The China State Railway Group has announced that starting from October 20, the 12306 railway platform will optimize and upgrade its "Railway Smooth Travel" loyalty program. Following the upgrade, members can use their loyalty points not only to exchange for train tickets but also to upgrade their seat class.

From October 20, members aged 14 to 28 will receive 10 times the amount of points based on their ticket price, double the original points granted. Currently, regular loyalty members receive 5 times the points based on their ticket price, while senior members aged 60 and above receive 15 times the points, three times that of regular members.

Points can be used to redeem train tickets for the member or a designated transferee. For redemption, 100 points can be exchanged for 1 yuan. Tickets obtained through points can be changed once, with a portion of the points deducted as a change fee, but they are not refundable or eligible for changes in destination.

A new feature, the seat upgrade function, will be added to the loyalty program from October 20. Members can use points to upgrade their seat for any segment of the train route they have not yet traveled. To request an upgrade, passengers can scan the "Railway Smooth Travel" QR code on the seat armrest or contact train staff directly. Staff will process the seat upgrade based on available seats. Tickets obtained through point upgrades cannot be refunded or changed. However, if the upgrade cannot be used due to force majeure or railway fault, the points for the untraveled segment will be refunded.

Additionally, a greater points reward will be offered to members aged 14 to 28 with a variety of identity documents, including mainland residents' IDs, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan residents' certificates, and foreign permanent resident IDs. Starting from October 20, members in this age group will receive 10 times the points for their ticket price, compared to the 5 times regular members receive. For example, if a regular member spends 1000 yuan on a ticket, they will earn 5000 points (worth 50 yuan), while a member aged 14 to 28 will earn 10,000 points (worth 100 yuan). However, students who purchase discounted tickets will not be eligible for the double points bonus.

This optimization of the "Railway Smooth Travel" program is expected to stimulate greater service consumption connected by rail, offering passengers more benefits and boosting the economic development of regions along the rail lines. It is also seen as a step toward expanding domestic demand and stimulating further economic activity.

For more information about the upgraded program, passengers can visit the 12306 website, app, or call the 12306 customer service hotline.