Costco cards good for 'hot dogs & rotisserie chickens,' not airports, TSA says

USA Today

07-06-2025

Costco cards good for 'hot dogs & rotisserie chickens,' not airports, TSA says The deadline for travelers to obtain a Real ID for domestic flights and accessing federal facilities was May 7.
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Real ID explained: what it is, why it matters, and how to get yours
Real ID requirements: everything you need to know about getting compliant for travel and ID.
Costco memberships come with a variety of perks, including access to discounted products and services; however, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently debunked the rumor that customers' warehouse club cards substitute for a Real ID.
TSA proclaimed in an X post on Wednesday, June 4: "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."
TSA Pacific spokesperson Lorie Dankers told SFGate that the rumor of Costco cards being accepted as official identification pops up every year or so. When people try to use their warehouse club cards at airports, for instance, it could lead to delays and travel headaches, she added.
Travel: You don't need a passport at these 7 US destinations that feel international
As of May 7, travelers need a Real ID or other acceptable identification for domestic flights and accessing federal facilities. Those who haven't gotten one yet may be scrambling to figure out what they need to do before booking their next trip. One thing is for certain: They should probably leave their Costco membership cards at home.
Here are the acceptable forms of identification, according to the TSA, as well as some background on how the most recent version of the Costco card rumor originated.
Acceptable identification at the TSA checkpoint
According to the TSA, valid forms of ID at airports include:
Real ID-compliant driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) A temporary driver's license is not an acceptable form of identification.
State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
How did the Costco card rumor come back up?
Food blog Chowhound claimed in the initial version of an article titled "How Your Costco Card Could Save You At The Airport," that people's Costco cards could pass through TSA because it is considered a photo ID. The article cited Reddit, where users claimed their warehouse club cards helped them through airport security when they forgot or lost their regular ID.
On June 4, the day TSA debunked the rumor on social media, Chowhound issued an update to the article, saying, "A previous version of this article stated TSA is likely to accept a Costco membership card in lieu of a valid form of ID. TSA does not explicitly state you can use a Costco card as a form of identification, explaining, 'The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name and current address to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening.'"
The update concludes with: "Now with the Real ID requirements, (a Costco card) is even less likely to get you through TSA quickly or successfully."
If someone tried using a Costco card at an airport, they would likely be pulled from the TSA checkpoint line for further questioning about other personal information, such as their two previous home addresses, Dankers told SFGate.
Contributing: Chad Murphy/ Akron Beacon Journal