General questions

1. What is iXiGO?

   iXiGO is a travel search engine. We search other websites in real-time for available flights, timings and fares. Within a minute we search all the websites you would normally have to search yourself one by one. iXiGO helps you find your way through the jungle of travel offerings.
   
   We aim to be comprehensive, neutral and fun to use. We hope you like it !
2. What it is NOT?

   We are not a travel agency. We don't sell you tickets. In fact we don't sell anything at all. The booking always happens on the provider site which can be an airline website, a hotel website or an online travel agency. Since we don't sell anything we don't have a call center either. If you have questions about your booking you need to contact the provider directly.
3. What does iXiGO stand for?

   As far as we know it doesn't mean anything even though it is pronounced 'easy go' in some languages. We wanted a short and joyful name that people can remember easily.
   Our ambition is to make it a category definer (think Xerox!)
4. Why should I register?

   If you register you can

   • save your personal preferences which we will use to make your search results even more relevant.
   • You can subscribe to our newsletter which brings you the best travel deals we could find.
   • Last but not least - you can access your recent searches so you don't have to type them again when you come back another day.

   Best of all - it's free. There is much more to come in the future, so stay tuned!
5. Do I have to pay to use iXiGO?

   No, it's absolutely free. We will never charge you for using our services.
6. What is your privacy policy?

   All user information is kept confidential. We do not sell any information about our users. We won't even ask you for your name and address when you register. See our complete privacy policy here .
7. How can I contact/call iXiGO?

   We don't sell anything - for all booking related inquiries please contact the provider you booked with. For all other matters related to iXiGO you can use our feedback form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
8. How do you earn your money?

   We earn money in two ways. We get a referral fee whenever you go from iXiGO.com to our suppliers' website and make a booking (prices are same as what you'll pay if you went directly to their website). We also make money from relevant sponsored links shown on your search result pages.
9. What do I do if my browser does not display iXiGO correctly?

   We try to make iXiGO work with all browser and we tested it on:

   • Mozilla Firefox (from version 1.0.6)
   • Internet Explorer (from version 6.0)
   • Opera
   • Safari

   If you find that pages won't display correctly or you have error messages popping up, you can use our feedback form to let us know. Please tell us which browser type and version you use and we will look into it immediately.
10. I would like to know details of your XYZ offer on ABC airline tickets.

    We are a Travel Search Engine and we help you find the lowest "real" fares available out there, consistently. We do not run any such offers simply because we do not set the pricing. We think you may have confused us with an online travel agent, maybe one with a similar sounding name!
    
    By the way, whenever you come across any such deals without any catch, please do let us know ;-).
11. What are online travel agents?

    Online travel agents are travel portals that sell you tickets on their own site, sometimes with added markup or fees. iXiGO allows you to compare fares on these online travel agents in a new search window so that you as a traveler can make a more informed decision.
12. How do I unsubscribe from the iXiGO newsletter?

    Just login, go to 'my iXiGO' section and uncheck the newsletter item – that simple you see!
13. What if I cannot find my question in this list?

    If you don't find an answer to your question you can use our feedback form. Please provide your email address and we will try to answer your question as quickly as possible.

Flight search

1. Which airlines do you search on iXiGO?

   You can find the complete list of airlines we search on our partners page.
2. How come iXiGO's price is cheaper than all other travel portals?

   iXiGO searches directly on airline websites for the best fares sold directly by the airline. Many airlines sell cheapest air-tickets on their own website, protected by a best fare guarantee for these web-fares. So, increasingly iXiGO will end up finding cheaper prices on the same airline. In addition, iXiGO searches on zillions of routes to find the optimal routing for you from a price perspective. Some combination of airlines and stops found on iXiGO are definitely unique !
3. How much does iXiGO charge me ? Are there any hidden costs?

   iXiGO is completely free, because we don't sell anything - we are a travel search engine ! There are absolutely no hidden costs on iXiGO !
4. How do I cancel or change my flight reservation?

