A 3A coach has bays of six berths, a lower, middle and upper on each side, plus a side lower and side upper by the corridor. The middle berth folds down for sleeping between 10 pm and 6 am and stays up during the day so the lower berth can be sat on. Bedding is provided. It is the workhorse class of Indian long-distance travel and the one most Tatkal and waitlist questions are about.
The fare is roughly two and three-quarter times Sleeper. The cancellation flat charge is ₹180 plus GST per passenger, a table 3A shares with AC Chair Car and AC 3 Economy.
Also written or searched as: 3AC · third AC · AC 3 tier · three tier