Sunita Somvanshi
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has firmly rejected the use of Costco membership cards as valid identification at airport checkpoints. This clarification comes after widespread confusion among travelers about what counts as acceptable ID under the new REAL ID requirements.
“We love hotdogs & rotisserie chickens as much as the next person but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as a REAL ID because it absolutely does not,” the TSA posted on Facebook on Wednesday, June 5. The humorous yet direct message quickly went viral, gathering over 15,000 reactions and 700 comments in just two days.
The confusion largely stems from the gold star on Costco membership cards, which some travelers have mistakenly associated with the star found on REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses. This misunderstanding gained traction through social media platforms like Reddit, where users claimed the Costco card could serve as backup identification.
“That’s the realest ID,” one Reddit user commented. “It’s got the gold star they want to see,” wrote another.
The timing is significant as the full enforcement of the REAL ID Act began on May 7, 2025, requiring all air travelers 18 and older to present a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable form of identification for domestic flights. The law was passed in 2005 based on recommendations from the 9/11 Commission to enhance security standards for state-issued IDs.
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For those traveling without a REAL ID, the TSA confirms these alternatives remain valid:
- U.S. passports or passport cards
- Permanent resident cards (green cards)
- Department of Defense IDs for active and retired military
- DHS trusted traveler cards like Global Entry and NEXUS
The TSA reminded travelers in another social media post that “Department of Defense IDs for active and retired military continue to be an acceptable form of ID at TSA checkpoints following the implementation of REAL ID last month.”
Security experts note that while Costco cards include a photo and name, they lack the security features and verification process required by federal law. Travelers attempting to use a Costco card would face additional screening and potential flight delays.
The confusion was further fueled by misleading online articles with headlines such as “How Your Costco Card Can Save You at the Airport,” which one food website later updated with a clarification that TSA does not accept Costco cards as primary identification.
As summer travel season heats up, the TSA’s message is clear: “Can’t fly on hot dogs and hope.” Your wholesale club membership might get you deals on bulk items, but it won’t get you through security and onto your flight.