   We only search the flights for you. If you want to change your booking you need to contact the partner where you bought your ticket. In our partners section we have compiled phone numbers and addresses of all partners we search.
5. Why are there so many booking links for the same flight?

   The same flight is sold by different providers. The lowest price for one particular flight is shown bigger and on top. Other results are shown below the best price. You can choose wherever you want to book!
6. What do you mean by "show combinations"?

   If you select the "show combinations" check-box, you can filter different possible combinations of flights across ALL airlines to find the cheapest combination of onward and return flights possible. You can then click on the individual links to book your flight directly on the provider's website.
7. Are taxes and booking fees included in the prices that you show?

   Yes! All prices we show include taxes and fees.
   
   The websites we search handle this differently; some show total prices in their search results and some do not, thereby making it very difficult to compare them.
   If you search with iXiGO you don't have to worry about this - we calculate the total purchase price for you.
8. Some sites show me prices in other currencies. Will I be able to book my ticket on those sites?

   All the sites that we search have been pre-screened, but some might be based outside India and therefore show pricing in a foreign currency. Your credit cards should work perfectly fine on these sites. In case you face problems, do keep us informed.
9. How do you convert foreign currency prices?

   When we search international sites, we convert foreign currencies into your country's currency for comparison purposes. To do this, we use the most accurate foreign exchange data available on the day of your search. However, the actual price of the ticket depends on the individual policies of your credit card provider, bank, and the site where you are buying your ticket. Please consult your bank or credit card company if you see discrepancies between the price shown on the site where you bought the site and your credit card statement.
10. I don't see my favourite airline on iXiGO?

    Though we try to be as comprehensive as possible, our international flight search is still in beta and we keep adding more airlines every week. Check back in a few weeks and see if we still haven't added it. In case you feel really strongly about a certain airline or sector being absent, please do let us know.
11. I don't see any results for <origin>-<destination> ?

    Though we strive to search across multiple airlines and routes in parallel, at times, either there is no availability or no direct/indirect airline connections between two cities. If you feel that there is an airline or airline-combination that serves the origin-destination pair you had in mind, please let us know and we will work on improving our results !
12. There are a lot of search results. How do I find the best one for me?

    Sometimes the number of results can be quite overwhelming. That's why iXiGO provides you with the tools to drill down to the one result you actually want.
    
    On the left side of search result screen you will find our filter box. Here you can select which results you want to show on the screen. You can hide airlines based on your own preferences. You can also filter onward and return flights based on the time of the day they leave.
    
    On top of the search results, you will also find underlined table headers. By clicking on these you can sort your results by the chosen feature, e.g. departure time, airline or the price.
13. Why does the airline website give me a different price than the one shown on iXiGO?

    We try to keep our prices always up to date but airline fares change frequently - in particular for flights within the next few days from now. If you find any pricing issues on our site, please let us know through our feedback form and we will try to fix them as soon as possible.
14. I know a flight exists but it doesn't show up on iXiGO. Why?

    We try to be as comprehensive as possible but on a return flight you might have tens of thousands of possible combinations. Sometimes, we can't get some flights because a provider website is temporarily unreachable.
15. Can I search international flights on iXiGO?

    Yes, you can ! As of January 2009, you can search flights originating from India to anywhere in the world. We will soon expand this to offer flight searches from more countries!
16. Does iXiGO take international credit cards for airline bookings?

    iXiGO allows you to book directly on airline sites. Since most airlines in India allow international credit cards to be used on their own sites, by using iXiGO, you have greater surety of international credit card acceptance while making your flight booking. If the airline does not support international credit cards, the
    

    icon will be displayed next to its name in the airline filters on the left.

Hotel search

1. How many hotels do you search?

   Now with our international hotels, we search over 250,000+ hotels across the globe spread over 25,000+ cities.
2. How do I book these hotels?

   Click on the "select" button on the hotel result. You will be redirected to the booking partner site that sells that hotel room, and you can complete your booking on the partner site.
3. How do I confirm my hotel reservation?

