Ixigo takes on MMT with trip guarantee feature for train travelers

Full-stack online travel aggregator (OTA) Ixigo has launched a travel guarantee feature for train travelers, positioning itself as a direct competitor to its arch-rival, MakeMyTrip.

The Gurugram-based company claims that its new feature provides a 3X refund (1X ticket refund and 2X wallet refund) if a traveler’s waitlisted PNR fails to confirm.

This feature also allows passengers to explore and book alternative last-minute travel options, with the added benefit of higher monetary compensation for unconfirmed train tickets.

According to Ixigo, this initiative aims to tackle the challenges of long waitlists during peak travel periods while protecting passengers from last-minute fare hikes.

"This not only provides greater financial value but also empowers travelers to rebook their journey through alternate travel options without having to worry about last-minute fare hikes. With this initiative, we aim to make train travel more reliable, convenient, and worry-free for everyone,” said Dinesh Kumar Kotha, CEO of Ixigo Trains in a stock exchange filing.

MakeMyTrip introduced a similar feature in 2021, offering 3X refunds under the scheme. The new feature is expected to resonate well with Ixigo users, as the company dominates the train-booking space, generating 53% (Rs 110 crore) of its revenue from train bookings last quarter. Ixigo reported total revenue of Rs 206 crore and a PAT of Rs 13 crore in Q2 FY25. In comparison, India’s largest OTA, MakeMyTrip, reported Rs 1,772 crore in revenue for Q2 FY25 but did not provide a detailed income breakdown for train bookings.