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TSA Affirms Costco Cards Are Invalid for Domestic Air Travel

The agency highlighted design similarities with REAL ID licenses to explain why Costco cards never qualified for security checks.

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A woman displays her Costco card in order to enter after waiting in a line that snaked around a Costco store in Novato, California on March 14, 2020.
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Overview

  • The REAL ID law took effect May 7, 2025, requiring specific federal IDs for domestic flights after two decades of preparation following a 2005 mandate.
  • TSA’s recent social media posts emphasized that Costco membership cards, despite their gold star design, do not meet REAL ID standards.
  • Travelers must present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, U.S. passport or another federally approved ID, such as Department of Defense cards.
  • Enhanced driver's licenses and identification cards issued in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington also satisfy the new requirements.
  • A last-minute surge at DMVs before the deadline contributed to widespread confusion over which forms of ID are valid.