Does Costco Travel Do Flights Only? Yes and no. Costco Travel offers flights, but only when you book them as part of a package that includes a hotel stay, vacation package, or cruise. This approach can lead to significant savings and added perks for Costco members, as TRAVELS.EDU.VN highlights, but it also has some limitations compared to booking flights directly. If you’re looking for ease, convenience, and potential rewards, Costco Travel is a solid option. Explore the world with confidence, knowing you’re backed by Costco’s commitment to value.
1. Understanding Costco Travel
Costco Travel has been operating for over two decades, since 2000, leveraging the same group-buying power that makes its warehouses popular to offer travel deals. It functions as an online travel agency providing curated travel options with attractive rebates and perks based on your membership. While it may not always be the best choice for completely independent travelers, those seeking bundled trip bookings can find great value, particularly in car rentals.
1.1. Membership Options and Costs
Costco offers two primary membership categories, each with different levels of benefits and pricing:
-
Personal Membership:
- Gold Star: $60 per year
- Executive: $120 per year, includes a 2% annual reward (up to $1,000)
-
Business Membership:
- Business: $60 per year
- Business Executive: $120 per year
The Executive membership is often the most beneficial for travelers due to the 2% reward on Costco purchases, which includes many travel bookings. For instance, a $3,000 trip booked through Costco Travel with an Executive membership earns a $60 reward. Executive members also receive extra travel perks and upgrades on select trips.
Costco Membership Tiers
1.2. Evaluating the Executive Membership
To illustrate the potential savings with an Executive Membership, consider the following scenarios:
| Spending Category | Annual Spend | 2% Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Costco Purchases | $5,000 | $100 |
| Costco Travel | $3,000 | $60 |
| Total Reward Earnings | $160 |
This demonstrates how quickly the rewards can accumulate, potentially offsetting the membership cost and providing additional savings.
2. Costco Travel Flights: The Package Deal
Costco Travel does not typically sell flights as standalone purchases. Instead, flights are offered as part of a package that includes lodging or other travel components. This approach has both advantages and disadvantages.
2.1. Advantages of Booking Flights with Costco Travel
- Time Savings and Convenience: Simplify your travel planning by booking all your travel needs in one place, receiving a single itinerary with all flight details.
- Frequent Flyer Miles: Continue to earn frequent flyer miles on your preferred airlines by entering your membership numbers during booking.
- Executive Member Rewards: Earn a 2% reward on the airfare portion of your Costco Travel packages.
2.2. Disadvantages of Booking Flights with Costco Travel
- Cancellation Fees: Flights booked through Costco Travel may be subject to cancellation fees, potentially higher than those charged by the airline directly.
- Pricing Considerations: Costco’s fares may not always be the lowest, and booking flights independently might sometimes yield better prices.
- Limited Airline Choices: Costco Travel does not partner with all airlines, notably excluding Southwest Airlines for US travelers.
- Seat Selection Issues: Users often report limited seating options or difficulties accessing seating maps during booking.
- No Frequent Flyer Redemption: You cannot redeem frequent flyer miles to purchase flights through Costco Travel.
- Customer Service Bottleneck: All flight-related issues must be resolved through Costco Travel, which can sometimes lead to long wait times and frustration.
Costco Travel Search
2.3. Booking Flights: A Step-by-Step Guide
To book a flight with Costco Travel:
- Visit Costco Travel: Go to the Costco Travel homepage.
- Search for a Vacation Package: Enter your destination, travel dates, and departure airport.
- Select a Package: Review the available packages and choose one that includes flights and lodging.
- Customize Flights: If desired, you can customize your flight options from the available choices.
- Complete Booking: Review your selections and complete the booking process.
2.4. Example: Cancún Vacation Package
Consider a vacation package to Cancún. A sample search reveals a package at the Occidental at Xcaret for $4,968, including four roundtrip flights from Chicago, lodging, and extras. You can view included flights and explore additional flight options, potentially selecting a cheaper flight if available.
Costco Travel Price Info
3. Are Costco Travel Flights a Good Deal?
To determine if Costco Travel flights are a good deal, it’s essential to compare prices. Costco Travel does not itemize travel package pricing, so you must compare package pricing with and without the flight.
3.1. Price Comparison Example
For the Xcaret trip mentioned above, the cost for a family of four, including airfare, is $4,968. The same package without airfare costs $2,849. Therefore, the airfare portion is $2,119.
