Updated

Updated · Fox News · Sep 26

Costco Membership Unlocks 5 Hidden Perks, Including 2% Rewards and $1.50 Hot Dogs

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Sep 26

Costco Membership Unlocks 5 Hidden Perks, Including 2% Rewards and $1.50 Hot Dogs

Q: What hidden catch makes Costco's travel bundles so much cheaper than booking directly?

The “hidden catch” is that Costco Travel usually is not selling a dramatically cheaper flight or hotel by itself. The lower overall price typically comes from a bundle, and airfare generally cannot be booked standalone through Costco at all. In practice, Costco’s travel savings tend to come from packaging flights with hotels, rental cars or cruises, plus extras such as a Digital Costco Shop Card or, for Executive members, a 2% reward after travel is completed. When you isolate the airfare, reporting indicates it is often close to what you would pay booking directly with the airline. The deal is in the package math, not necessarily in a secret discount on each component. There are also tradeoffs behind the lower headline price. You must pay for a Costco membership to access the offers. Some bonuses arrive only after the trip, rather than reducing the upfront booking cost. Costco also works with a limited set of airline partners, and flexibility can be weaker than booking directly, especially if you need changes or want to use airline miles. Travelers generally can add a frequent-flyer number, but they usually cannot redeem miles to pay for the Costco-booked flight. So the catch is not a hidden fee so much as a pricing structure: Costco Travel is often cheaper because it bundles average-priced travel components with perks and rebates, not because every piece is independently discounted.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 26

Five lesser-known Costco benefits highlighted in a new report extend savings beyond bulk groceries, spanning gas, travel, discounted gift cards, optical services and tire-related value.
A $130 Executive membership offers a 2% annual reward worth up to $1,250; shoppers need about $3,250 in qualifying spending to offset the $65 upgrade from the standard plan.
Costco gas can help members recoup annual fees through lower pump prices, while the retailer’s app shows station hours and local prices before drivers head out.
Costco Travel lets members book packages, cruises, hotels and rental cars, and one reported Costa Rica booking returned a $200 Shop Card after the trip.
Discounted gift cards and free lifetime tire maintenance after tire purchases show how Costco is pitching membership value well beyond the warehouse checkout line.