Our client lived in Rochester, New York.

Her adult daughter was working in the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. She wanted to have a mother/daughter getaway in Istanbul, and then spend some time together with her grandchildren in Beirut.

First, she went online to Expedia. Departing from Rochester at noon, her Delta flight was scheduled to arrive 15 hours later in Istanbul, by way of a connection in New York. Then a non-stop flight on Middle East Airlines (1:45 hours) arriving in Beirut at 1:00 in the afternoon. Ten days later, our client was to leave Beirut on a 20-plus-hour flight to Rochester with connections in Paris and New York. Expedia price: $1,636.20.

But before she clicked on Expedia’s “buy now” button, she asked us for a second opinion.

We suggested a quick Delta flight (1:25 hours) from Rochester to New York City. Then a second Delta flight, non-stop to Istanbul (10:05 hours), and finally the Middle East Airlines flight to Beirut (1:45 hours). Going home, we suggested the Middle East flight from Beirut to Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris (4:45 hours), then Air France non-stop to JFK (8:15 hours), and then a Delta connection to Rochester (1:39 hours). TTC price: $1,214.

One more note: For their mother/daughter getaway stay, we also recommended the Park Hyatt Istanbul’s Macka Palas Hotel, one of Istanbul’s most luxurious, in the King Spa room.

Expedia’s rate: $2,208 for three nights.

TTC’s rate: $1,440 for three nights, including a $75 food and beverage credit.

Total trip savings with TTC: $1,190.20.

Case closed.