Researching the same flights directly with the airline might reveal a cost of $2,305, slightly higher than Costco’s price. However, using flight search engines like Google Flights or deal alerts from services like Going might uncover even lower prices.
3.2. Leveraging Going for Flight Deals
Combining Costco Travel with Going can be a smart strategy. Use Going to find the best flight deals, then explore Costco Travel packages to the same destination. Compare the total cost of the Costco package (with and without flights) to the Going flight deal. If the Costco package is cheaper and the potential drawbacks are acceptable, it may be the better option.
Flight Search on Google Flights
4. Car Rentals Through Costco Travel
Costco Travel is often recognized for providing excellent deals on rental cars, offering better models at competitive prices from reputable agencies.
4.1. Advantages of Renting Cars with Costco Travel
- Competitive Pricing: Costco Travel generally offers some of the lowest prices available.
- Reputable Agencies: Costco Travel partners with reliable rental car agencies.
- Free Additional Drivers: Additional driver fees are waived.
- No Upfront Payment: Reserve rental cars without a deposit.
- Free Cancellation: Cancel without penalties.
- No Hidden Fees: Pricing includes all taxes.
- Easy Comparisons: The website allows easy comparison of vehicle types and prices.
- Loyalty Program Points: Earn loyalty program points.
- Rebates: Some rentals include a Costco Shop Card.
- Executive Member Rewards: Earn a 2% reward on bookings.
4.2. Disadvantages of Renting Cars with Costco Travel
- Limited Choice: Costco Travel only works with four rental car agencies, excluding some major players like Hertz.
Rental Cars Selection on Costco Travel
4.3. Costco Car Rental: A Price Comparison
To evaluate Costco car rental deals, consider a comparison in Honolulu. A week-long rental from the Honolulu airport through Costco Travel costs $610, including taxes and an additional driver. A similar search on other sites might show a cheaper rate from a different agency, but often these rates do not include additional driver fees, making Costco the better deal for multiple drivers.
4.4. Rental Car Agencies Partnered with Costco Travel
Costco Travel partners with the following rental car agencies:
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Enterprise
4.5. How to Book a Car Rental with Costco
To book a car rental with Costco:
- Visit Costco Travel: Go to the Costco Travel homepage.
- Select Rental Cars: Choose the Rental Car tab.
- Enter Details: Enter pick-up and drop-off locations, dates, and times.
- View Options: View available rental options and select a vehicle.
- Complete Booking: Add any optional equipment, review details, and finalize your booking.
Car Rental Search Results on Costco
5. Vacation Packages: A Bundled Approach
Costco travel packages typically combine lodging and may also include flights, airport transfers, car rentals, and activities, offering competitive pricing.
5.1. Types of Travel Packages
Costco separates travel packages into four main categories:
- Vacation Packages: Include stays at resorts or hotels, airport transfers, and optional airfare.
- Specialty Vacations: Cover African safaris and guided tours booked with exclusive pricing for Costco members.
- Cruises: Available on multiple cruise lines with valuable rebates.
- Theme Parks: Include discounted stays and admission tickets at Disney or Universal properties.
5.2. Value Labels on Costco Travel Packages
Costco Travel assigns value labels to their packages:
- Kirkland Signature: Expect the most extras and the best rooms at the lowest prices.
- Buyer’s Choice: Typically one tier below Kirkland Signature in value.
- Limited-Time Deals: Savings and perks available for booking by a set date.
5.3. Benefits of Booking Travel Packages with Costco Travel
- Pricing: Bundling can save hundreds of dollars.
- Time Savings: Simplifies planning by consolidating travel needs.
- Travel Advisories: Alerts members to travel advisories.
- Partial Payments: May require only a partial payment to secure booking.
- Price Reductions: May pass on savings if the land portion of the package decreases.
- Rebates: Earn rebates in the form of a Costco Shop Card.
- Rewards and Extras: Executive Members earn a 2% reward and may receive perks like room upgrades.
5.4. Drawbacks of Booking Travel Packages with Costco Travel
- Limited Choice: Limited lodging vendors and destinations.
5.5. Are Costco Vacation Packages a Good Deal?
Research pricing to ensure the best deal. Compare the total cost of the package with the cost of booking components separately.
