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

[PointsProfessors]

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:

Route	Platform	Provider	Flight No.	Base Fare	Taxes	Fee	Discount	Total Fare	% Above Lowest
BLR → Delhi	Travel Edge	Tripjack	IX 1116	₹3,839	₹1,270	₹0	₹0	₹5,109	0%
BLR → Delhi	iShop	Yatra	IX 1116	₹3,646	₹983	₹540	₹0	₹5,169	+1.17%
BLR → Delhi	SmartBuy	Yatra	IX 1116	₹3,646	₹1,318	₹440	₹0	₹5,404	+5.77%
BLR → New York	SmartBuy	Cleartrip	EK 569, EK 201	₹80,395	₹32,451	₹1,299	₹0	₹1,14,145	0%
BLR → New York	iShop	Goibibo	EK 569, EK 201	₹85,695	₹32,411	₹1,199	₹-2,000	₹1,17,912	+3.30%
BLR → New York	Travel Edge	Cleartrip	EK 569, EK 201	₹87,581	₹32,411	₹0	₹0	₹1,19,992	+5.12%
BLR → Tokyo	Goibibo	Goibibo	JL 754	₹39,481	₹0	₹750	₹-3,159	₹37,072	0%
BLR → Tokyo	iShop	Goibibo	JL 754	₹26,260	₹13,221	₹999	₹-2,000	₹38,480	+3.80%
BLR → Tokyo	SmartBuy	Goibibo	JL 754	₹25,273	₹13,221	₹999	₹-1,974	₹38,506	+3.87%
BLR → Tokyo	Travel Edge	Cleartrip	JL 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.

 

[ayman]

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!

Portal	Partners	Total Amount	Points	Net	Gap to lowest	Addl for Insurance
Ishop	Goibibo	15,600	2,808	12,792	0%
Ishop	Easemytrip	16,548	2,952	13,596	6%
Ishop	ClearTrip	17,108	3,060	14,048	10%
Ishop	Yatra	16,312	2,916	13,396	5%
Smartbuy	Goibibo	16,508	2,750	13,758	8%	1876
Smartbuy	Easemytrip	16,548	2,750	13,798	8%	1876
Smartbuy	ClearTrip	16,508	2,750	13,758	8%	1876
Smartbuy	Yatra	16,908	2,800	14,108	1

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

 

[Vinay13]

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

 

[m4b]

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

Skyscanner or Google flight search

 

[drsel]

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:

Route	Platform	Provider	Flight No.	Base Fare	Taxes	Fee	Discount	Total Fare	% Above Lowest
BLR → Delhi	Travel Edge	Tripjack	IX 1116	₹3,839	₹1,270	₹0	₹0	₹5,109	0%
BLR → Delhi	iShop	Yatra	IX 1116	₹3,646	₹983	₹540	₹0	₹5,169	+1.17%
BLR → Delhi	SmartBuy	Yatra	IX 1116	₹3,646	₹1,318	₹440	₹0	₹5,404	+5.77%
BLR → New York	SmartBuy	Cleartrip	EK 569, EK 201	₹80,395	₹32,451	₹1,299	₹0	₹1,14,145	0%
BLR → New York	iShop	Goibibo	EK 569, EK 201	₹85,695	₹32,411	₹1,199	₹-2,000	₹1,17,912	+3.30%
BLR → New York	Travel Edge	Cleartrip	EK 569, EK 201	₹87,581	₹32,411	₹0	₹0	₹1,19,992	+5.12%
BLR → Tokyo	Goibibo	Goibibo	JL 754	₹39,481	₹0	₹750	₹-3,159	₹37,072	0%
BLR → Tokyo	iShop	Goibibo	JL 754	₹26,260	₹13,221	₹999	₹-2,000	₹38,480	+3.80%
BLR → Tokyo	SmartBuy	Goibibo	JL 754	₹25,273	₹13,221	₹999	₹-1,974	₹38,506	+3.87%
BLR → Tokyo	Travel Edge	Cleartrip	JL 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.

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

 

[Indrajeet100]

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.

 

[m4b]

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.

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.

 

[SpaceBar]

SmartBuy and IShop both use rewards360. So basically their pricing are same. The only difference how the reward points are used and capping.

 

[magnusfan]

Ishop doesn't provide flight cancellation insurance, yet!