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Manage Inline Options

Present alternative travel components or packages within a single proposal and let travelers choose their preferred option.

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Written by Shane

Inline Options let you present alternative travel components or packages within a proposal and have travelers select their preferred choice. Instead of building multiple separate proposals, you include the alternatives inside one itinerary - travelers review the choices and select what fits them best. Inline Options are available in both Regular and Group Trips.


Add Inline Options to a Proposal

  1. Open a proposal.

  2. From the Trip Components panel, drag Options onto the proposal canvas.

  3. Drop it into the desired day or section.

TripLoft creates an Inline Options container with two empty options - Option 1 and Option 2.

[SCREENSHOT: Empty Inline Options Component]


Build Each Option

Drag a trip component into each option and configure it. An option can hold any trip component - activities, lodging, flights, cruises, car rentals, ground transfers, trains, ferries, ports, or information components - and each is configured just like any other proposal component.

For example, Option 1 might be a Car Rental while Option 2 is a Train.

[SCREENSHOT: Car Rental vs Train]


Create Package Options

Options aren't limited to a single component - each can contain several. This lets you present complete packages rather than one-off swaps:

  • Option 1: Luxury Hotel, Private Transfer, Sunset Cruise

  • Option 2: Boutique Hotel, Shared Transfer, City Tour

When a traveler selects an option, they select all components contained within it.

[SCREENSHOT: Multiple components inside an option]


Publish and Share

Once the options are configured, click Publish and share the proposal with the traveler. All options remain available for selection.


Before a Selection Is Made

Until a traveler chooses, TripLoft treats the options as open possibilities, which affects pricing, bookings, payments, and invoices.

Pricing shows as a range

Option pricing isn't included as a finalized trip cost. Instead, TripLoft displays a price range covering all possible outcomes. For example, a $1,000 base trip with a $500 Option 1 and a $700 Option 2 shows the traveler $1,500 - $1,700.

Bookings show all options

In Trip → Bookings, bookings are created for all proposal items, with Inline Options shown in a hierarchical structure - parent Option rows containing child option rows.

[SCREENSHOT: Options visible in Bookings]

Payments stay unavailable

In Trip → Payments, Inline Option items do not appear as payable items, and payment authorization remains unavailable until selections are finalized.

Invoices show the range

A generated invoice displays all available options with the total trip cost as a range. Travelers can review alternatives but cannot finalize payment yet.

[SCREENSHOT: Invoice showing option ranges]


The Traveler Experience

When the traveler opens the itinerary, Inline Options appear within the proposal, each offering View Details and Select Option. TripLoft also shows a notification indicating how many choices remain.

Travelers can click View Details or the Preferences call-to-action to open a dedicated selection page that gathers all outstanding choices across the itinerary - Inline Options, room selections, and cabin selections - in one place, even when they appear on different days.

[SCREENSHOT: Traveler option selection screen]


Make a Selection

A selection can be made by either the traveler or the advisor.

  • Traveler selects: When a traveler chooses an option, you receive a notification, the proposal records the selection, and the chosen option becomes available for finalization.

  • Advisor selects on their behalf: If the traveler emails or calls, open the proposal, select the requested option, assign travelers if needed, and save. TripLoft notifies the traveler of the update.


Finalize the Choice

After a selection is made, open the Inline Options component and click Convert to Single Item. TripLoft keeps the selected option, removes all unselected alternatives, and finalizes itinerary pricing - so a previous range of $1,500 - $1,700 becomes a fixed $1,500.

[SCREENSHOT: Convert to Single Item]


Clear a Selection

If the traveler changes their mind, open the Inline Options component and click Clear Selection. TripLoft removes the existing choice, restores all available options, and returns the proposal to its original selection state.

[SCREENSHOT: Clear Selection]


After Finalization

Once a selection is finalized, the open-ended behavior resolves:

  • Bookings display only the selected option; unselected alternatives are removed.

  • Payments become available for the selected option.

  • Invoices show only the selected option and the finalized trip total, with no more ranges.

Authorizing payment: When a traveler opens the invoice and clicks Authorize Payment, they proceed directly to authorization if all required choices have been made. If any choices are still outstanding, TripLoft requires those selections first.


Best Practices

  • Present meaningful alternatives rather than minor variations.

  • Use Inline Options for transportation, lodging, activities, and package comparisons.

  • Keep pricing accurate for every option.

  • Convert to a single item once the traveler confirms their choice.

  • Use Clear Selection when revisions are required.


Conclusion

Inline Options let you present multiple travel alternatives within a single proposal. Travelers can compare options, make a selection, and finalize their itinerary without you having to build multiple proposal versions - while bookings, payments, and invoicing stay streamlined throughout.


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