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✈️ Flight Booking Price Comparison – SmartBuy vs Travel Edge vs iShop (Delhi, New York, Tokyo)

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PointsProfessors

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Hi Everyone!
I recently did a detailed comparison of flight prices across three major platforms tied to our reward ecosystems:
  • HDFC SmartBuy
  • Axis Travel Edge
  • ICICI iShop
  • Goibibo (only for Tokyo)

🔍 Routes compared:
  • Bangalore → New York
  • Bangalore → Tokyo
  • Bangalore → Delhi


💳 I checked fares across SmartBuy, iShop, and Travel Edge, Goibibo (only for Tokyo) and included partner providers like Goibibo, Yatra, and Cleartrip. Here’s a sample snapshot from my analysis:

RoutePlatformProviderFlight No.Base FareTaxesFeeDiscountTotal Fare% Above Lowest
BLR → DelhiTravel EdgeTripjackIX 1116₹3,839₹1,270₹0₹0₹5,1090%
BLR → DelhiiShopYatraIX 1116₹3,646₹983₹540₹0₹5,169+1.17%
BLR → DelhiSmartBuyYatraIX 1116₹3,646₹1,318₹440₹0₹5,404+5.77%
BLR → New YorkSmartBuyCleartripEK 569, EK 201₹80,395₹32,451₹1,299₹0₹1,14,1450%
BLR → New YorkiShopGoibiboEK 569, EK 201₹85,695₹32,411₹1,199₹-2,000₹1,17,912+3.30%
BLR → New YorkTravel EdgeCleartripEK 569, EK 201₹87,581₹32,411₹0₹0₹1,19,992+5.12%
BLR → TokyoGoibiboGoibiboJL 754₹39,481₹0₹750₹-3,159₹37,0720%
BLR → TokyoiShopGoibiboJL 754₹26,260₹13,221₹999₹-2,000₹38,480+3.80%
BLR → TokyoSmartBuyGoibiboJL 754₹25,273₹13,221₹999₹-1,974₹38,506+3.87%
BLR → TokyoTravel EdgeCleartripJL 754₹26,838₹13,221₹0₹0₹40,059+8.06%

🧮 Note: All fares include taxes and fees after applying platform-specific discounts and travel date is 01-Sep-2025.


🔧 Observations:​

  • Cleartrip via SmartBuy gave the best rate for US routes.
  • Goibibo + ICICI credit card discount offer provided the cheapest ticket to Tokyo.
  • Domestic Delhi route was cheapest through Travel Edge.

💬 Would love to hear if others have noticed similar trends.
Do you factor in rewards % or go with the lowest fare? Also, LMK if I missed anything.
 
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magnusfan said:
Thanks for the comparision - I did a similar activity for domestic sector and results are as below.

Conclusion: Its clear that Ishop is cheaper than Smartbuy by ~8%. Also, Goibibo makes more sense than the rest!

PortalPartnersTotal AmountPointsNetGap to lowestAddl for Insurance
IshopGoibibo15,6002,80812,7920%
IshopEasemytrip16,5482,95213,5966%
IshopClearTrip17,1083,06014,04810%
IshopYatra16,3122,91613,3965%
SmartbuyGoibibo16,5082,75013,7588%1876
SmartbuyEasemytrip16,5482,75013,7988%1876
SmartbuyClearTrip16,5082,75013,7588%1876
SmartbuyYatra16,9082,80014,1081
Click to expand...
Every time whenever I have checked I found smartbuy to be cheaper always

Today I was checking DXB to BOM Gulf Air

Smartbuy price 40,927
Ishop 41,126
Idfc 45,320
 
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Can we add direct airlines prices also in table for ATLAS CC reference. P.S. Booking internation flights directly with airline is much better interms of cancellations and other flexi packages/addons
 
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PointsProfessors said:
Hi Everyone!
I recently did a detailed comparison of flight prices across three major platforms tied to our reward ecosystems:
  • HDFC SmartBuy
  • Axis Travel Edge
  • ICICI iShop
  • Goibibo (only for Tokyo)

🔍 Routes compared:
  • Bangalore → New York
  • Bangalore → Tokyo
  • Bangalore → Delhi


💳 I checked fares across SmartBuy, iShop, and Travel Edge, Goibibo (only for Tokyo) and included partner providers like Goibibo, Yatra, and Cleartrip. Here’s a sample snapshot from my analysis:

