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Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
No, your Costco card cannot be used as a substitute for a REAL ID. What Tennesseans should know about travel
While a Costco membership has multiple perks, including bulk discounts and savings on gas, there are a few things the card can't provide. For example, access to board domestic flights or certain federal facilities, unlike the REAL ID. Since the May 7 implementation date, travelers in Tennessee and across the United States have relied on REAL ID — or other acceptable forms of identification — to pass through security and travel domestically. Some, however, have opted for other methods of identification, which has led the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to recently debunk the rumor that customers' warehouse club cards can substitute for a REAL ID. "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," wrote the administration in a post to social media. Despite some membership cards displaying a star and digital options displaying a photo, that doesn't qualify the cards as a valid form of identification. In order to fly, travelers must have either a REAL ID, a valid passport or another federally issued photo ID. As previously reported by USA TODAY, 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. No — Tennesseans are not required to obtain a REAL ID compliant license or identification credential. A REAL ID is not necessary to drive, vote, purchase alcohol or cigarettes, access hospitals, visit the post office, access federal courts or apply for or receive federal benefits such as social security or veterans' benefits. If you don't have a REAL ID, here is the complete list of TSA acceptable IDs: State-issued Enhanced Driver's License 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 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766) U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) Yes — Tennesseans can still obtain a REAL ID, with or without an appointment, although walk-in applicants should anticipate potentially long wait times. Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@ or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Can you travel with a Costco card instead of a REAL ID in Tennessee?
CBS News
09-06-2025
- CBS News
No, you can't use your Costco card as Real ID at the airport, TSA says
Travelers who are headed to airports and hoping to use their Costco membership cards in place of Real IDs are out of luck. Travelers need a Real ID — or other acceptable form of identification — for domestic flights and for accessing federal facilities as of May 7. The Transportation Security Administration has warned fliers that the Costco card is not an acceptable alternative. "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," the TSA said in a post last week on social media. If you are planning to bring a rotisserie chicken on a flight, whether from Costco or elsewhere, the TSA says that's OK. "You bet your drumsticks! Cooked or raw, it's allowed in carry-on or checked bags. Gravy? Keep it under 3.4oz in carry-on," the travel agency said. A TSA spokesperson said the agency issues routine reminders to travelers about which forms of IDs are not accepted at TSA checkpoints, "including warehouse club membership cards." The TSA social media post about Costco cards came several days after Chowhound published an article titled, "How Your Costco Card Could Save You At The Airport." Chowhound updated its article on June 3 to clarify that "TSA does not explicitly state you can use a Costco card as a form of identification." TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers told SFGate she hears the rumor about Costco cards every year to 18 months. She said flyers presenting Costco cards to the TSA can create delays at the airport. "Essentially, what the process they're describing is … let's say you lost your ID and only had a Costco card in your pocket. That would help establish a baseline identity for you," Dankers told SFGate. "The TSA officer would use that as a starting point to confirm your identity, but they would still have to go through our identity verification process." In addition to Real IDs, passports, passport cards, U.S. Department of Defense IDs and DHS trusted traveler cards are considered acceptable forms of identification at TSA checkpoints. A full list of acceptable forms of identification can be found on the TSA website. The TSA says the list of acceptable IDs is subject to change without notice. Costco didn't immediately respond to a CBS News request for comment.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
No, your Costco card does not count as REAL ID, TSA says
The Transportation Security Administration wants to make something very clear: you can't use your Costco membership card as a form of identification. On June 4, the TSA attempted to dispel rumors on social media that using a Costco card is equivalent to using a REAL ID to get through airport security. According to reports, the rumor has been seen on Reddit posts and blog posts. TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said presenting your Costco card to TSA will just lead to delays. "Let me tell you something about that. Whoever wrote that story is recycling old material,' Dankers told SF Gate. "Essentially, what the process they're describing is … let's say you lost your ID and only had a Costco card in your pocket. That would help establish a baseline identity for you. The TSA officer would use that as a starting point to confirm your identity, but they would still have to go through our identity verification process.' Here is the type of ID you're supposed to have at the airport. The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, sets security standards for issuing sources of identification, such as driver's licenses. