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3d ago

TSA Clarifies REAL ID Rules, Rejects Costco Cards at Checkpoints

The agency’s June social media posts aim to prevent screening delays by highlighting federally approved identification.

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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

  • 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