TSA Bans Costco Cards: 700+ Comments Fuel Airport ID Confusion

Sunita Somvanshi

TSA just shut down the wildest airport hack attempt of 2025 - and it involves your favorite bulk shopping membership card.

Photo Credit: Wayan Vota (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

"We love hotdogs & rotisserie chickens but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as REAL ID" - TSA's viral Facebook post gathered 15,000 reactions in 48 hours.

Photo Credit: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The confusion started with one tiny detail that fooled thousands of travelers across America.

Photo Source: Costco.com

Reddit users were convinced: "That's the realest ID" and "It's got the gold star they want to see" - but they were dead wrong.

Photo Source: Costco.com

The REAL ID Act enforcement began May 7, 2025, after 20 years since the 9/11 Commission first recommended these security standards.

Photo Source: Michael Minasi/KUT News (Texas Public Radio)

Your Costco card might get you $1.50 hotdogs, but these are the only IDs that actually work at TSA checkpoints.

Photo Source: Evgenia Parajanian (iStock/Getty Images)

Security experts revealed why your wholesale membership falls short - it lacks federal verification processes entirely.

Photo Source: Nexstar Media Wire

Misleading headlines like "How Your Costco Card Can Save You at the Airport" sent travelers down the wrong path completely.

Photo Source: Shutterstock

Summer travel season means millions could face unexpected delays if they believe this dangerous myth.

Photo Source: Bloomberg News

TSA's final word on wholesale club dreams: "Can't fly on hot dogs and hope.

Photo Source: danfinkelstein