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in response to the September 11 attacks. Texas began issuing REAL ID-compliant cards on October 10, 2016. These cards are marked with a gold circle with an inset star located in the upper right-hand corner. If you look at your current Texas driver's license, it should have a gold star at the top-right corner of the ID. Your current Texas driver's license or ID is REAL ID-compliant if it has a gold star in the top right corner. If it doesn't, you'll see the gold star on your next renewal or request a replacement card. If you plan to fly domestically, the deadline to be REAL ID ready was May 7, 2025. On June 4, the TSA shared a post on X, advising people not to attempt to use a Costco membership card of any kind to bypass airport security. A Costco membership card will not count as a REAL ID. According to you can apply for a new REAL ID-compliant Texas driver's license or ID in person at a Texas DPS office. You may be eligible to renew your existing Texas driver's license or ID online. You can still use your current, unexpired Texas driver's license or ID to drive and for non-federal ID purposes. When it's time to renew your driver's license or ID, you'll get a REAL ID-compliant one. REAL IDs work for domestic travel, but can't replace a passport for international flights. Passports are still required for venturing beyond U.S. borders. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: No, your Costco card does not count as REAL ID, TSA says
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Costco cards good for 'hot dogs & rotisserie chickens,' not airports, TSA says
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
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
TSA refutes rumors about using Costco cards as an airport ID alternative
The Brief TSA officials are debunking reports that a Costco membership card can be used at airport security checkpoints. Officials stressed that the big-box membership card is not an acceptable form of TSA identification. They said trying to use the cards will result in significant delays for the traveler and others at the checkpoint. OAKLAND, Calif. - Federal transportation officials are strongly refuting internet rumors that suggest a Costco membership card can be used as a form of identification to get through airport security. What they're saying "That is not considered an acceptable form of identification. It's not a government-issued ID," said Transportation Security Administration Spokesperson Lorie Dankers, who noted that the agency has been very clear about what constitutes an acceptable form of identification for air travel, especially in the context of the REAL ID. The new law replacing the traditional driver's license with a REAL ID-compliant license for domestic air travel went into effect last month after years of delays. In addition to REAL IDs, other acceptable forms of identification include a passport, a U.S. passport card, a Veteran Health Identification Card, and a Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler card like Global Entry and NEXUS. "Adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel," the TSA specified on its website, with a list of acceptable IDs. The agency also noted that the list is subject to change without notice, and advised travelers to recheck it before getting on a flight. SEE ALSO: Traveling to the UK? You'll need this document to enter the country Dankers addressed the Costco card rumors by saying that every few months, this fallacy circulates on the internet, and people are misled to believe the membership card will be accepted at TSA security checkpoints. But she warned against depending on a Costco card or any non-governmental card to get you cleared to board a plane. A Reddit post from last month has gotten a lot of traction with many people discussing their experiences. "It's mostly click-bait," Dankers said. She did note that Costco cards and other identification that uses a photo can be used in extreme cases to support those travelers who find themselves in a bind due to lost or stolen identification. Dankers said that in the situation where a traveler only has a non-governmental-issued photo ID on them, anything from a Costco membership card to a library card or student identification, the cards can be used to establish a launching point in the strict and detailed process of proving their identity. It's better than not having any form of a photo ID. "At least we know that some place has given them an ID," the TSA spokesperson explained, while stressing, "That in itself is not considered an acceptable ID but is considered a baseline." That baseline would allow TSA officials to begin a vetting process, involving a series of verification steps to try and confirm someone's identity. But travelers are warned that it's not a process anyone would want to go through, as it's time-consuming, and if the person's identity can't be confirmed, they will be denied access to fly. "There is no upside to doing this because all it does is delay you," Dankers said, adding that it's not only going to delay the traveler without their proper ID on them, but the process can lead to long delays for others. A TSA agent working on your case will affect the workflow at the checkpoint and threaten the schedules of other travelers who are rushing to catch a flight. "It causes our resources to be taken," Dankers said, stressing, "It should only be used in the most extreme of cases." And even then, there's no guarantee your Costco or other non-governmental photo card will lead to a verification of your ID and allow you to get on that flight.