5.6. Sample Costco Vacation Package
Consider again the Xcaret package. The total cost, including airfare, is $4,968. Booking the same trip without airfare might reveal tickets costing around $1,900 and the room costing $2,422. This makes the independently booked trip cheaper, but factoring in the Costco Shop Card and Executive Member rewards can narrow the price difference.
Comparison Shopping
6. Cruises and Theme Parks: Specialized Offerings
6.1. Cruises with Costco Travel
Costco Travel is often favored for its cruise deals due to competitive pricing, rebates, and rewards.
Advantages of Booking Cruises with Costco Travel
- Competitive Pricing
- Value Labeling
- Price Reductions
- Rebates
- Rewards and Perks
Disadvantages of Booking Cruises with Costco Travel
- Limited Choice
- Rebates Instead of Shipboard Credits
- No Proactive Price Tracking
- Less Personalized Service
6.2. Theme Parks with Costco Travel
Costco partners with Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Disneyland Resorts, offering competitive pricing and reward earnings. The main drawback is that theme park visits can be complex, and first-time visitors may benefit from a dedicated travel agent.
7. Hotels Through Costco Travel
Costco Travel offers a limited selection of pre-selected hotel brands, providing potential perks and rewards.
7.1. Advantages of Booking Hotels Through Costco Travel
- Time Savings
- Competitive Pricing
- Partial Payment Options
- Possible Price Reductions
- Rebates on Certain Bookings
- Additional Extras Included
- Rewards for Executive Members
7.2. Disadvantages of Booking Hotels Through Costco Travel
- Limited Selection
- Fewer Family-Friendly Accommodation Options
7.3. Are Costco Hotels a Good Deal?
Costco Travel nearly always offers better pricing, even before considering rebates, rewards, and extras.
7.4. Hotel Companies Partnered with Costco
- IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Hyatt
- Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
- Swissotel Hotels & Resorts
Hotel Search Selection on Costco
7.5. Booking a Hotel with Costco
To book a hotel:
- Visit Costco Travel
- Select Hotel Search
- Enter Destination Details
- View Available Hotel Results
- Select a Room and Book
8. Additional Perks of Booking with Costco
- Competitive Pricing
- Rebates
- Rewards
- Credit Card Savings
- Extras
- Price Reduction Pass-Through
- Stay Informed
- No Surprises
- Convenience
9. Travel Insurance
Costco Travel offers member-only rates through Zurich Travel Insurance, covering trip cancellation, interruption, travel delay, baggage loss, emergency medical expenses, and rental car damage.
10. Contacting Costco Travel
- Main Customer Service: 1-866-921-7925
- Customer Service Hours: Mon – Fri: 7A to 7PM; Sat – Sun: 8A to 5PM (PST)
- Customer Service While Traveling: 1-866-317-4711
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FAQ: Costco Travel and Flights
1. Can I book flights only through Costco Travel?
No, Costco Travel typically requires flights to be booked as part of a package, including a hotel stay, vacation package, or cruise.
2. What are the benefits of booking a vacation package with flights included through Costco Travel?
Benefits include time savings, convenience, earning frequent flyer miles, and the potential for Executive Member rewards.
3. Are there any drawbacks to booking flights with Costco Travel?
Potential drawbacks include cancellation fees, limited airline choices, seat selection issues, and customer service bottlenecks.
4. How can I determine if Costco Travel’s flight prices are competitive?
Compare the total cost of the Costco package with and without flights, then research flight prices independently using Google Flights or services like Going.
5. What airlines does Costco Travel partner with?
Costco Travel partners with a range of airlines, but notably excludes Southwest Airlines for US travelers.
6. Can I use frequent flyer miles to book flights through Costco Travel?
No, you cannot redeem frequent flyer miles for flight purchases through Costco Travel.
7. What should I do if I encounter issues with my flight booked through Costco Travel?
Contact Costco Travel’s customer service for changes or resolutions. Be prepared for potentially long wait times.
8. How can I combine Costco Travel with services like Going to find the best flight deals?
Use Going to identify low flight prices, then check Costco Travel for vacation packages to the same destination, comparing the total costs.
9. Does Costco Travel offer travel insurance?
Costco Travel offers member-only rates through Zurich Travel Insurance, covering various travel-related issues.
10. What are the contact details for Costco Travel customer service?
- Main Customer Service: 1-866-921-7925
- Customer Service While Traveling: 1-866-317-4711
