Costco is well-known for offering competitive prices on bulk grocery items, household goods, and gas, but did you know they also provide travel deals? Costco Travel offers deals on car rentals, cruises, vacation packages, and more, using their group-buying power to secure competitive pricing and extra perks, exclusively for its members. This article dives into the airlines Costco Travel uses, the types of travel they offer, and whether their deals are actually worth it.
Launched in 2000, Costco Travel applies the same selective group purchase model to vacations, offering an easy-to-use online travel agent experience with a curated selection of quality trip options, rebates, and perks, depending on your membership level.
To take advantage of these deals, you’ll need a Costco membership.
Costco Membership: Is it Worth the Cost?
Costco offers two primary membership categories: Personal and Business, each with two levels of perks and pricing.
- Personal Membership:
- Gold Star: $60 per year
- Executive: $120 per year (includes a 2% annual reward)
- Business Membership:
- Business: $60 per year
- Business Executive: $120 per year
Costco membership types
The Executive Membership can potentially save you money with its 2% reward (up to $1,000 annually). A $3,000 trip booked through Costco Travel using an Executive Membership earns a $60 reward. Executive members also get access to extra travel perks and upgrades, depending on the trip. The 2% reward applies to most Costco purchases, excluding gas and a few other items.
Costco rewards earnings
Costco Travel Flights: What You Need to Know
Costco Travel doesn’t sell standalone flights. You can only purchase flights when bundled with a lodging or travel package. However, this can come with some advantages:
- Convenience: Book all your travel needs, including airfare, in one place.
- Frequent Flyer Miles: Earn frequent flyer miles with your preferred carriers by entering your membership numbers during booking.
- Rewards: Executive Members earn a 2% reward on the airfare portion of their Costco Travel packages (excluding taxes).
However, there are also potential drawbacks to booking flights through Costco Travel:
- Cancellation Fees: Flights may be subject to cancellation fees.
- Pricing: While sometimes competitive, Costco’s fares aren’t always the lowest.
- Limited Choice: Costco Travel doesn’t work with all airlines, notably excluding Southwest Airlines for US travelers.
- Seat Selection Issues: Users often report limited seating choices or unavailable seating maps during booking.
- No Frequent Flyer Redemption: You can’t use frequent flyer miles to purchase flights through Costco Travel.
- Customer Service: You must contact Costco Travel for any flight changes or issues.
Booking Flights with Costco Travel: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Visit the Costco Travel homepage.
- Use the search form to find a Vacation Package, entering your desired destination and travel dates. You can also search for a flight with a hotel stay or cruise.
- Select your departure airport and flying class. Enter the ages of any children to ensure accurate pricing.
- Click “Find My Vacations” to see available options.
Selecting a vacation package search on Costco
After selecting a package, you can view the included flights or browse additional options. If you find a cheaper flight, select it and accept the price change confirmation. Otherwise, continue to the hotel selection to complete your booking.
Package on Costco Travel
Price info on Costco Travel
Are Costco Travel Flights a Good Deal?
It’s essential to compare prices before booking. Since Costco Travel doesn’t itemize package pricing, compare the package price with and without the flight to determine the airfare cost.
For example, a package with airfare might cost $4,968, while the same package without airfare costs $2,849, making the airfare portion $2,119. Then, compare that price with fares on airline websites or using flight search engines.
Flight search on Google Flights
How to Combine Costco Travel with Flight Deal Alerts
To maximize savings, combine Costco Travel with flight deal alerts from services like Going. This allows you to identify the best flight prices and then explore packages to that location on Costco Travel.
Going deal to Cancun
What Airlines Does Costco Travel Use?
Costco Travel partners with a variety of airlines to offer flights as part of their vacation packages. Here is a comprehensive list:
- Aegean Airlines
- Aer Lingus
- Air Canada
- Air Europa
- Air France
- Air New Zealand
- Air Tahiti
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Air Transat
- Alaska Airlines
- Alitalia
- American Airlines
- Bahamas Air
- British Airways
- Cayman Airways
- Delta Air Lines
- Fiji Airways
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Iberia
- Lufthansa
- Olympic Air
- Sky Express
- United Airlines
- WestJet
- Virgin Atlantic
Costco Travel Car Rentals: What to Consider
Costco Travel often provides excellent deals on rental cars from reputable agencies. Benefits include:
- Competitive Pricing: Generally offers the lowest prices from high-quality vendors.
- Reputable Agencies: Doesn’t work with low-cost carriers.
- Free Additional Drivers: Included with every booking.
- No Upfront Payment: Reserve without a deposit or prepayment.
- Free Cancellation: Cancel without penalties.
- No Hidden Fees: Pricing includes taxes.
- Easy Comparisons: Website displays options in an easy-to-view grid.
- Loyalty Program Points: Earn points by entering your loyalty program number.
- Rebates: Some rentals include a Costco Shop Card.
- Rewards: Executive Members earn a 2% reward on bookings.
The main drawback is a limited choice of rental car agencies.
Are Costco Car Rentals a Good Deal?
Comparing Costco car rentals with other booking sites is crucial. Check prices for the same car type and rental period on other sites. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of additional drivers, as Costco includes this for free.
Which Car Rental Companies Work with Costco?
Costco Travel partners with only four rental car agencies:
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Enterprise
Selecting rental cars on Costco Travel
How to Book a Car Rental with Costco
- Visit the Costco Travel homepage and select the “Rental Car” tab.
- Enter your pick-up and drop-off locations, dates, and times.
- Click “Find My Car” to view rental options.
Example search results for car rental on Costco
Costco Travel Packages: A Comprehensive Overview
Costco Travel packages typically include lodging and may also include airfare, airport transfers, car rentals, and activities.
The packages are separated into four main categories:
- Vacation Packages: Stays at resorts or hotels, with airport transfers and extras.
- Specialty Vacations: African safaris and guided vacations exclusively priced for Costco members.
- Cruises: Available on various cruise lines.
- Theme Parks: Discounted stays bundled with admission tickets at Disney or Universal properties.
Are Costco Vacation Packages a Good Deal?
Researching pricing is essential to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Compare the total cost of the package to booking each component separately.
The Bottom Line
Costco Travel can offer significant savings and convenience, especially for bundled travel packages and car rentals. However, it’s essential to compare prices and consider the limitations in airline and hotel choices. By understanding the pros and cons and doing your research, you can maximize the benefits of Costco Travel and enjoy your next vacation for less.
