Ctrip, a leading Chinese travel booking platform, is known for its various ticket options and discounts. However, unlike many other airlines, trains, or bus operators that offer student tickets with special fares, Ctrip does not have an “Student Ticket” option.
There are several reasons why:
- Lack of agreement: Unlike major domestic carriers in China, such as Air China, China Eastern, or China Southern Airlines, which all have formal agreements with the Chinese government to provide discounted student airfare, train operators like the high-speed rail and subway lines don’t offer a standardized discount for students.
- No centralized accreditation system: In contrast to countries like North America that have a centralized accrediting body (e.g., the National Student Clearinghouse) to verify students’ identities, China’s higher education institutions are decentralized, making it difficult to establish a common process for verifying student status nationwide.
As such, Ctrip doesn’t offer an “Student Ticket” option because there is no unified program or accreditation system in place that would allow them to easily identify and discount tickets for students.