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What do Costco and
Real ID
have to do with each other? Well, many people are confusing the Costco membership card with a valid travel document for airport security checks in domestic flights. This fake information was spread throughout social media and there were so many people doing this, that the
TSA (Transportation Security Administration)
had to publicly clarify this wasn’t true. I mean, a U.S. federal government agency making a difference between an official document and a membership card…
This might seem crazy, but it’s happened. The TSA just wants to make a statement because they must protect the process of identification at airports in the United States. So, let’s see how people could confuse Costco with an official document to travel.
Costco membership card and Real ID confusion
In the U.S. you have to show a valid official identification like the recently implemented Real ID, which is a must for taking domestic flights. However, many people were doing what someone posted on Reddit: passing through U.S. airport security checks by using Costco membership cards instead of an official identification. This story went so viral that even some media like Chowhound blog used tabloid headlines to catch readers’ attention and to mislead society. This was going out of hand and the TSA decided to take action by making a statement on the valid official identifications used to take a domestic flight.
What was the TSA statement?
The TSA is in charge of protecting the nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce. So, to avoid problems at airport security checks, the TSA made a humoristic statement on X by posting something like: we love hot dogs and roasted chickens, but stopping saying people teh Costco membership cards are a valid identification document because it’s not.
It’s true they might need other documents or references to verify the passenger’s identity, but again, Costco membership cards or any other type are not official identification documents.
Similarities between Costco card and the Real ID
These two cards have some similarities when it comes to their appearances, which may have been a reason why they didn’t think this Reddit story was right. So, let’s see their similarities:
- Personal data appear on both cards.
- Both are issued by a specific entity: Costco by Costco Wholesale and the Real ID by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
- Both require identity verification.
- They have an expiring date, you must renew both cards.
They also have differences
However, it’s striking that the TSA people were using the Costco membership card because it’s totally different to the Real ID. Basically, each of them has specific legal characteristics:
- Main usage: the Real ID is used for flights and federal buildings whereas the Costco card is used for getting access to Costco stores and services.
- Legal validity: one is recognized by the federal government (Real ID) and the other one is just valid for Costco stores.
- Compulsory: you don’t need to have a Costco membership card if you don’t want to , but you must be in possession of the Real ID.
Watch out next time!
Next time you see something that you think might be true on the internet, check it twice with an authority. Don’t believe everything you see online because you might suffer the consequences of fake news, in this case you could have missed your flight.
Remember, a Costco membership card is not an official identification document, even though it has your name and your photo on it. You should have identification documents that are valid for the federal government, if not… you might miss your flight or even not have access to some buildings.
