12306 responds to “booking and canceling tickets using an ex’s ID”: it only affects the account, not the passenger

IT Home reported on February 3 that China’s railway Spring Festival travel rush officially began on February 2. Around the same time, a viral online “tip” claimed people could exploit 12306 booking rules to prevent others from buying tickets, sparking heated discussion.

Some posts joked that someone could use an ex-partner’s ID information to place orders on 12306 and then cancel without paying—repeating this until the daily cancellation limit is reached, supposedly blocking the other person from purchasing tickets. The claim was widely shared and mocked as a “clever trick.”

In response, 12306 customer service explained that the ticketing system does have a rule: if a user account cancels orders three times in a single day, that account’s ticket-purchasing ability will be locked for the rest of the day and automatically restored at midnight. However, this restriction applies only to the account performing the cancellations, not to the passenger whose ID details were entered. The passenger can still purchase tickets normally using their own 12306 account or other channels.

Customer service stressed that the viral claim is not feasible—the cancellation limit would only lock the operator’s account and cannot be used to block someone else.

They also noted the rule is not new and has been in place for years to maintain order and deter abusive behaviors such as malicious ticket hoarding. The restriction typically lasts only for the same day and does not deprive passengers of their right to purchase tickets. During peak travel season, passengers are advised to plan ahead and avoid repeated cancellations to prevent their own accounts from being restricted.