What hourly rate should I use for my time if I don't work hourly?

Take your annual salary, divide by 2080 (work hours in a year), then cut that in half. A $60,000 salary = $29/hour work rate = $14-15 for leisure travel time value. Or use a flat $20-30 for most middle-income travelers. The exact number matters less than using the same number across all route options.

Should I count sleep time on overnight flights differently?

Only if you actually sleep well on planes. Most people don't. If you arrive exhausted and write off your first day, count the full overnight travel time at your hourly rate plus the lost day at $100-200. If you genuinely sleep 6 hours on a lie-flat business class seat, subtract that sleep time from your total travel time calculation.

Do I really need to factor in meals at airports for connections?

Yes, because you actually spend that money. A 3-hour layover = $15-25 on food you wouldn't buy if you were home or at your destination. Two connections = $30-50 in airport food. That's real money coming out of your trip budget. Count it.

How do I value a lost vacation day from a bad routing?

Calculate your total trip budget (hotel + food + activities) and divide by trip days. A $1200 long weekend = $400/day. If a routing costs you half a day on a 3-day trip, that's $200 in lost value. Add it to that route's cost. This math makes early morning departures and late returns clearly valuable.

What if the cheap route is on a terrible airline but the math still works?

Factor in one more variable: disaster recovery cost. If the budget carrier cancels, how much would a same-day replacement cost? Add 10-20% of that cost as insurance value. If replacement would cost $800 and cancellation risk is real, add $80-160 to the budget route total. This accounts for the reliability gap.

Does this math change for business travel?

Completely. Use your full hourly work rate, not half. A $400 savings with 8 extra hours at $100/hour working rate = $800 time cost. Business travelers should nearly always take the fastest route. The math almost never favors connections when time is billed to clients or costs company productivity.

How to Calculate Whether a Flight Route Is Worth the Money

Compare the total trip cost (flight + time value + inconvenience) against alternatives to find the real value. A $200 cheaper flight that adds 12 hours and two connections often costs more when you factor in your time at $20-30/hour, extra meals, and lost productivity. The best route delivers you to your destination for the lowest total cost, not the lowest ticket price.

Calculate the Base Comparison. List all realistic route options for your trip with their ticket prices. Include nonstop, one-stop, and budget carrier options. For example: Route A (nonstop) $450, Route B (one connection) $320, Route C (two connections, budget carrier) $180. This is your starting point, not your answer.
Add Your Time Cost. Assign a dollar value to your time. Use half your hourly wage as a baseline, or $20-30/hour if you're unsure. Calculate door-to-door travel time for each route including connections, layovers, and typical delays for that route. Multiply time difference by your hourly rate. Route A: 8 hours. Route B: 14 hours (+6 hours × $25 = $150). Route C: 18 hours (+10 hours × $25 = $250). Add these costs to the ticket price.
Add Inconvenience Costs. Factor in real expenses that come with longer routes. Each connection adds: airport meals ($15-25), possible overnight hotel if connection is long ($80-150), increased baggage risk. Early morning departures may require hotel night before ($100-150). Late arrivals may cost a lost vacation day. Add these actual dollar amounts to each route's total.
Calculate the True Total. Add ticket price + time cost + inconvenience costs for each route. Example: Route A = $450 + $0 + $0 = $450. Route B = $320 + $150 + $20 (one meal) = $490. Route C = $180 + $250 + $40 (two meals) + $120 (lost vacation day value) = $590. The lowest number is your best value, regardless of ticket price.
Run the Weekend Test. For trips under 5 days, add an extra penalty for time-heavy routes. If a routing eats 18 hours vs 8 hours on a 3-day weekend trip, you've lost 30% of your trip. Assign that a cost: 30% of your total trip budget (hotel + activities + food). This reveals why budget carriers with terrible schedules rarely make sense for short trips.
Check the Reliability Factor. Look up on-time performance for each route on FlightAware or the airline's stats. A route with 60% on-time arrival vs 85% carries hidden risk. Multiply the ticket price difference by the reliability gap. If Route B saves $130 but has 25% worse reliability, discount that savings by 25% ($32). Subtract this from your calculated savings.

What hourly rate should I use for my time if I don't work hourly?: Take your annual salary, divide by 2080 (work hours in a year), then cut that in half. A $60,000 salary = $29/hour work rate = $14-15 for leisure travel time value. Or use a flat $20-30 for most middle-income travelers. The exact number matters less than using the same number across all route options.
Should I count sleep time on overnight flights differently?: Only if you actually sleep well on planes. Most people don't. If you arrive exhausted and write off your first day, count the full overnight travel time at your hourly rate plus the lost day at $100-200. If you genuinely sleep 6 hours on a lie-flat business class seat, subtract that sleep time from your total travel time calculation.
Do I really need to factor in meals at airports for connections?: Yes, because you actually spend that money. A 3-hour layover = $15-25 on food you wouldn't buy if you were home or at your destination. Two connections = $30-50 in airport food. That's real money coming out of your trip budget. Count it.
How do I value a lost vacation day from a bad routing?: Calculate your total trip budget (hotel + food + activities) and divide by trip days. A $1200 long weekend = $400/day. If a routing costs you half a day on a 3-day trip, that's $200 in lost value. Add it to that route's cost. This math makes early morning departures and late returns clearly valuable.
What if the cheap route is on a terrible airline but the math still works?: Factor in one more variable: disaster recovery cost. If the budget carrier cancels, how much would a same-day replacement cost? Add 10-20% of that cost as insurance value. If replacement would cost $800 and cancellation risk is real, add $80-160 to the budget route total. This accounts for the reliability gap.
Does this math change for business travel?: Completely. Use your full hourly work rate, not half. A $400 savings with 8 extra hours at $100/hour working rate = $800 time cost. Business travelers should nearly always take the fastest route. The math almost never favors connections when time is billed to clients or costs company productivity.