Costco Just Gave Executive Members Another Big Reason to Upgrade

If you love the deals at Costco but dread the weekend crowds and checkout lines, there’s good news—especially if you’re willing to upgrade your membership.

Starting June 30, Costco will offer early shopping hours exclusively for Executive Members, the warehouse retailer announced in an email to members. Executive Members, who pay $130 per year (compared to the standard $65 Gold Star membership), will be allowed to shop 30 minutes to an hour before the general public.

Here’s How It Breaks Down:

• Weekdays & Sundays: Early access from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

• Saturdays: A shorter window from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Gold Star members will still have access to all the same products and services—just not during these exclusive early hours.

While Costco didn’t confirm whether the early access will apply at every warehouse simultaneously, some Michigan locations have reportedly already begun testing the new hours. Implementation may vary depending on each store’s standard opening time, which typically ranges from 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays to 10 a.m. on weekdays, though a few locations already open at 9 a.m. daily.

More Than Just Early Access

This new benefit adds to the growing list of perks Executive Members receive, including:

• 2% cashback on most purchases (up to $1,000 annually)

• Exclusive savings on travel, insurance, and auto services

So if you’ve ever wished for a quieter Costco experience—minus the carts-on-carts traffic jams—it might be time to consider the upgrade. Just don’t forget your shopping list. Early bird or not, those $1.50 hot dogs still taste the same.