The TSA has banned Costco playing cards at airport safety checkpoints after a circulating rumor led passengers to imagine the membership card was a suitable type of identification.
Earlier this week, the Transportation Safety Administration posted on X that Costco playing cards weren’t an alternative choice to REAL ID playing cards. The announcement was made after passengers made quite a few makes an attempt during the last a number of weeks to make use of the Costco playing cards as an alternative of acquiring the required authorities identification.
“We love hotdogs & rotisserie chickens as a lot as the following individual however please cease telling folks their Costco card counts as a REAL ID as a result of it completely doesn’t.” – Transportation Safety Administration
TSA further provided a statement explaining that those that selected to try to make use of a Costco card or different types of identification that weren’t government-approved IDs could be “notified of their non-compliance” and obtain “extra screening.”
“TSA is implementing REAL ID in a fashion that minimizes the affect to total operations and particularly for these passengers who’re ready with their REAL ID, passport, or different acceptable type of ID. Passengers who current a state-issued identification that isn’t REAL ID compliant at TSA checkpoints and who do not need one other acceptable various type of ID will likely be notified of their non-compliance, and could also be directed to a separate space to obtain extra screening.” – Transportation Safety Administration
Subsequently, the very best wager when touring by airplane is to have a government-issued ID to point out to the TSA. That is the one means to make sure getting by safety and onto a flight as scheduled.

Associated
TSA May Deny You Entry If You Don’t Have This New ID By The Deadline In 2025
A brand new type of identification will likely be required for air journey quickly. Be sure to’re able to keep away from problems.
The place The Rumor Got here From That Costco Playing cards May Be Used In Lieu Of REAL ID
Like all good web rumors, when there’s a change in protocol for identification used for journey, the Costco card rumor tends to resurface. Most lately, the rumor was seen each on a Reddit thread the place it gained some traction, and the meals publication Chowhound, with their article, “How Your Costco Card May Save You At The Airport” through which the publication acknowledged that TSA “regularly accepted Costco membership playing cards as a type of legitimate ID.”
Rumored Kinds Of Acceptable Identification To Get By means of TSA |
Did It Work? Sure Or No |
Costco Card |
No |
Library Card |
No |
Fitness center Membership Card |
No |
Nevertheless, Transportation Safety Administration Spokesperson Lorie Dankers notes that there is some truth to the fact that Costco cards can be used to board domestic flights. Those that discover themselves in a bind because of a misplaced or stolen authorities ID can use a Costco card or some other card with a photograph on it to start the method of proving their id.
“At the very least we all know that some place has given them an ID. That in itself isn’t thought-about a suitable ID however is taken into account a baseline.” – Lorie Dankers
Dankers goes on to level out that those that try to make use of a Costco card as an alternative of the REAL ID are doing nothing greater than delaying themselves on the airport and face the very actual risk of lacking their flight.
“There isn’t any upside to doing this as a result of all it does is delay you.” – Lorie Dankers
Moreover, different passengers may very well be delayed whereas the state of affairs is handled, which might trigger them to overlook their flights as properly.
“It causes our assets to be taken,” Dankers defined, stating various types of ID from the READ ID “ought to solely be utilized in essentially the most excessive of circumstances.”

Associated
U.S. Transportation Officials Issue Travel Reminder Over REAL ID Requirements For May Deadline
Individuals on home flights want a sound REAL ID by Could seventh.
Passengers Can Use Different Kinds Of Identification For Journey Outdoors Of REAL ID
There are quite a few explanation why folks have but to acquire their REAL ID playing cards. For many who haven’t obtained their IDs and nonetheless want to journey by way of airways, there are various types of identification that can be utilized instead of the REAL ID to get by safety and on a aircraft.
Whereas the REAL ID is the best type of identification that vacationers can use when flying domestically, it’s not the one choice out there. The other forms of identification that can be used for domestic travel embrace:
- Passport ebook or card
- DHS Trusted Traveler Card (International Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI)
- Lively or retired US navy ID
- Inexperienced Card
- International government-issued passport
- Tribal-issued picture ID
- Employment Authorization Card
Youngsters beneath the age of 18 years outdated are usually not required to have a REAL ID.

Associated
Ask TSA This Secret Question To Skip The Security Line
No frills. This can be a sooner approach to breeze by an extended safety checkpoint.
Through the use of these modes of identification, it’s doable to keep away from acquiring a REAL ID. Nevertheless, the time will come when a REAL ID is required for all home journey. Subsequently, it’s endorsed to get the type of identification sooner reasonably than later in order that journey plans are usually not delayed because of an absence of identification.
Recent Comments