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The Transportation Security Administration is asking travelers to stop trying to use their Costco membership cards as identification for flights. In a clear message posted on Facebook, the TSA explained that Costco cards are not acceptable as a form of REAL ID, which is now required for domestic air travel. The REAL ID Act, passed after the 9/11 attacks, set stricter security standards for IDs to ensure safety at airports. A REAL ID is a driver’s license or state-issued ID that meets these federal rules, marked with a gold star.
The TSA says only proper IDs like a passport or a REAL ID-compliant card, can be used to get through airport security checkpoints. They’re frustrated because some travelers keep showing up with store cards, like the Costco’s card that has a gold star on it, thinking they’ll work. The TSA wants everyone to double-check their IDs before heading to the airport to avoid delays and keep lines moving smoothly.