To be honest, when I first saw this news, I was stunned.
In 2015, were we using 3G or 4G? I really can't remember clearly. I just remember that at that time, you had to use scalper software to get train tickets. There was always a long queue at the door of the bus station. There were people dragging snakeskin bags, women holding their arms, and middle-aged men frowning at their watches.
Believe it or not, without this report, I would have forgotten what the Changsha Bus Station looked like ten years ago.
Do you remember standing on tiptoe at the ticket window in those years?
When I went to the bus station at that time, the floor was always wet, filled with the smell of instant noodles mixed with motion sickness medicine. The queue at the window is twisting and turning. You have to protect the money in your pocket and crane your neck to see how many people are in front of you.
When it's your turn, the ticket sales lady doesn't even raise her head: "Where?"
"Yiyang."
"It's gone today."
But it’s so simple, it’s over when it’s over, and you can only quit in despair, smoke a cigarette on the square, and wait for the next overtime bus, or be taken away by the driver of an illegal car.
So when I saw this news, I suddenly wanted to cry.
Can you buy bus tickets using WeChat?
Yes, you read that right.
On May 27, 2015, Hunan Longxiang Group finally did something consistent with common sense. It had a WeChat ID called "Longxiang Group". The number of the WeChat ID was hn96228. I don't know whether it can still be searched today.
First pay attention, then click "Check Ticket Purchase", then select the departure station, then select the date, then select the arrival station, and then, all the flights will pop up.
Just like ordering takeout now.
At that time, what I was thinking was that if this had been the case a few years earlier, my father would not have slept on the concrete floor at the bus station every year during the Spring Festival travel rush.
Finally, you don’t have to run around these five stations in Changsha.
Those five places are East Station, South Station, West Station, Changsha-Zhutan Station, and Lituo Station. I think everyone in Changsha is familiar with them.
Compared with before, buying tickets depends on your location. If you plan to set off from West Railway Station, you must go to West Railway Station to buy tickets. What if you accidentally went to the wrong site? Hey, then just take the bus for more than an hour.
Now it’s okay, you can just pick it up on your mobile phone.
The reporter went to experience it specifically and successfully bought a ticket departing from the West Railway Station in just one minute. First, I entered my name, then my ID number, then my mobile phone number, and finally made WeChat payment, thus completing the ticket purchase.
It's so simple that it seems like a lie.
But don't be happy too early
This is the most real.
Do you think everything will be fine once the Internet comes? Innocent.
When this WeChat platform was first launched, it was a semi-finished product.
You cannot buy half-price tickets. You cannot buy tickets for children. Checks cannot be refunded. Changes cannot be made.
Do you want to change the time? Go to the window and line up.
Do you want a refund? Go to the window and line up.
Tickets within an hour and a half before departure? Not for sale.
Assembly line? Not for sale.
Are you short on tickets? Not for sale.
At that time, after reading this news, my first reaction was: What is the difference between this situation and the fact that it has not been opened at all?
One account can only buy five tickets
I still remember this rule.
Five. No more than one will do.
What if you help the seven aunts and eight aunts buy it together? Sorry, please separate two accounts.
This is the caution that traditional industries have. First, they are afraid of mistakes. Second, they are afraid of scalpers. Third, they are afraid of system collapse. Fourth, they are afraid of too many things.
They also know that they have not done enough
According to the news, Longxiang Group informed passengers that it is best to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes in advance to pick up their tickets.
Why half an hour in advance?
You need to go to the window or self-service machine, use your ID card or ticket collection password, and then print out the ticket.
This is not an e-ticket, this is just an appointment.
It's like queuing up at a restaurant, using your phone to get a number, and still having to wait when you arrive.
But anyway, at least you don't have to queue at the window to buy tickets. Just line up to get tickets.
Progress, right?
What happened later?
This report was published on May 28, 2015.
By March 2016, Longxiang launched another app called “Xiangyue Travel”.
This time I was finally able to get a refund.
Two hours before departure, you can cancel on your mobile phone.
And you can book tickets 60 days in advance.
It's slowly getting better.
write to the end
I know it's 2026.
Looking back at this news from eleven years ago is like digging out an old yellowed ticket.
At that time, we felt that being able to buy bus tickets using WeChat was extremely high-tech.
What now? Facial recognition entry, electronic ticket, and mobile phone ticket change.
But some things haven't changed.
The bus station is still the same bus station. It’s still crowded during Spring Festival travel. People who go home are still in such a hurry.
No matter how fast technology advances, it can't move faster than the desire to go home.
The writing of this report lacks any literary talent and is very ordinary service news. However, while reading, my nose actually felt a little sore.
Maybe it reminds me of those days when I would stand in line at the bus station until my legs went numb.
Or maybe I remember that when I was still young, I would take the four-hour bus back home because I saved twenty yuan.
What now?
The high-speed train took an hour, but I was thinking about whether to go back.
By the way, does anyone still remember that WeChat account hn96228?
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