RoutePlatformProviderFlight No.Base FareTaxesFeeDiscountTotal Fare% Above Lowest
BLR → DelhiTravel EdgeTripjackIX 1116₹3,839₹1,270₹0₹0₹5,1090%
BLR → DelhiiShopYatraIX 1116₹3,646₹983₹540₹0₹5,169+1.17%
BLR → DelhiSmartBuyYatraIX 1116₹3,646₹1,318₹440₹0₹5,404+5.77%
BLR → New YorkSmartBuyCleartripEK 569, EK 201₹80,395₹32,451₹1,299₹0₹1,14,1450%
BLR → New YorkiShopGoibiboEK 569, EK 201₹85,695₹32,411₹1,199₹-2,000₹1,17,912+3.30%
BLR → New YorkTravel EdgeCleartripEK 569, EK 201₹87,581₹32,411₹0₹0₹1,19,992+5.12%
BLR → TokyoGoibiboGoibiboJL 754₹39,481₹0₹750₹-3,159₹37,0720%
BLR → TokyoiShopGoibiboJL 754₹26,260₹13,221₹999₹-2,000₹38,480+3.80%
BLR → TokyoSmartBuyGoibiboJL 754₹25,273₹13,221₹999₹-1,974₹38,506+3.87%
BLR → TokyoTravel EdgeCleartripJL 754₹26,838₹13,221₹0₹0₹40,059+8.06%

🧮 Note: All fares include taxes and fees after applying platform-specific discounts and travel date is 01-Sep-2025.


🔧 Observations:​

  • Cleartrip via SmartBuy gave the best rate for US routes.
  • Goibibo + ICICI credit card discount offer provided the cheapest ticket to Tokyo.
  • Domestic Delhi route was cheapest through Travel Edge.

💬 Would love to hear if others have noticed similar trends.
Do you factor in rewards % or go with the lowest fare? Also, LMK if I missed anything.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this great analysis.
all the calculations look good on paper but ultimately I would have to choose I shop or SmartBuy or Traveledge, depending on where I have maximum points left to finish off, in order to minimize expense in real money
 
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Is there option to choose flexi fare on ishop? Smartbuy shows only gives lowest fare type which get nothing on cancellation. I learned hardway during operation sindoor as had to change travel plans. After that direct booking by Atlas has become preferred choice.
 
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Indrajeet100 said:
Is there option to choose flexi fare on ishop? Smartbuy shows only gives lowest fare type which get nothing on cancellation. I learned hardway during operation sindoor as had to change travel plans. After that direct booking by Atlas has become preferred choice.
Click to expand...
I miss the Axis X Cleartrip Flexi tie-up. Golden days. I used to book a few trips under similar circumstances and let go of Magnus' 5x multiplier on TravelEdge. Now, TravelEdge does provide a refundable option, but it's time-bound.
 
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My take on overall ticket booking - There are so many OTAs to book tickets - Bus, Flights, Hotels, (and Trains, which I don't reccommend).
We can do it in many ways -
Go to OTA via smartbuy, ishop, traveledge, or any other reward multiplier website, gives added advantage of anywhere between 5x-10x points.
Another way is Go directly to the OTA apps or websites and use the bank co-branded cards.
Or Use double-dip options and get voucher-on-voucher to maximise earnings.

But Loyalty is one thing that all of them expect -- The more we spend on their platform, the more offers we get.
There are milestone tier systems as well on these apps (like MMT Black Elite). We get into higher tiers based on the number of tickets booked, or amount spent in the last 1 year etc. The higher the tier we are in, the better offers we get.
Also the cashbacks and reward points are mostly credited back to the respective app's wallets - some as cashback points, coins or whatever.
We can use anywhere between 70-100% of these coins next time when we book hotels.
In short what I thnk is -
1. Stay with one or two apps, get some good cards that gives at least 5% cashback.
2. Take Axis Atlas - Taveledge route, 5X EM,
3. Take HDFC (RG or above) - Smartbuy route, 5x and 70% pay via points.

Some apps that I remember for travel booking:
  • Makemytrip
  • Easemytrip
  • Booking.com
  • Cleartrip
  • Yatra
  • Goibibo
  • Paytm
  • Tata Neu
  • Amazon
  • Flipkart
  • Cred
 
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