
My experience is similar to OP

IRCTC What a baloney ?
allotting upper berth to granny

 

[Learner]

As I said, single passengers mostly don't get their preferred seat as algorithm is such. Mostly it goes by 3 seats, 2 seats formula and 2+/3+ tickets are preferred. IRCTC will have to rework their algo.

Why don't you tick option where it says, book only if preferred seat is allotted?

I rarely booked single tkt. So when there are more seats booked, we exchanged seats.
This time, I thought with so many avl seats, I will get lower seat by just mentioning preference. Stupid me.

 

[billion.bx]

The lower birth preference is given to senior citizens as per the recent policy change of Railway. Assuming you are a young person the same may be due to this reason.

And personally, I do book 10-12 tickets in a go as i travel regularly to hometown. I have never got the other seat which is jot preferred whenever the availability is more than 50-70. I use smartbuy for all the booking. Don’t think it’s an issue of Smartbuy.

 

[desiviru]

The lower birth preference is given to senior citizens as per the recent policy change of Railway. Assuming you are a young person the same may be due to this reason.

And personally, I do book 10-12 tickets in a go as i travel regularly to hometown. I have never got the other seat which is jot preferred whenever the availability is more than 50-70. I use smartbuy for all the booking. Don’t think it’s an issue of Smartbuy.

Yes, but they should have kept age 50 for that. As usual they take 60+ as Sr. Citizens according to DoB and system prefer them at lower births. 59 Years 11 Months according to railways can climb berth. 🙁

 

[sudoabhi]

It seems like when I book a 3AC ticket on IRCTC, I can always get my desired seat (assuming 20+ seats available) - Side lower. But whenever I book on Smart Buy, I get Upper or Middle.

Generally, a pissed off experience. It makes me wander away from Smart Buy.

I understand that IRCTC algo favours old people. But I've never had an issue. I only face this issue on Smart Buy.

I booked seat for 55+yrs aged female recently. It still has 230+ seats but got upper seat. Not even side upper even after setting preference.
My experience is similar to OP

Yeah. same experience

 

[sudoabhi]

single passengers mostly don't get their preferred seat as algorithm is such. Mostly it goes by 3 seats, 2 seats formula and 2+/3+ tickets are preferred.

i booked 2 tickets via SmartBuy (for my parents). Selected Lower for both. More than 30+ seats were available. Got Upper for both.

tick option where it says, book only if preferred seat is allotted

yeah, better to select this option. i do it now

 

[desiviru]

i booked 2 tickets via SmartBuy (for my parents). Selected Lower for both. More than 30+ seats were available. Got Upper for both.


yeah, better to select this option. i do it now

How do you or anyone can know these 30+ seats had lower berths? Maybe all lower berths were already filled. Most people book well in advance get most of lower berths. Everyone tries to get lower berth like us. It's more like a lottery these days.

 

[blupirate]

Side Lower berth are most hard to get. We may get lower berth when seats are 100+ available but really hard to get Side Lower seat because most of Side Lower berths are reserved for RAC Passangers.

 

[dexter_greycells]

My experience of using SmartBuy for the past 6 years of doing nearly 25 train bookings per year for both senior and non-senior citizens does not mirror the OP's at all. Ironically, in my recent to-fro trip between MH-RJ in August, I got side lower both times after being initially wait-listed. For senior citizens, I always check the option for 'Book only if 2 lower berths are allotted'.

 

[billion.bx]

Side Lower berth are most hard to get. We may get lower berth when seats are 100+ available but really hard to get Side Lower seat because most of Side Lower berths are reserved for RAC Passangers.

Makes sense. That can be another reason

 

[sudoabhi]

How do you or anyone can know these 30+ seats had lower berths? Maybe all lower berths were already filled. Most people book well in advance get most of lower berths. Everyone tries to get lower berth like us. It's more like a lottery these days.

i have had multiple experiences 🙂

 

[Batman]

Why don't you tick option where it says, book only if preferred seat is allotted?

TIL
Will try.

 

[vaibhjindal]

If any ladies above 45 years and a gents above 60 year in railway a different cotta in lower seats where you book your confirmed seats lower seats for 2 person in one ticket, if you fill 3 names in any ticket then no chance of getting lower seats, above 2 person they treats as normal ticket, so always book on one ticket only 2 person, I have always booked lower tickes

 

[GTSaketh]

I booked a ticket today on smartbuy and it's saying lost connection to IRCTC and will be updated in 1 hour, which is fine. But I can't even seem to find it in my orders.

Anyone know anything about it?

 

[Batman]

I booked a ticket today on smartbuy and it's saying lost connection to IRCTC and will be updated in 1 hour, which is fine. But I can't even seem to find it in my orders.

Anyone know anything about it?

Ticket not booked. Amount will be refunded. Feel free to book again from smartbuy or IRCTC.

You can confirm the same by calling HDFC support.