TravelSavvyPro / Planning desk
Compare the trip.
Not just the headline fare.
A cheaper flight can become a more expensive trip after bags, airport transfers and hotel fees. Put two complete options on the same footing before deciding.
Start with comparable quotes
Collect quotes for the same travellers, dates, route and room occupancy. Include every travel leg. Record the quote time and final checkout total in your own notes; a search-result price may omit charges. This tool adds your inputs, not live prices, exchange rates or predictions of when to buy.
No double counting: if a fare includes bags, enter 0 for bags. If the room price includes mandatory nightly fees, enter 0 for that fee. Put a one-off hotel fee in “Other,” not in a nightly field. Add unlisted costs to “Other” only once. A refundable deposit is a temporary cash requirement, not a trip expense unless it is retained; track it separately.
For different bag allowances, total the group's bag charges yourself and use “Other,” setting bags to 0. For rooms with different rates, use an average room-night rate, or put the exact whole-stay lodging total in “Other” and set both nightly fields to 0. Label this in your notes. Averaging to two decimals can introduce a small difference from checkout.
Booking A/B total-cost calculator
Use one currency for every amount. Enter 0 for a known absent charge; a blank means missing information, not zero. Amounts accept digits and up to two decimals, from 0 to 1,000,000.00, without commas, spaces or exponent notation. Currency selection only changes the unit label; it never converts amounts.
The starting values are a hypothetical example, not market prices. Replace every relevant field with your quotes. Each option has its own traveller and stay counts so you can model an extra night; differences in those counts are flagged, not adjusted automatically.
Example inputs are ready. Select “Compare total costs” to calculate.
Worked example: the higher fare wins on total
Invented USD amounts for illustration only. Both options cover two people, one room and three nights. They are not offers or typical prices.
| Component and calculation | Booking A | Booking B |
|---|---|---|
| Fare × 2 travellers | 180 × 2 = 360 | 220 × 2 = 440 |
| Bags × 2 travellers | 40 × 2 = 80 | 0 × 2 = 0 |
| Transfers, whole booking | 70 | 30 |
| Room rate × 1 room × 3 nights | 120 × 1 × 3 = 360 | 130 × 1 × 3 = 390 |
| Mandatory fee × 1 room × 3 nights | 20 × 1 × 3 = 60 | 0 × 1 × 3 = 0 |
| Other, whole booking | 15 | 0 |
| Total | 945.00 | 860.00 |
Booking B costs USD 85.00 less overall even though its fare is higher. That is a cost comparison, not a recommendation: B might have worse arrival times or stricter cancellation terms.
The exact formula
Total = (fare per person + bags per person) × travellers + transfers per booking + (room rate per night + mandatory fee per room per night) × rooms × nights + other per-booking charges.
Amounts are calculated in integer hundredths of the selected currency to avoid floating-point ties such as 0.10 + 0.20 versus 0.30. All supported currency labels use two decimal places. The signed difference is A minus B: positive means B costs less, negative means A costs less, and zero is a tie. Costs you do not enter are not estimated.
Turn the comparison into a booking decision
First, rule out trips you cannot take
Check document validity, exact passenger names, destination entry requirements and transit requirements before paying a nonrefundable rate. Use the Europe entry and passport checklist (for Schengen trips) to make a list of checks for your itinerary. A low total does not resolve a missing document.
If dates are flexible, compare complete alternatives
Use the flight booking timing guide to frame a date search rather than relying on a guaranteed cheapest weekday. If a cheaper flight adds an overnight stay, change nights and include the extra transfers and meals. Compare the same trip scope or explain the difference before choosing.
Before buying bags, build the packing list
Work through the carry-on liquids and smart-luggage rules, then verify the booked carrier's size, weight and fare-specific allowances for every segment. Add charges for both outbound and return travel. Avoid counting an included bag a second time.
Check the cost of changing your mind
Read the refund deadline and its time zone, no-show terms, change fees, fare differences and who handles support. Use the hotel booking and cancellation guide to identify rate restrictions, then read the actual insurance policy exclusions if you plan to rely on coverage. Insurance is not an automatic refund for a restrictive booking.
Save evidence before checkout
Keep the final all-in quote, baggage allowance, cancellation terms and supplier contact details. The claim evidence checklist helps organize receipts and supporting documents. Recheck the payable total when you book; this worksheet cannot reserve or lock a price.
What the number cannot decide
Refund restrictions, overnight connections, airport changes, arrival times, accessibility, room suitability and service quality are not monetized. Neither are points, loyalty benefits or the value of your time. Write down each deal-breaker separately. If saving money requires a connection you cannot comfortably make or a loss you cannot afford, the lower total may not be your better option.
For a tie, compare those practical constraints rather than inventing a financial advantage. For incomplete quotes, get the missing fee before treating either total as final. Do not enter 0 simply because a charge is unknown.