Costco question

[kristilew]

I called the Costco travel line today to book my ABD, and ended up actually talking to an ABD agent. She did say that she could see that I was calling from Costco, and asked for my card #.

I realized when I got off the phone that neither one of us had said anything about the $500 gift card. Does that automatically apply? I know it comes after you've completed the trip, but do I need to make sure it's noted somewhere?

I did get the EBD and the loyalty discount:banana: I guess I was just so excited about that, I forgot to ask about the other.

I did ask if they'd been busy yesterday and she said they had been so surprised because they didn't know how people found out about the new prices being released yesterday:laughing:

[abdmom]

You should be OK for the cash card, but I would call just to doublecheck. When you call thru Costco Travel for the ABD trips, you do get shunted to a special desk at ABD for booking purposes. All other questions can be handled through the regular ABD line.

[pudinhd]

I called Costco today for a quote. For my husband and I on the Backstage Magic tour, we would get a $200 Costco gift card. I think the gift card amount is based on the cost of the trip.

[carolinatennisgirl]

I called through Costco travel this afternoon and was told I could receive either the EBD OR the loyalty discount, but not both. The agent said the EBD was the bigger discount of the two. She also told me that the gift card amount was based on the total price of the trip. We booked Ireland and the gift card will be $500.00. If someone has received both the loyalty discount AND the EBD please let me know how to do that and I will call back. Thanks!

[sayhello]

I called through Costco travel this afternoon and was told I could receive either the EBD OR the loyalty discount, but not both. The agent said the EBD was the bigger discount of the two. She also told me that the gift card amount was based on the total price of the trip. We booked Ireland and the gift card will be $500.00. If someone has received both the loyalty discount AND the EBD please let me know how to do that and I will call back. Thanks!All I did was ask for the EBD and the loyalty discount, and the ABD concierge agent gave me both. There was no trick to it. But I didn't book through Costco, I booked direct through ABD.

Sayhello

[pudinhd]

What exactly is the loyalty discount? Is it for Costco or for ABD? :confused3 Thank you!

[sayhello]

What exactly is the loyalty discount? Is it for Costco or for ABD? :confused3 Thank you!It's for ABD. If you have previously booked an ABD, you get a $100 discount for the new booking.

Sayhello

[abdmom]

The loyalty discount is for ABD.

[kristilew]

I called back. The costco card is based on a sliding scale, which is calculated on the rate before the loyalty discount. So for Southwest Splendors, it is a $300 card. Should be just enough to get all our pictures printed!:rotfl:

Carolinatennisgirl, the loyalty discount ($100 per returning guest) is a "gift" from ABD, distinct from rates. The EBD rate is simply for a set number of slots in each departure. So if you called in time to get the EBD rate, that should have no bearing on getting your loyalty discount. I would call back.

[carolinatennisgirl]

Thanks for the advice. I called back this afternoon and the ABD agent said some of the representatives did not know you could get both discounts, but she checked the reservation and the loyalty discount had been applied after the intial reservation call. Hurray!

[beachbunny]

What's the phone number for Costco?

[abdmom]

Costco Travel's phone is 1-877-849-2730. You have to make selections to get thru the system to get to ABD. All selections are option 2. Select vacations then escorted vacations then ABD. This sends you to a special desk at ABD.

[abbyjt]

Thanks to all of you for all this info. We drove 35 miles to join Costco (You can join right on line, but we didn't want to wait the 2 business days to get our costco number). We came home and called the Costco travel number and we were put through to ABD. Since I had read many of your posts, I made sure to ask for the early booking rate, the loyalty discount and the costco card. We booked South Africa for 5 of us. Since we are 5, we have 2reservations and should get one card for the $500 and one for a little less. Of course the Costco money is a gift card to the store, but we can spend that much in just 2 or 3 trips, or 1 if my husband decides he needs a new tv or something.
Thanks all:cheer2:

[kristilew]

Wow, way to work the system! I hope your trip is awesome!

[rkdahl]

Just FYI. When we joinedCostco a week ago I did it online and got my Costco number within 10 hours via email

[beachbunny]

Thanks abdmom! I took the plunge and called. I got the early booking discount and the Costco gift card. Galapagos here we come!

[abdmom]

Congratulations! Enjoy your trip! That's the trip I had planned to book originally. I have a little one who is turning 4 next year. The minimum age for the Galapagos is 7 though. So, we'll have to wait until he's older.

[Phil1019]

When I booked my Costa Rica trip on 8/6/08 I was not a Costco member. I called ABD and at first got several different responses to my question, which was: If I was not a member when I booked my trip, can I still enroll as a member and get the $500 cash card applied to my trip.? My ABD rep checked with his supervisor and indeed I can do just that. Apparently you can do it providing you have not paid for the entire trip already. My final payment is due 1/18/09. My ABD rep's name is Shakay, he will know exactly what to do . Unfortunately not all the resp are as knowledgeable on the subject. I wnet online today and became a member for $50.00. You do not receive the cash card until 4-6 weeks after your trip is completed.

[PatriciaH]

When I booked my Costa Rica trip on 8/6/08 I was not a Costco member. I called ABD and at first got several different responses to my question, which was: If I was not a member when I booked my trip, can I still enroll as a member and get the $500 cash card applied to my trip.? My ABD rep checked with his supervisor and indeed I can do just that. Apparently you can do it providing you have not paid for the entire trip already. My final payment is due 1/18/09. My ABD rep's name is Shakay, he will know exactly what to do . Unfortunately not all the resp are as knowledgeable on the subject. I wnet online today and became a member for $50.00. You do not receive the cash card until 4-6 weeks after your trip is completed.


Thanks for the tip. I did the same last night. I will just call back with the number after we join!

[Elitravelor]

We booked our trip for next summer with early booking and return discount but I forgot about the Costco deal. We are Costco members--I just forgot about that--rats!

Do you think I can call and have them apply that special too? I just received my reservation packet in the mail this week.

[PatriciaH]

We booked our trip for next summer with early booking and return discount but I forgot about the Costco deal. We are Costco members--I just forgot about that--rats!

Do you think I can call and have them apply that special too? I just received my reservation packet in the mail this week.

It is worth a try. They will probably move it to a Costco reservation so they get credit.

[rkdahl]

We had a reservation made as a non-Costco reservation, then before final payment was due we found out about the Costco gift card option. I called ABD and they cheerfully made our reservation a Costco version and we expect to receive the gift card when we return. Note this was changed before final payment was made.

[Laneychris]

Is it cheaper to book through Costco?

[PatriciaH]

Is it cheaper to book through Costco?

Same price, you just get a Costco cash card for a certain about based on trip price. Over $10,000 (trip) gets a $500 card. 1 per room.

[Elitravelor]

Thank you disboards!!! It worked. I called and all they needed was my Costco number and now we are getting our gift card after our trip next summer. So we were able to get early booking, return visiter discount and the Costco deal. :cool1:

Thanks to everyone who posts!!!:love:

[BriarRosie]

Oh wow, I didn't know about this!

I have to ask how it works when the trip is booked as two friends linked to the same reservation. My friend booked the trip first, and I later tacked myself onto her reservation directly through ABD.

Do I call ABD and mention the Costco promotion and give them my member ID number? I wonder if having the reservation set up the way I have it affects this. It's worth calling since my final payment is due in a few weeks.