Overview
- REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025, requiring travelers to show a compliant driver’s license, U.S. passport or another federally approved ID for domestic flights
- On June 4, TSA posted that Costco membership cards—with their gold star design—do not meet federal identification standards
- The misconception likely arose from a food blog’s initial claim and Reddit anecdotes suggesting warehouse club cards could substitute for official ID
- Acceptable alternatives to a REAL ID include U.S. passport cards, Department of Defense IDs and DHS trusted traveler credentials
- Travelers presenting noncompliant IDs may undergo additional screening at TSA checkpoints