A wholesale club card is certainly convenient for getting a great price on bulk items.  However, it is not a substitute for a REAL-ID.

Valid Forms of ID When Flying

As of May 2025, you have to have the REAL-ID version of your identification or driver's license to fly. This has been in the works since 2005, as it's a way to establish minimum standards for all government-issued IDs across all states.

If you don't have the REAL-ID, other forms of identification are acceptable, like a passport.  However, a wholesale club membership card is not one of those acceptable alternate forms of identification.

You would think this was a no-brainer, but the TSA has had to release a statement recently about Costco cards not being a proper form of ID.

READ MORE: What Are the Acceptable Forms of ID if You Don't Have REAL-ID When Flying?

Internet Rumor Causes a TSA Headache

Recently, someone posted online that if you don't have a REAL-ID, you can use your Costco membership card as a valid form of identification at the airport.  As handy as this would be, it is not true.  In fact, the rumor got so big that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had to address it online.

In a post on June 6th, the TSA posted: 

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.

I love that they gave a shoutout to the hot dogs and rotisserie chickens, because you cannot beat those prices at Costco, but unfortunately, having access to those deals won't also score you access to flying.

And yes, you CAN still fly with your Costco membership card in case you want to use it on vacation.  You just can't use it as a form of ID.  You'd think this would be common sense, but internet lies can be quite convincing!