MakeMyTrip vs Goibibo: same parent company, different prices — how to arbitrage both OTAs in 2026
By Arjun Kapoor (Arjun Kapoor tracks error fares, mileage runs and award-chart sweet spots for Indian travellers. He moderates two Telegram fare-alert channels and has booked Europe round-trips at sub-₹25,000 four times in the last 24 months.) · Published · 9 min read
MakeMyTrip and Goibibo are siblings under the MakeMyTrip Group but operate as separate competitive platforms with different pricing strategies, convenience fees, app promotions and cashback offers. Goibibo can be cheaper on some routes, MMT on others — and neither is consistently the winner. Here is a practical guide to exploiting the gap.
TL;DR — yes, the prices are different, and here is why
MakeMyTrip and Goibibo share a backend booking infrastructure and airline connectivity but deliberately maintain separate consumer-facing pricing, promotional strategies and fee structures. This is a deliberate business decision — the two brands target somewhat different customer segments and compete against each other (as well as against EaseMyTrip, Yatra and others) to avoid presenting a monopoly face to the market. In practice, the fare displayed for the same Air India or IndiGo flight on the same date can differ between the two platforms by anywhere from ₹0 to ₹500+ depending on the promotional discounts, convenience fees and bank card offers active at that moment. Always check both — it takes 60 seconds and sometimes saves you ₹400.
How can two brands with the same backend show different prices?
The shared backend means they pull airline inventory from the same source — the same Global Distribution System (GDS) feed or direct airline API connection. The actual base fare for, say, an IndiGo 6E-201 economy seat on a Tuesday in August is identical at the GDS level for both platforms.
Where the difference enters:
- Convenience fees: MMT and Goibibo each set their own convenience fees independently. These are not regulated and not uniform across the two brands. Goibibo has historically had slightly lower convenience fees on some routes; MMT's fees have trended higher on popular domestic routes as of 2026. The fee structure also varies by payment method — UPI often attracts a lower or zero convenience fee on both platforms.
- Bank card promotions: Both platforms negotiate separate card-based discounts with banks (HDFC, ICICI, SBI etc.). An HDFC card offer might be active on MMT but not Goibibo, or vice versa. The bank offer is what makes the checkout price diverge beyond the convenience fee difference.
- Platform-specific discounts and MyWallet credits: MMT has its MyWallet cashback ecosystem; Goibibo has GoCash+ rewards. These create a platform stickiness effect — if you have accumulated ₹800 in GoCash+, Goibibo is effectively cheaper for your next booking even if the listed price is the same.
- Bundle pricing: When hotels or insurance are bundled at checkout, the underlying flight price can appear lower. This is worth being careful about — unwrap the bundle and check the individual components.
When Goibibo tends to be cheaper
From monitoring fares across both platforms over an extended period, here are the patterns I have noticed:
- Low-cost carrier domestic routes: Goibibo has often undercut MMT on IndiGo and SpiceJet domestic bookings, particularly when Goibibo is running an app-exclusive promotion. The gap is usually small — ₹100–₹300 — but on a ₹4,000 IndiGo ticket, that is meaningful in percentage terms.
- Non-peak travel dates: Goibibo appears more aggressive with discounting on mid-week, off-season dates. MMT tends to hold prices firmer on non-peak windows because its customer base skews toward less price-sensitive travellers in some segments.
- Specific bank card combinations: When Goibibo has an ICICI or Axis card offer running and MMT does not, Goibibo wins comprehensively for card holders.
When MMT tends to win: international bookings (MMT has historically been strong here); holiday packages where their hotel inventory bundling creates a price illusion; and when you have significant MyWallet balance or an active MMT Select subscription discount.
The convenience fee structure: how much are you actually paying?
Convenience fees are the hidden sting in Indian OTA bookings. They are added at the checkout stage and vary by platform, route type and payment method. As of 2026, rough ranges (verify on the platform at the time of booking — these change frequently):
- MakeMyTrip: Often in the range of ₹249–₹499 per transaction on domestic flights via card payment. UPI payments sometimes attract a reduced or zero convenience fee — check the payment page. International bookings may have different fee structures.
- Goibibo: Typically slightly lower than MMT on comparable transactions, often in the ₹149–₹399 range, though again this fluctuates by promotion period and payment method.
- EaseMyTrip: Has historically positioned itself as the 'no convenience fee' option on certain payment methods — worth including in your comparison, especially for domestic bookings where the base fare is low and the fee represents a high percentage.
