Luggage packed? Check. Ticket downloaded or printed? All good. Boarding pass saved? Good there. Wallet in hand? All set. Costco card ready? Um, what?
Turns out, so many Americans were believing an internet rumor that Costco cards could be used for identification at the airport that TSA had to put out a statement clearing up any confusion.
In a cheeky social media post, the agency wrote, "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 rumor that Costco cards are a valid form of ID has appeared on Reddit and was mentioned in a recent article by Chowhound. In reality, TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said presenting a Costco card as identification can create delays at the airport, and does not replace the TSA's identity verification process.
Acceptable forms of identification at TSA checkpoints include Real IDs, passports, passport cards, U.S. Department of Defense IDs, and DHS trusted traveler cards.
A search of Reddit turns up several threads on the topic of Costco cards and TSA. One headline says "only the gold card will be honored, not the lower tier," and another says 'TSA just banned Costco cards at airport security."
However, they were never allowed. Nor is your Kroger or CVS or Shell gas station super saver card or any other rewards card a store will generate for you at the checkout with the name of your choosing.
As one Reddit user wrote, "I'm going to do the costco card "hack" as a joke - it will probably yield to me a full cavity search..." And then the people piled on, with one writing, "You're also allowed to bring a 32 oz. Mountain Dew Baja Blast through security if you're a member of the Taco Bell Rewards program," and another claiming (as a joke, let's be clear) "I showed my gym membership and got through fine."