When berths are booked adequately Custom Panoramic Elevators, confirmed tickets are issued. If all tickets have been sold, the Indian Railways or IRCTC issues RAC (Reservation against cancellation) tickets. Once all RAC tickets have been sold, they release Waitlisted tickets.

On most trains, tickets are inevitably cancelled due to different contingencies. Cancellations allow you to board train if you possess RAC tickets or Waitlisted ticket with RAC given first preference.

The type of railways reservation situation is as follows;

Often the ticket will carry two numbers in the format WL 12/ WL 6. The first number is the original PNR status (when you bought the ticket) and the second part described your current PNR status. This means that with time and cancellations, your PNR status has improved from Wait Listed 12 to Waitlisted 6.

If the train is ready to depart and reservation chart is finalized, the amount you spent on your waitlisted ticket will be credited to your bank account.

PNR is a record of travel of a single individual or a group of people that is stored in the computerized reservation system of Indian Railways. After getting PNR status from any source, it is recommended that you print a hard copy and keep with you throughout the journey. This is so that you have the proof of a confirmed ticket in case any dispute arises with co-passengers or officials.

The travel industry has been in major upheavel since the mid ninties

and has changed dramatically. You, as a ticket-paying passenger need to

be informed in order to make the best travel decisions for yourself and

your family. What options do you have if you've purchased tickets on an

airline that goes belly-up?

One airline's marketing slogan is, "Fly the friendly skies...",

well, those skies are not very friendly for you when the airlines are in

financial trouble.

The airline industry has struggled for more than a decade, even

in the favorable economics of the 90's. All the major US carriers, with the

exception of Southwest Airlines, have been in bankruptcy or are in the state of

chapter 11 now.

Hopefully there will not be any more airline bankruptcies and I

know that's wishful thinking, but it has to be recognized that it could possibly

occur. Following are guidelines you should know and how an airline bankruptcy

could effect you.

If an airline declares bankruptcy, it is not obligated to carry you or to

refund tickets issued before the bankruptcy.

If you purchased your airline ticket directly from the airline, the airline

is not obligated to refund the ticket.

If you purchased your airline ticket from an internet web site not owned by

an airline, such as expedia, travelocity, etc., that web site is acting as an

agent for the airline and is not allowed to refund your airline ticket.

If you purchased a ticket through a tavel agency, the agency is not allowed

to refund the ticket of the bankrupt airline.

Money given to a travel agency for an airline ticket, whether it be cash,

check or credit card, immediately becomes the property of the airline.

Travel agencies are required by law to comply with an airline's orders,

rules and directives.

If an airline declares bankruptcy, it might continue service, limit service

or stop service completely.

Other airlines might accept passengers under limited circumstances or may

refuse to accept any passengers from the defaulted airline.

The United States government has given airlines 'preemption', or immunity,

from consumer protection laws. Your rights as a US citizen do not apply to

airline bankruptcy.

How You Can Protect Yourself From Airline Bankruptcy

This may sound trite and over-simplified, but the best bet is

to purchase and travel on financially stable airlines. Be informed, search for

information concerning the financial condition of an airline you're considering

to purchase from.

Regardless of what airline you choose to fly, travel

insurance is your best and only protection in case an airline declares

bankruptcy or about any other unforeseen circumstance. Before

purchasing travel insurance from a provider, and there are many, be

certain the policy will cover an airline bankruptcy.