   Your hotel confirmation will be provided directly by the booking partner site.
4. How do I modify or cancel my hotel reservation ?

   Since we only search for hotels, we don't handle any booking or cancellations. If you want to change your booking you need to contact the booking website (find their complete list here) where you booked your stay.
5. Who are your hotel booking partners?

   Our hotels partners are listed on partners page
6. Why are there so many prices for the same hotel?

   The same hotel can be booked on different booking sites. iXiGO searches all these booking sites for you in one go and shows you the lowest price for each hotel on the result page. Other results can be viewed from the "more prices" option. You can choose wherever you want to book!
7. Are taxes and booking fees included in the prices that you show?

   The booking partner websites we search handle this differently; some show total prices in their search results and some do not, thereby making it very difficult to compare them. If you search with iXiGO you don't have to worry about this - we calculate the total purchase price for you whenever we can. In some cases, minor discrepancies can arise because of fees added on the last page by these partners.
8. There are a lot of search results. How do I find the best one for me?

   Sometimes the number of results can be quite overwhelming. That's why iXiGO provides you with the tools to drill down to the one result you actually want.
   
   On the left side of the search result screen you will find our filter box. Here you can select which results you want to show on the screen. You can hide or show hotels based on your own preferences. You can also filter based on the star ratings and amenities available. On top of the search results, you will also find underlined table headers. By clicking on these you can sort your results by the chosen attribute, e.g. name, star rating or the price.
9. Are the hotel search results real time?

   Yes, we search all hotels for availability and pricing in real-time !
10. Will my hotel reservation be confirmed instantly ?

    Most of the hotel booking partners we work with provide instant confirmation of hotel bookings on their site. Even the ones who do not, will confirm your reservation within 24-48 hours of your request.
11. I can not find my desired city or hotel in your search. What should I do?

    Sometimes the spelling might be a little different, so if the city doesn't show up even in the suggested entries drop down box, then please notify us.
12. Can I use a debit card to book hotels?

    Usually, you cannot. While some hotel booking sites for India may accept debit cards, you will always have to use an international credit card to do any booking for hotels outside India.
13. What cards are accepted?

    While it depends on the hotel booking partner you choose, most Visa and Mastercard cards can be used for making your reservations on our booking partner sites.
14. How will I be charged?

    Most of the time, it depends on the hotel booking partner, but usually the currency transacted is US Dollars.
15. What currency conversion rate do you use?

    We take average currency conversions rates from reliable publicly available sources. However, since currency exchange rates are dynamic in nature, there might be a difference in the price shown on the provider's site and the charge that shows up on your credit card.
16. Are the conversion rates the same as what the hotels use?

    There is a possibility of variance in the amount due to different currency conversion rates used. We use conversion rates from publicly available sources, however individual hotels may use their own conversion rates.
17. Why is the currency on the hotels website different from the one I selected on iXiGO?

    This could occur if the hotel booking provider or hotel does not have an option for the currency you selected. Generally we encourage you to use US Dollars for both searches and transactions.
18. I didn't like the hotel I stayed in and I want my money back.

    We don't handle bookings and servicing for hotels that our booking sites sell. However if there's a place that you didn't like, or if there is an experience on our booking partner site that you wish to share with us, we will keep that feedback in mind while showing that hotel/booking partner result in the future.
19. Who do I get in touch with for any questions regarding hotels?

    We would always encourage you to use our feedback page for sending us any feedback. We personally reply to every query.

Bus search

1. What are the types of bus booking available?

   There are two types of booking. Instant booking and on request booking. Instant booking allows you to directly book the tickets and print them. In Request booking you will have to place a request to the bus operator who will get back to you with the details.
2. What is an onward instant booking bus?

   Instant booking bus means you can reserve a seat on the bus directly. You pay for the ticket to the operator and you confirm and print your ticket from their site.
3. What is an onward on request bus?

   On request bus means the bus service you choose does not have a direct online reservation option. You submit your form over the website and the bus operator will contact you with the availabilty of seats. This service is free.
4. What is a return instant booking bus?

