Refund available for train, air tickets

People line up to refund their train tickets at Shenzhen North Railway Station yesterday. More people are considering not returning to their hometowns for the upcoming Spring Festival holiday in response to appeals to avoid cross-regional travel as the COVID-19 pandemic rebounds. The National Health Commission has suggested people stay in their working city during the festival and try to buy goods online to avoid the spread of the virus. Liao Wanyu

Passengers who have bought train or air tickets for the Spring Festival travel rush (from Jan. 28 to March 8) can refund their tickets.

In response to growing demand, train tickets can be refunded at any railway station across the city, a source from the Shenzhen North Railway Station said.

More citizens decided to stay in the city during the Chinese New Year holiday after the release of an initiative calling on residents to avoid travel during the holiday so as to curb the spread of the virus.

Ticket refund services have been made available at all railway stations in the city, including Shenzhen North, Shenzhen, Futian, Shenzhen West, Shenzhen East, Pingshan, Pinghu, Guangmingcheng, Shenzhen Airport, Shenzhen Airport North, Fuhai West and Shajing West railway stations.

The time required for a 100-percent refund was lengthened from at least 15 days to eight days before departure time.

Train ticket presales were also changed from 30 days to 15 days ahead of the travel time. For example, tickets for Feb. 12 will be available for sale starting Friday.

Self-service machines providing free face masks will be set up at entrances and exits of all railway stations in the city during the Spring Festival travel rush.

Passengers who buy tickets during the Spring Festival period from Jan. 28 to March 8 can refund their tickets for free or reschedule at least once, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said in a statement Tuesday.

Passengers whose flight dates are from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 can apply for a refund or to reschedule from midnight today until before the flight takes off, and passengers with flight dates from Feb. 4 to March 8 can apply from midnight today until seven days before the departure of the flight, according to the statement.