Since May 7, 2025, travelers have needed a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID to board domestic flights. And now, TSA is putting its foot down, telling travelers that their Costco cards do not count as a valid form of ID to travel with.
TSA posted the following message on Facebook: “We love hotdogs & 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.”
Several people flocked to the comments section of the Facebook post, writing things like, “I mean at least it has a STAR on it,” and “Im pretty sure that the Costco card is stronger than some passports.” Another jokingly wrote, “So, you’re saying we should bring you a chicken?”
The post garnered over 15k reactions as of June 7, with over 700 comments.
The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005 following a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The process has taken 20 years to implement, per the Associated Press.
At this time, all states are issuing REAL ID-compliant cards. In response to the question, “How do I get a REAL ID?” TSA’s site reads, “Visit your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a REAL ID. At a minimum, you must provide documentation showing: 1) Full Legal Name; 2) Date of Birth; 3) Social Security Number; 4) Two Proofs of Address of Principal Residence; and 5) Lawful Status.”
The confusion over the Costco cards likely stems from the prominent gold stars on members’ cards. Real ID-compliant cards either contain a star— a lone star, one in a circle, or one in a bear.
Related: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers Spreads to 18 States
TSA Just Banned Costco Cards at Airport Security first appeared on Men’s Journal on Jun 8, 2025
