The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a humorous but serious reminder: a Costco membership card is not an acceptable form of identification for air travel. In a social media post shared on June 4, the TSA responded to an ongoing internet joke and growing misinformation surrounding REAL ID requirements, urging travelers not to confuse store loyalty cards with government-issued identification.
“We love hot dogs and 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, drawing laughs and engagement across platforms. The playful warning quickly went viral, with users joking about the “Gold Star” that appears on some TSA Clarifies Costco cards, a design element that clearly has nothing to do with REAL ID verification.
Online reactions ranged from amusement to disbelief. “I should have put ‘Using a Costco membership card as a REAL ID’ on my 2025 Bingo card,” one user commented. Another quipped, “I mean, at least it has a star on it.”
REAL ID Rules in Effect
The reminder comes just as new REAL ID requirements have gone into effect. Travelers now need to present REAL ID-compliant credentials when flying domestically within the United States. These credentials are typically state-issued driver’s licenses or ID cards marked with a gold star in the top corner, signifying they meet federal security standards.
Failure to present an acceptable form of identification can result in extended security screenings or being denied entry to the boarding area entirely. The TSA Clarifies Costco cards was intended to prevent such situations and perhaps stop a few chuckles from turning into travel delays.
The updated rules are part of the Department of Homeland Security’s plan to enhance the security of air travel and restrict access to secure federal facilities to individuals with verified identities. While the implementation has been in the works for years, many travelers are only now facing the new documentation requirements in practice.
List of Acceptable IDs
To help the public prepare, TSA reiterated the types of identification that are officially accepted at airport checkpoints. These include:
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- U.S. passport or passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense IDs (including dependent cards)
- Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
- Tribal-issued IDs, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
- HSPD-12 PIV cards
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian Affairs cards
- Foreign government-issued passports
- Transportation Worker Identification Credentials
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credentials
- Employment Authorization Cards (I-766) issued by USCIS
As TSA Clarifies Costco Cards continues to adapt to new travel regulations, the agency emphasized the importance of checking ID validity before heading to the airport. And while humor can help ease travel stress, the message is clear: leave your Costco card in your wallet, just not for TSA checks.
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