Air travelers told Costco card does not meet REAL ID requirements
U.S. travelers were told last month they needed a federally approved ID or passport to board a domestic flight, with a standard driver's license no longer cutting it.
Still, some hopeful vacationers believed their trusty Costco membership cards would be their golden ticket through security. However, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) made it clear in a Facebook that the membership card cannot act as a substitute.
The agency wrote: 'We love hotdogs and rotisserie chickens as much as the next person but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as REAL ID because it absolutely does not.'
Regulation; Starting last month, U.S. travelers were told they needed a federally approved REAL ID or passport to board a domestic flight , with a standard driver's license no longer cutting it
While most social media users were amused by the idea, while others insisted the Costco card should actually count as a valid form of ID.
'I'm pretty sure that the Costco card is stronger than some passports,' one joked.
'I mean at least it has a STAR on it,' another added.
'Do you take Uncle Sam's Club card though?' a third quipped
Another person chimed in: 'What's more American than using a card that gives you access to hotdogs?'
In March, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that passengers must have an upgraded REAL ID to board domestic flights without a passport.
Created in response to the 9/11 attacks, the REAL ID Act set stricter standards for state-issued IDs - raising the bar on identity verification to bolster national security.
Applicants must present documents that prove their identity, legal presence in the U.S., Social Security number, and address.
This reduces the chances of fake IDs or identity fraud.
In most cases, REAL IDs are marked by a white star inside a yellow circle.
They also have enhanced physical features - including barcodes and security holograms - that make them harder to forge and easier for authorities to recognize at a glance.
The announcement triggered severe wait times and a scramble for DMV appointments, as Americans rushed to secure their REAL IDs ahead of the May deadline.
Although the law was passed in 2005, enforcement deadlines have been pushed back multiple times - more recently due to covid-related delays.
By April, 81 per cent of travelers presented a state-issued REAL ID or acceptable alternative, according to the TSA.
Acceptable alternatives include a valid passport, passport card, or Department of Homeland Security trusted-traveler cards like Global Entry or Nexus.
After 20 years in the making, the REAL ID requirement officially took effect on May 7.
The IDs have been available through the DMV for years, and those who missed the May deadline can still apply.
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