Is Costco Still Offering Avis Car Rentals at ANC Anchorage Airport? Latest Update & Tips

Is Costco Still Renting Cars Through Avis at ANC? What the Evidence Shows

1. Official Costco Travel Listings

Costco Travel offers a “Rental Cars” section on its website with the “Low Price Finder” tool. costcotravel.com
Under their rentals section, there is an “Avis Rent A Car” page. costcotravel.com
However, multiple users report that when selecting ANC – Anchorage International Airport as pickup location/dates on Costco Travel, Avis options often come up unavailable.

So — Costco technically still has Avis as a partner and listing option, but availability for ANC seems spotty or often out of stock.

2. Avis Presence at ANC Airport

Avis as a rental company has a counter at ANC as part of the official Rental Car Center.
The state transport site for Ted Stevens Anchorage International confirms the Avis counter hours and details.

So yes, Avis is physically operating at ANC — but whether Costco's discount or Costco Travel reservations with Avis are accepted or bookable through Costco Travel at ANC is another matter.

3. User Reports & Forum Feedback

On Tripadvisor, one thread (“Is Costco still renting cars through Avis at ANC – Alaska?”) shows several people saying that attempts to book through Costco Travel & Avis for ANC have resulted in “unavailable” responses.
Another report in various travel forums indicates that sometimes the Costco Travel site has no inventory for Avis cars for certain dates at ANC, whereas direct booking with Avis might work.

4. Rental Car Center & ANC Official Info

The State of Alaska’s site for ANC confirms multiple rental agencies at the airport (Avis included) and lists hours.
But that does not guarantee Costco Travel has an active allotment of Avis cars for every date at ANC.

Why the Availability Might Be Patchy

From combining the above sources, there are several plausible reasons why Costco Travel's Avis rental option is not always bookable for ANC:

Inventory Allocation: Costco Travel likely has a limited block of vehicles reserved with Avis. If those are fully booked or not allocated for ANC for given dates, the option will show as unavailable.
Demand & Peak Seasons: Anchorage sees varying seasons of high demand. On popular travel dates (summer, holidays), Costco’s reserved inventory may be exhausted fast.
Contract Limitations: The contract between Costco and Avis might limit certain pick-up locations or dates.
Technical & System Updates: Sometimes the Costco Travel site doesn’t synchronize in real-time availability, leading to display of “no cars” even if somehow some cars exist via direct channels.
Pricing & Fees: In some cases, the cost via Costco + Avis might be less competitive versus other agencies, prompting users to search elsewhere.

What This Means for You: Recommendations If You're Trying to Book at ANC

If you want to use Costco + Avis at ANC, here are practical tips to make your best chance:

Tip	Details
Book Early	The earlier you try, the more likely Costco’s reserved cars will be available before others take them.
Try Different Dates / Times	Sometimes shifting your pick-up or drop-off by a few hours or days reveals availability.
Use Direct Avis as Backup	If Costco Travel shows no Avis availability, check Avis’ official site. They may have inventory not reserved for Costco.
Check for Other Rental Companies via Costco	Costco also partners with Budget, Alamo etc., which might have better availability at ANC.
Look for Coupons or Promotions	Even when direct availability is limited, Costco’s rates often include benefits like second-driver free, member discounts.
Call or Email Costco Travel	In some cases, you might get clarity or special accommodations through customer service.

Alternatives If Costco + Avis Doesn’t Work at ANC

If you discover that booking through Costco and Avis at ANC is not possible for your dates, here are strong alternatives:

Directly Book with Avis at the airport – you’ll have full access to their fleet, though prices may be higher without Costco discounts.
Other Costco Travel Options: Budget, Alamo, and others may still have cars through Costco’s platform.
Non-Costco Discount Programs: AAA, memberships, airline programs, or credit cards may have good deals.
Local Rental Agencies in Anchorage beyond the airport: Sometimes off-airport agencies provide cheaper rates even after factoring shuttle cost.

Final Answer: Is It Still Possible?

Yes — Costco still has a relationship with Avis and lists them as a rental partner, and Avis still operates at Anchorage (ANC) airport. But no guarantee: availability through Costco Travel for Avis at ANC is not always possible. In many cases, you'll see “unavailable” when trying to book via Costco for certain dates. So while it works sometimes, it’s unpredictable.

Conclusion

To sum up: Costco + Avis at ANC is not dead — it’s just unreliable. If your travel dates are flexible and you book well in advance, you stand a good chance of success. But always prepare alternatives, whether direct booking with Avis or using other Costco-partnered agencies. Taking these steps ensures you don’t get stuck without a car in Anchorage.

FAQs

Q1: Can I see Costco Travel’s Avis availability ahead of time at ANC?
A1: Yes — just go to Costco Travel, choose Rental Cars, pick Pick-Up: Anchorage (ANC), Avis as the company. If it says “no cars available,” that means the reserved block is full or not allocated for those dates. You might need to shift your dates/times or check directly with Avis.

Q2: Do Costco members get better rates or perks when booking Avis through Costco?
A2: Frequently yes. Costco Travel often has special rates, includes perks like an extra driver, no cancellation fees in some cases, etc. But whether these apply depends on the specific reservation and whether Costco has inventory at that airport/date.

Q3: Is there any way to force Costco Travel to show Avis cars at ANC?
A3: Not really — if Costco has no availability, there is no user-side method to force it. The best you can do is adjust dates, call customer service, or use another agency.

Q4: How reliable are user reports about Costco + Avis availability at ANC?
A4: Mixed. Some travelers report consistent issues (unavailability), others have been successful. Forums like Tripadvisor show multiple instances of “unavailable” for Avis via Costco at ANC. But individual success varies with travel season and date.

Q5: Should I just skip Costco + Avis and go with another rental company?
A5: That depends. If convenience and perks matter to you, checking Costco + Avis is worth trying. But if your travel schedule is tight, or you see no availability, going direct with Avis or using another well-rated rental agency is safer.

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