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Coverage dated June 3, 2025 to June 8, 2025

TSA: Costco cards do not count as REAL ID

Headline from UPI, on the newest of 3 developments

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is warning travelers of an important piece of airport protocol: Costco membership cards do not count as REAL ID.

UPI's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. TSA tells Americans they can not use their Costco membership card as an ID

    Headline from New York Post ·

  2. Does a Costco card work at the airport? 'It absolutely does not,' TSA warns

    Headline from NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth ·

  3. Newest

    TSA: Costco cards do not count as REAL ID

    Headline from UPI ·

1 report not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

20 articles, oldest first.

  1. Wfmy News 2

    No, TSA doesn't allow Costco membership cards as a REAL ID alternative (opens Wfmy News 2)

    Published

    Wfmy News 2's feed description

    A Costco card is good for many things, but it's not a REAL ID.

  2. The Daily Dot

    TSA says it does not accept Costco cards as form of Real ID—Yes, you read that right (opens The Daily Dot)

    Published

    The Daily Dot's feed description

    The TSA says no, your Costco card isn’t a valid form of REAL ID—despite a viral rumor that had travelers confused.

  3. New York Post

    TSA tells Americans they can not use their Costco membership card as an ID (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    The Transportation Security Administration clarified what forms of identification are allowed at airports security lines.

  4. Fox News

    TSA tells Americans their Costco cards won't fly at airport security despite love for hot dogs (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    The Transportation Security Administration warned travelers that Costco cards cannot be used as valid identification at airport security, debunking widespread misinformation.

  5. Townhall

    Sorry Travelers, Your Costco Card Isn’t a REAL ID (opens Townhall)

    Published

  6. FOX 5 New York

    TSA tells fliers: Stop flashing your Costco card at REAL ID checkpoints (opens FOX 5 New York)

    Published

    FOX 5 New York's feed description

    Bad news for travelers who don’t have a REAL ID yet: You can’t use your Costco membership card to get through TSA.

  7. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

    Does a Costco card work at the airport? 'It absolutely does not,' TSA warns (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

    Published

    NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description

    Last week, TSA debunked a rumor that claimed airport security agents would accept the grocery store membership card in place of a Real ID.

  8. Newsweek

    TSA ban Costco cards as travel ID (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    The administration clarified what counts as REAL ID in a social media post, after the act was implemented last month.

  9. UPI

    TSA: Costco cards do not count as REAL ID (opens UPI)

    Published

    UPI's feed description

    The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is warning travelers of an important piece of airport protocol: Costco membership cards do not count as REAL ID.

  10. 6ABC Philadelphia

    TSA warns 'Costco cards don't count' as REAL IDs (opens 6ABC Philadelphia)

    Published

    6ABC Philadelphia's feed description

    TSA wants you know that while Costco cards may be good for getting hot dogs, you can't use them as a form of identification.

  11. CBS News

    No, you can't use your Costco card as Real ID at the airport, TSA says (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    Costco membership cards will not function as Real IDs at airports, the TSA said on social media.

  12. Quartz

    No, Costco cards don't count as airport REAL IDs, the TSA says (opens Quartz)

    Published

    Quartz's feed description

    "Can’t fly on hotdogs and hope," the TSA quipped on social media

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

TSA: Costco cards do not count as REAL ID | Since Then