Costco has quietly brought back a deal that could offers instant savings for travelers booking flights to and from Hawaii. Shoppers can once again purchase $500 Alaska Airlines in-store e-gift cards for $449.99, offering a 10 percent discount on flights, including those on Hawaiian Airlines booked via AlaskaAir.com.
This offer has surfaced before, but it has been a while, and though it has typically been available both online and in stores, this time, it’s limited to “select” warehouse locations. The savings can be of good use for frequent Hawaii travelers or groups traveling. Unconfirmed reports, for example, state that these gift cards are unavailable in the Seattle area.
This time, the deal may be even better. The last time this was offered in store, instead of buying one $500 gift card, you got five $100 gift cards. That meant you could still pay some of the balance with an Alaska credit card and thus score free luggage if you have an Alaska Airlines branded credit card. The gift cards have no expiration or blackout dates. Which did you find at your Costco: one five hundred dollar card, or five one hundred dollar ones?
Reader Rob T. recently noted, “Don’t forget Costco now has Alaska $500 gift cards for $450, which can allow us to afford more Hawaiian gifts.” He also asked whether anyone has successfully used these gift cards to purchase Hawaiian Airlines flights on Alaska’s website—something many travelers may wonder about as the two airlines continue integrating.
Costco’s growing role in Hawaii travel.
For many visitors, Costco has become a key player in multiple aspects of Hawaii travel planning, whether for flights, hotels, car rentals, or local food and gift shopping once in the islands. In a recent look at Costco Hawaii locations, visitors revealed the surprising hits and misses when it comes to Costco Hawaii groceries and essentials. That article highlighted the way Costco’s bulk pricing and local selections have made what many in the comments said is a must-stop for vacationers looking to stretch their budgets.
For some, the first stop after landing isn’t their hotel—it’s Costco. Mike S. shared, “After we get our rental car, the first place we hit is Costco. Stock the condo up for the stay, grab a couple beach towels and have our friends grab snorkel gear. Worth the stop for us every time.”
Pete G. had a similar take: “Our first stop after leaving the airport is Costco. We head straight for the fresh fruit section and get two packs of locally grown chunk sliced fresh pineapple. If you can be in heaven, this is it.”
Beyond groceries, Costco Travel has also carved out its space in the Hawaii vacation market, offering hotel and vacation package deals, as well as rental cars. The company has aggressively leveraged partnerships with airlines and resorts, making it a notable player in how people book and experience Hawaii.
Not everyone concurs that Costco’s travel offerings are a guaranteed win. Maria G. commented, “I used to swear by Costco Travel, but my last trip made me think twice. The hotel deal was okay, but dealing with a third party to resolve issues wasn’t great. Still, their car rental prices can’t be beaten.” Kevin M. added, “Love Costco for groceries in Hawaii, but their travel deals? Not so much. I tried a package once and felt locked into choices that weren’t the best fit. Lesson learned—shop around first.”
The pattern of Costco airline deals.
This isn’t the first time Costco has offered a sale on airline gift cards, and if history is any guide, it won’t be the last. Over the past few years, Alaska, Hawaiian, and Southwest Airlines gift cards have periodically appeared at Costco, with limited-time availability. This time, travelers must visit a physical Costco location to grab the discount, and availability may vary by region.
Given past trends, this deal tends to sell out or end quickly, making it a case of acting now or potentially foregoing the offer.
Some travelers have already been tracking these offers closely. One commenter noted how these deals can sometimes appear and disappear quickly, leading to confusion about their availability. These airline gift card promotions come and go, often resurfacing unexpectedly, too.
Maximizing the value with Costco.
Beyond the 10% savings, you can make this deal even more valuable by stacking it with occasional Alaska/Hawaiian airfare sales.
For those who regularly fly between the mainland and Hawaii on Alaska, some see pre-loading wallet travel funds with discounted gift cards as a hedge against future price increases. Alaska Airlines loyalty program members can also use gift cards to pay for taxes and fees on tickets booked in conjunction with mileage redemptions.
In terms of continuing to check prices after booking, some travelers take a similar approach when booking car rentals through Costco Travel. LMS shared, “Keep checking back until you pick up the car. Price dropped one week before arrival. I rebooked and canceled the previous reservation. Price dropped one day before arrival. I rebooked and canceled again. While on the flight, the price dropped. I rebooked and canceled. We landed, and the price dropped. I rebooked and canceled the last time before picking up the car. Price savings? $300.”
The same strategy of monitoring prices and rebooking can apply to airfare, making discounted gift cards even more useful when combined with fare sales and price monitoring.
Will these gift card offers become a long-term trend?
With Alaska Airlines now steering Hawaiian Airlines’ future, it’s possible that Costco deals like this could become more frequent or even expand. Costco’s ability to negotiate exclusive travel discounts has already been evident in its hotel and car rental packages, and airline gift cards are another area that has been a recurring benefit.
Could Costco play an even more significant role in how travelers book and save on Alaska and Hawaiian flights? Whether future gift card deals might expand in scope remains to be seen. The current offer, however, indicates that there will still be some savings opportunities out there for savvy travelers.
Will you take advantage of this deal?
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Is this in stores in Hawaii? I cannot find
It will be interesting to find out if the Alaska gift cards can be used on Hawaiian flights. I just learned that my Alaska Companion Code cannot be used on flights operated by Hawaiian.
The disintegration of Southwest schedule is well underway. I just did a hypothetical search Maui to Denver in May, and there is only one good daytime connection. All other connections are red eyes or 2 stops. A lot of the popular near West Coast airport schedules from Maui now require a connection in Honolulu. SW seems to be digressing into the dark ages of inconvenient schedules. I don’t see how they can hang on.