What is PNR?
PNR, or Passenger Name Record is a database record that is stored in the database of a CRS (computer reservation system). PNS status contains certain itinerary of a stand-alone passenger or a group of passengers (travelling together). Although it was first used by (and introduced by) airlines, today, passenger name records are mostly used by Indian railways. PNR comes as a 10-digit number that is exclusive for every passenger that is travelling via railways (even buses or airlines). It contains viable information about the people travelling by the Indian railways. For every ticket that is booked (via IRCTC), passengers get a PNR status for the same. Kindly note that merely getting a PNR number does not ensure ticket confirmation. You can check the PNR status using the online tool for absolutely free.
PNR status contains the following information for every passenger or group of people travelling together.
- Name/names of the passenger or passengers.
- Details about the source and destination.
- Name of the train.
- Class in which seats have been booked.
- Status of booking (i.e. whether seats have been reserved or not – CNF/RAC/GNWL).
- Date and time of journey.
- Some other relevant travel related itinerary.
- Name of booking agent (like Paytm).
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So, as you see, by using PNR status, you get to see a lot of important information. It is advised that you use PNR status wisely and check it on a secured device. The process of checking your PNR status is very easy. There is a dedicated text field where you are required to enter your PNR number (a unique 10-digit number) and click on ‘Get PNR Status’. The digits that you will enter will get validated from using the ticketing-status API that the website is running. Once the digits get validated, the final status of your ticket-booking will be displayed.
In how many ways can we check PNR status online?
There are a number of ways in which users can check the PNR status of their booking. Thanks to the growth in technology and Digital India initiative, today, we have a number of ways of checking our reservation status. PNR status is very easy to be checked online and all you need is an internet-active smartphone, tablet or a computer. The process of checking the PNR status can be done easily on the aforementioned devices. For those who have opted to digitally check the status of their PNR-number, there is a dedicated section for the same. You are requested to enter the details in the column that asks you to do so.
- In the section that explicitly has ‘Enter PNR Number’ mentioned, enter your 10-digit number over there.
- After you have entered the PNR-number, hit Enter-key (or Go if using a smartphone/tablet).
- It will display that status of your travel ticket in no time.
- Do read the last section over here in case you want to know about different terminologies used in the railways.
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PNR status can be checked online as well as offline. In case you want to get it checked offline, you will be required to visit the nearest railway-enquiry zone. This can be the DRM office front desk or a railway station. Simply go to the counter and tell the person sitting behind the desk to check your PNR status. It is a free process and the person will be more than happy to assist. However, there are some other ways as well and listed below –
- Live websites (like this one).
- PNR status check via SMS (in the forthcoming section).
- Mobile apps for PNR and bookings.
- Reservation charts.
So, as you see, there are plenty of ways in which one can check the status of his/her PNR.
How to check PNR status using SMS?
One of the really cool features to check PNR status is using mobile phones using SMS/text-messaging. This method is different from the online process of doing of checking PNR-status and standard SMS rates may also vary. All you need is a mobile phone that has messaging services and that is pretty much it. However, be sure to keep the receipt ready that contains a 10-digit PNR number. This same number will be needed in order to proceed with the process. Here are the necessary steps that you need to follow if you wish to know the status of your booking.
- On your mobile phones, open the default messaging app.
- Go to New Message.
- Type – PNR followed by the 10-digit PNR number.
E.g. PNR 1234567890
- Send this message to 139.
Kindly note that this process is not entirely free and you may be charged depending upon the SMS pricing.
The reply to this message may also take a moment to arrive that depends on your device’s network feasibility/reception. A lot of people in India use this method in order to check for their PNR status. It is a fool-proof method that does not require any internet connection. Fun fact, this method of PNR status checking even works with normal mobile phones (non-smartphones). So, you do not need to have a smartphone in order to check for the status of your bookings anymore. Travellers will get every valuable information in the form of SMS. It will be saved in your message inbox till the time you decide to delete it. A number of railways accept this status as valid and you do not even have to show your-ticket to the TTE/TC. The digital copy of your ticket (e-ticket) reservation status can be used in case you do not have a physical copy.
Reservation prediction/chances
You see, the entire reservation prediction chances are speculative and nothing for sure can be said. It just as an estimate that is taken using the average values of the previous trends that have followed. However, there are a lot of chances of you getting to know predictions (accurate-to 80%) via checking your PNR status online. A number of passengers (especially students) prefer travelling without a confirmed ticket and often land into trouble. The Indian Railways have made it very clear that travelling without a valid ticket is a felony. Those found violating the rules can be detained, penalized or even arrested.
There are instances where solely checking the PNR status timely has been beneficial to many in getting confirmed seats. Please note that there is no rule of thumb regarding tickets getting confirmed and everything is merely a fluke. Consider yourselves lucky in case you are a woman, senior-citizen, differently-abled or an army serviceman. These people have their quotas reserved by the Indian Railways and chances of them getting confirmed-seats are a lot more. The sole purpose of PNR status is to let the passengers know about their reservation-status and nothing else. In no way does it promote the overall reservation-process policy. It abides by whatever the Indian Railway Ministry lays down.
Here are some quick facts about PNR –
- The PNR number also reveals the PRS or the Passenger Reservation System.
- It even contains a number of random numbers generated by CRIS.
- Every PNR number expires as soon as the journey gets completed.
- The Indian Railways uses an AI-based-tool that displays the chances of getting a confirmed-ticket based on the PNR status.
- This prediction can be checked out by seeing the percentage(%) symbol mentioned at the side of ticketing-terminology.
PNR Number Explained / PNR Status Meaning
Let’s just admit it, we get confused whenever we see different annotations and abbreviations for our booking-status. It almost looks like some weird code that has been morphed for the travellers. You see, PNR status can only let you know about whether the tickets have been confirmed or not. It does not explain to you what GNWL or RAC means. Even if you do understand a few terms, there is a high chance that you don’t know the exact-difference between them. No need to worry, because we have your backs covered at all times. Read along if you want to know what these abbreviations mean for your PNR status.
- CNF – This simply means that your ticket is confirmed and is usually followed by coach and berth number.
- GNWL – This means General Waiting List and is the most-common of them all. It has the highest chances of ticket-confirmation.
- RLWL – It means Remote Location Waiting List. Your chances of boarding the train from another (i.e. remote) location are high.
- PQWL – The Pooled Quota Waiting List is meant for those passengers travelling between shared stations. That is, from the originating-station to a few stations before the destination-station.
- RLGN – It stands for Remote Location General Waiting List. This means, once somebody books an RLWL ticket, it is named as RLGN.
- RSWL – Roadside Station Waiting-List has very less chances of confirmation.
- RQWL – For origin and destination stations are immediate and the quotas don’t match as well, ticket-request goes to Request Quota Waiting List.
- TQWL – It stands for Tatkal-Quota Waiting-List and has the lowest chances of ticket confirmation. It is usually advised not to book tickets if there is an ongoing TQWL.
- RAC – It means Reservation-Against-Cancellation and such tickets only get confirmed at the time the passenger-charts are prepared. Again, low probability of tickets getting confirmed.
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