SSSS On Your Boarding Pass- Secondary Security Screening Selection

[Alexsei]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_Security_Screening_Selection

Could not find a thread about this so created one.

Did you have it? how was your experience?
I just had this last week and did not fell any difference other than the fact that I was sent ahead of the long line for security clearing..........

[chff]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_Security_Screening_Selection

Could not find a thread about this so created one.

Did you have it? how was your experience?
I just had this last week and did not fell any difference other than the fact that I was sent ahead of the long line for security clearing..........

Sometimes I get that the TSA scribbles SSSS on my BP, so I started using my phone for a BP, no more notes on it....

[Josef.koney]

I had it 2 weeks ago and they wouldn't let me have a boarding pass on n the phone... they said it's extra screening requested from the airline

[Alexsei]

if you are randomly selected for secondary screening at checkin, they currently won't issue you an electronic boarding pass, you have to do a manual check-in.

Source: http://boingboing.net/2013/05/27/tsa-random-secondary-screening.html

[dealvr]

I had it 2 weeks ago and they wouldn't let me have a boarding pass on n the phone... they said it's extra screening requested from the airline

Maybe because they associate you with Joseph Kony.

[Dr Moose]

I started using my phone for a BP, no more notes on it....

+1

[ckmk47]

When he's in line and approaching security,  my husband pushes his hat waay back on his head so there are no shadows on his face. He often smiles so his beard is less threatening, too. It's cut down on his SSSS considerably.

[LoLo]

Wife had it last year TLV-JFK, wasn't able to check in online, they closed the security line as soon as she stepped in to wait for a supervisor, in the end it got late, so they just did the regular screening.
The interesting part is, that we didn't even show them her boarding pass, just the passport, and they knew she needed extra screening.

[username]

Happened to me once. I think they pushed me ahead of the line, but went through my carry-on. Was a minor pain.

ETA: Domestic. I was not able to print the BP at home...got some error message that BP needs to be picked up at airport.

[kangarruu]

I've had it twice, both on return flights from Central America. There was no additional screening until boarding. They pulled me aside after scanning my boarding pass and did a full inspection - everything out of the carry-on, pat down, magic wand, and questioning.

[AJK]

Just had it on my flight back from DXB.

Was flying EK F, DXB-JFK, and was boarding from lounge, which is on second floor, directly to plane. Upon scanning my BP, they took me downstairs in the elevator, swabbed me for bombs, looked in my bag, then an agent brought me back up to second floor lounge and wished me a good flight. Annoying but pretty quick.

[Sig]

When he's in line and approaching security,  my husband pushes his hat waay back on his head so there are no shadows on his face. He often smiles so his beard is less threatening, too. It's cut down on his SSSS considerably.

SSSS gets put on by the airline, not TSA. So while its good advice to be non-threatening in the security line it doesn't help avoid the SSSS you would have already gotten assigned by the airline's computer.
As an aside, the SSSS system is one of the last kafkaesque holdovers from the post-911 knee-jerk security reactions. The TSA requires the airlines to come up with an algorithm to flag tickets with the SSSS. If you complain to the TSA about why your ticket was flagged, they'll say "Its nothing to do with us, the airline selected you". If you complain to the airline they'll say "Its nothing we can control, we're required to do it by TSA".
I can tell you from experience that a great way to ensure you get the SSSS experience is to buy a one-way refundable ticket at the airport ticket counter an hour before the flight (because after 45 minutes of trying none of the US Airways gate agents can figure out how to get the computer to print a gate pass for your unaccompanied minors who's plane is leaving in 30 minutes!)

[Yehuda25]

SSSS gets put on by the airline, not TSA. So while its good advice to be non-threatening in the security line it doesn't help avoid the SSSS you would have already gotten assigned by the airline's computer.
As an aside, the SSSS system is one of the last kafkaesque holdovers from the post-911 knee-jerk security reactions. The TSA requires the airlines to come up with an algorithm to flag tickets with the SSSS. If you complain to the TSA about why your ticket was flagged, they'll say "Its nothing to do with us, the airline selected you". If you complain to the airline they'll say "Its nothing we can control, we're required to do it by TSA".
I can tell you from experience that a great way to ensure you get the SSSS experience is to buy a one-way refundable ticket at the airport ticket counter an hour before the flight (because after 45 minutes of trying none of the US Airways gate agents can figure out how to get the computer to print a gate pass for your unaccompanied minors who's plane is leaving in 30 minutes!)

If anything a non -refundable ticket should be worse

[Jm1248]

I got this in LHR. The agent by the check in counter told me that when I go through security I will be selected for a "random" security check

[dudi]

SSSS gets put on by the airline, not TSA. So while its good advice to be non-threatening in the security line it doesn't help avoid the SSSS you would have already gotten assigned by the airline's computer.
As an aside, the SSSS system is one of the last kafkaesque holdovers from the post-911 knee-jerk security reactions. The TSA requires the airlines to come up with an algorithm to flag tickets with the SSSS. If you complain to the TSA about why your ticket was flagged, they'll say "Its nothing to do with us, the airline selected you". If you complain to the airline they'll say "Its nothing we can control, we're required to do it by TSA".
I can tell you from experience that a great way to ensure you get the SSSS experience is to buy a one-way refundable ticket at the airport ticket counter an hour before the flight (because after 45 minutes of trying none of the US Airways gate agents can figure out how to get the computer to print a gate pass for your unaccompanied minors who's plane is leaving in 30 minutes!)

Funny. Around 8 years ago I got it flying from LGA to YUL I booked the ticket 5 hours before the flight.
Was pulled over right after security and got the whole deal they went through all my stuff Pat me down questioning and all.
Until I saw this thread I never heard of anyone that got it besides for me.

[username]

Shortly after 9-11 i flew with my whole family. Flight was delayed and i would miss my connection, so the sent us over to another ailine counter to go nonstop. Well since we had brand new tickets, it looked like we just minutes before bought them. The patted and wanded all of us, including toddlers, baby, and even a doll! Was fun trying to get a three yr old to hold arms wide open....

[ckmk47]

A few months ago I went to Montreal for the day. I only got 'the works' on the way home. They even asked if the pills were the antibiotic it said on the label.  I (almost snottily) told them it was actually aspirin and tylenol in case I get a head ache from traveling both ways in one day.

[dealvr]

Just had this.  The last minute one way ticket is almost a guarantee that you'll be selected.

[srap]

Just had this.  The last minute one way ticket is almost a guarantee that you'll be selected.

I find that when I put my FF# on the ticket ahead of time, it often prevents the SSSS I often get PLUS it gives me precheck!

[damaxer91]

Going to Istanbul these days is a great way to get you SSSS