TSA Rejects Costco Cards as REAL ID; Travelers Baffled

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a reminder that Costco membership cards are not acceptable forms of REAL ID for air travel. Despite the agency's clarification, some travelers have attempted to use these cards at security checkpoints, leading to confusion and delays. The TSA emphasized, '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.'
This announcement comes as the May 7, 2025, deadline for REAL ID enforcement approaches. After this date, passengers aged 18 and over must present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another acceptable form of identification, such as a U.S. passport, to board domestic flights. The TSA warns that travelers without proper identification may face additional screening or be denied boarding.
In a related incident, a traveler reportedly attempted to use a library card as identification, prompting TSA agents to question if the individual was 'checking out' of reality.