The key habit to build: always scroll to the payment page before committing, so you see the full price including convenience fees. The fare displayed in search results does not include these. On a ₹3,500 Pune–Delhi IndiGo fare, a ₹400 convenience fee is an 11% markup — that is not nothing.
The loyalty angle: GoCash+ vs MyWallet vs MyRewards
This is where the 'same parent' structure actually cuts against you as a deal-seeker: they want you on one platform and use their respective loyalty currencies to lock you in.
Goibibo GoCash+: Earned on bookings and redeemable on future Goibibo bookings (flights, hotels, buses). GoCash+ credits are typically subject to per-booking redemption caps and expiry dates. Good if you make frequent bookings through Goibibo — the accumulation is real.
MMT MyWallet: Similar structure — cashback earned on bookings, redeemable on the MMT platform. MMT Select is a paid membership tier that gives upfront discounts and cashback on hotel bookings — worth evaluating if you book hotels frequently through MMT.
My practical advice: do not let accumulated loyalty balance blind you to a better price elsewhere. I have seen travellers book a flight on MMT at ₹600 more than the Goibibo price because they had ₹200 in MyWallet credits. The net cost comparison matters, but do the full maths.
How to actually arbitrage both platforms efficiently
Here is the workflow I use before any India OTA booking:
- Search the route on FlightGPT first — this gives me a fair-market reference price across multiple sources and flags if any OTA is showing an unusually high or low price.
- Open MMT and Goibibo simultaneously (phone app for both is fastest). Search the same flight on both and note the displayed price in search results.
- Click through to checkout on the cheaper one — only at this stage will you see the convenience fee added. If the checkout price is still lower, proceed. If the convenience fee tips it above the other platform, switch.
- Check for applicable bank card offers. If I am paying with an HDFC card, I check whether there is an active HDFC offer on MMT or Goibibo specifically for that date — the offer might be ₹400–₹750 off which can decisively tip the comparison.
- Also check EaseMyTrip and the airline's direct website. The airline direct site typically shows the same base fare as OTAs but sometimes has airline-specific bank card offers or no convenience fee at all.
The whole exercise takes under 3 minutes for a domestic booking and has saved me real money consistently. On international flights where the difference can be larger, it is even more worth the effort.
Related: for the airline-direct vs OTA question specifically, see our piece on IRCTC Air vs OTA booking fees.
Frequently asked questions
Are MakeMyTrip and Goibibo the same company?
Yes — both are owned by MakeMyTrip Limited (listed on NASDAQ). They operate as separate consumer brands with different pricing, promotions, loyalty currencies and app experiences. The shared backend does not mean prices are identical — they frequently differ due to separate convenience fees and promotional strategies.
Is Goibibo always cheaper than MakeMyTrip?
No — Goibibo is sometimes cheaper (especially on domestic LCC routes and when specific bank card offers are active), sometimes MMT is cheaper (particularly on international bookings or during MMT-specific sale periods). The only reliable approach is to compare both at checkout, including all fees, on your specific booking date and route.
What is the convenience fee on MakeMyTrip in 2026?
MakeMyTrip's convenience fees on domestic flights are roughly in the ₹249–₹499 range per transaction as of 2026, varying by route, payment method and any active promotions. UPI payments sometimes attract lower fees. These figures change — check the payment page at checkout for the exact fee on your specific booking. Verify at makemytrip.com.
Can I use GoCash+ on MakeMyTrip or MyWallet on Goibibo?
No — GoCash+ credits are only redeemable on Goibibo, and MMT MyWallet credits only on MakeMyTrip. They are separate loyalty currencies despite the shared parent company. This is deliberate — each platform wants to retain you within its own booking ecosystem.
Is EaseMyTrip cheaper than both MakeMyTrip and Goibibo?
EaseMyTrip has positioned itself as a low-fee alternative, historically advertising 'no convenience fee' on certain payment methods. On some domestic bookings, EaseMyTrip undercuts both MMT and Goibibo on the all-in price. Include it in your comparison — but verify the fee at checkout as their fee structure has also evolved over time.
Does the airline's direct website ever beat OTA prices?
Sometimes — airlines occasionally run exclusive web/app fares, and there is no OTA convenience fee on a direct booking. IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air all have their own apps with periodic app-exclusive offers. The downside is no OTA loyalty points and less price comparison convenience. For the best overall picture, check both OTAs and the airline direct; FlightGPT can help you get the market reference price quickly.