What You Need to Know about Tibet Train Ticket Alteration

So, your Tibet travel plans have shifted? Don't worry, it happens to the best of us. Whatever the reason, altering your Tibet train ticket is possible. As your friendly Tibet travel advisor, let me walk you through the process, so you can handle it with confidence.

The Golden Rule of Ticket Alteration

You are generally permitted to alter your ticket once, subject to seat availability on your desired new train. Please note that the departure and arrival stations should remain the same. During peak season for Tibet travel, when trains to Lhasa are in high demand, flexibility can be limited. This is why I always advise our clients to try and book the perfect ticket from the start.

Making Sense of the Change Fees & Timelines

The cost and possibility of a change depend entirely on when you make the request. Let's break it down into simple scenarios.

If you make the change more than 48 hours before your original departure, you're in luck. You can switch to another train on an earlier or later date on the platform, usually free of charge.

If it's within 48 hours of your train's departure, the rules get a bit more specific. You can still switch to a train departing before your original one for free, if seats are open. However, if you want to move your journey to a later date, a fee will apply. This fee is a percentage of your ticket price.

Here's a quick guide to those fees:

24–48 hours before departure: A fee of around 5% of the ticket price.

Less than 24 hours before departure: The fee increases to about 15%.

And what if you miss your train? Don't panic. You have until midnight on the day of departure to change your ticket for another train on the same day without a fee. If you need to travel on a later date, you can do so, but with a higher fee, typically around 40% of the ticket value.

A Quick Word on Cancellations

If you cancel a changed ticket before departure, you'll follow the standard refund rules: no fee if you cancel 8+ days early, 5% fee for 48+ hours early, 10% for 24–48 hours early, and 20% for less than 24 hours.

The big exception: If you changed your ticket after the train departed (like switching to a later same-day train), you can't get a refund. So double-check your new departure time before confirming!

How to Actually Make the Change

You can process changes at any major train station or try online via the China Railway website or app.

You can also use the "Change Destination" service. Please note the following payment rules:

If the new ticket costs more than the original, you will need to pay the full price of the new ticket online. Your original payment will be refunded to your source payment account within the stipulated time frame.

If the new ticket costs less, the price difference will be refunded, but a service fee will be deducted from this difference based on the standard refund policy.

If you find yourself checking constantly and see that your preferred train is sold out, use the  "Waitlist" function when booking online. This puts you in a virtual queue, and if a seat becomes available, the system will automatically assign it to you. It's a fantastic feature for determined travelers. 

Conclusion

Skip the booking hassle by letting us secure your train tickets!