Overview

• The Transportation Security Administration posted on Facebook that Costco membership cards do not meet REAL ID requirements for boarding domestic flights.
• The REAL ID mandate took effect on May 7, 2025, enforcing federal standards for state-issued licenses used at airport security.
• Travelers may present REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses, U.S. passports or Department of Defense IDs at TSA checkpoints.
• State DMV offices saw long lines in April and early May as travelers rushed to obtain REAL ID-compliant identification.
• The false claim that a Costco card suffices for airport security dates back to at least August 2021 and spurred the recent agency reminder.