   The bus service you book for allows for you to directly reserve a seat (or more) on the bus. You thus book your ticket and print it and then board the bus. This service is for a return journey.
5. What is a return on request bus?

   If you wish to book a return ticket, then this service allows you to fill a form over the website and the bus operator will contact you with the availability of the seats. This service is free.
6. If I don't have a credit card can I still book a bus ticket?

   Some operators of ours, such as RedBus, allow you to call them up and book tickets as well and they offer delivery to your place for an additional fee as well. This can be done without using a credit card.
7. Why are some destinations not listed?

   This is because our online bus travel partners do not have them listed under their services.

Train search

1. How many days prior to the travel date can a booking be made?

   It is possible to book online up to 90 days before the planned date of travel. This period could be lesser for some special trains.
2. Why can't I search for availability or book/cancel tickets between 11:30pm to 5:00am?

   Online availability search, reservation and cancellation of train tickets is not possible between 11:30 pm to 5:00 am because the Indian railway shuts down its systems during this time-period.
3. Which photo identity proofs are accepted at the railways while traveling?

   Any one of the following is an acceptable proof of identity:
   

   • Passport
   • Driving license
   • PAN card
   • Voter's ID card
   • Photo ID card issued by central or state government to their employees

   For a group traveling together, the lead passenger needs to carry the photo-id card.
4. Can I search stations by their 2-4 letter station codes?

   Yes. You can search NDLS for e.g. to look for the New Delhi, railway station.
5. What do the different fare classes (SL, 3AC etc) mean?

   Below is a brief description of the different classes available on the trains:
   

   • 1A - AC First Class: Air conditioned accommodation with isolated/ lockable compartments of 2-4 berths with linen, blanket and attendant service for catering. Executive class in Shatabdi type trains is also considered 1A.
   • 2A - AC 2 Tier : Air conditioned accommodation with isolated compartments (not lockable but with a curtain) with 2-4 berths.
   • 3A - AC 3 Tier : Air-conditioned sleeper class with 6 berths in each compartment (3 on each side). During daytime the middle birth on each side is folded up to allow sitting on the lower berth.
   • 3E - AC 3 Tier Economy : Introduced from 1st Oct 2009, this class is designated for the coaches, which have additional berth in side section (SM type - Side Middle). This type of Air-conditioned accommodation is created for economically weak section of people, who wish to travel in AC 3-tier for lesser price.
   • FC - First Class : Similar to 1A but non-air-conditioned.
   • CC - AC Chair Car : Air conditioned with cushioned/reclining seats.
   • SL - Sleeper : Similar to 3A but non-air-conditioned.
   • 2S - Second Sitting : Second class sitting with wooden benches to sit.
6. How accurate is the price?

   The train prices are calculated by complex rules laid down by the Indian Railway. In case you notice minor price differences, please do let us know.
7. Why do I need to click on "availability"?

   The seat availability changes very rapidly. When you click on the "availability" button, we fetch the real time availability information to make sure you get the latest seat availability.
8. What does "RAC" and "WL" availability status mean?

   RAC or Reservation Against Cancellation means that you have an assured seat but your seat number has not been allocated yet. Once other people cancel their ticket you will be assigned a seat number. If you are holding an RAC ticket, you can always board the train as there are always some unallocated seats in the train. RAC tickets are sold after general category tickets are over. A Waitlist (WL) is started after the designated quota for R.A.C. is exhausted.
9. How can I check if my RAC/WL position has improved?

   Click on the this link and enter your PNR number.
10. When I click on availability I get 2 options "general" and "tatkal". What do they mean?

    The "general" availability is the normal availability. However the Indian Railway has a provision for last minute travelers, where in they can book tickets even at the last moment by paying a premium charge. This is the "tatkal" availability, which will only show up when the "general" availability is in the status WL (Waitlist) and your date of journey is within the next 2 days. For more information on "tatkal" go through the rules here.