Four Letters You Never Want to See on Your Boarding Pass

Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about Four Letters You Never Want to See on Your Boarding Pass : A Personal Experience.

Flying internationally can be an exciting experience, but it can also come with its fair share of challenges. One of those challenges is receiving a boarding pass with certain letters that can make your heart sink. In this article, I am sharing my personal experience on a recent international flight and the letters I now dread seeing on my boarding pass, as well as tips for how to deal with this if it ever happens to you!

The letters “SSSS” stand for “Secondary Security Screening Selection” and are generally used for international flights into the US.

My first “red flag” was when I encountered issues trying to check in the night before my trip. I was travelling with family who were all able to check-in and receive their boarding passes, but I had a message telling me that I needed to contact an agent at the airport, which, quite frankly, didn’t do much to help my beauty sleep the night before my flight!

However, it wasn’t until I arrived at the airport that I received the dreaded news that I had SSSS on my boarding pass.

In case, like I was, you are unaware what the “SSSS” code on your boarding pass actually means, how it will affect you and how you can manage the process better, I am sharing my personal experience and my tips below.

Four Letters You Never Want to See on Your Boarding Pass : A Personal Experience.

1. The Dreaded Four Letters on your Boarding Pass

If you’re selected, SSSS will be printed somewhere on your boarding pass. As I mentioned, one of the tell-tale signs that you’ve been selected is that you won’t be able to check in online — you’ll receive a note via your airline’s app or website that you’ll need to check in with an agent at the airport. Of course, there could be any number of reasons that you may need to check in in person (an overbooked flight is also one!), but it’s definitely one indicator you might need to prepare for SSSS.

As I approached the check-in counter at the airport, ready to embark on my international adventure, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anxiety as I hadn’t received my boarding pass online.

After waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity, I finally handed over my passport and received my boarding pass. And there it was, staring back at me – the dreaded letters “SSSS” printed prominently on the document.

2. What do the letters SSSS mean?

The term “SSSS” on a boarding pass stands for “Secondary Security Screening Selection“. If you find these four letters on your boarding pass, it means that you have been selected for additional security screening beyond the standard procedures.

This designation is used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States and other aviation security agencies globally, and this additional security measure was brought in by the US Transport Security Administration after the 9/11 terror attacks.

It basically means that you will be subjected to additional security measures and screening before boarding your flight, and as much as we all want to prioritize safety, seeing these letters can trigger a wave of emotions – including anxiety and stress.

If you spot those four letters on your boarding pass, you may be taken aside by a TSA officer during the regular airport security screening process and subjected to additional searches, but in my case, I was taken aside during the boarding process, where an agent asked me to unpack my handbag and carry-on bag for a thorough manual search. My hands and clothes were also swabbed for explosives.

3. My Experience

When I scanned my boarding card at the gate, it triggered a response that led to me being taken aside by the gate staff, and I found myself separated from my family and the rest of the passengers, adding to the growing tension and stress (although my family seemed to find it hilarious!)

I was escorted to a designated area at the boarding gate, where a thorough and intense screening process awaited me. Bags were meticulously inspected, personal belongings were scrutinized, my hands and clothes were swabbed for explosives and I underwent more comprehensive questioning compared to the usual boarding process.

4. Why do people get SSSS?

Selection for secondary screening is typically random. Passengers are chosen through a computerized system that uses a set of criteria, including specific patterns, factors, or random algorithms. It is not necessarily an indication that the passenger has done something wrong or is suspected of any wrongdoing.

While the exact criteria for selection are not disclosed for security reasons, factors that might contribute to being chosen for secondary screening could include, but are lot limited to, last-minute ticket purchases, one-way tickets, payment for tickets in cash, travel to certain destinations, or other patterns that may raise security concerns (none of which applied in my case!)

5. What can you do about it at the airport?

Arrive at the gate Early

If you have the SSSS designation on your boarding pass, it’s advisable to arrive at the gate early, as the additional screening process may take more time, and arriving early helps reduce any potential stress or delays.

Cooperation is Key

While the additional screening can be inconvenient, it’s essential to cooperate fully with security personnel. They are just doing their job, and resisting or arguing can result in further delays and complications. Be polite and answer all their questions as best as you can.

6. What can you do if you get SSSS multiple times?

A lot of the time passengers are just picked at random, but if you find the code on your plane tickets regularly then the chances are you may be being monitored by the US Department of Homeland Security.

If SSSS appears on your boarding pass frequently, you can apply to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP). That program may remove you from whatever mysterious watch list you may be on (as long as there isn’t a reason you’re on it, of course!)

If you’re accepted into the program, you’ll be given a redress number to add to all your airline bookings, which could reduce the number of issues you face at airport security.

7. Finding Perspective

Although I understood the need for enhanced security measures, the experience was undeniably stressful.

However, it is essential to remember that these additional security measures are in place to protect us, and while the experience may be anxiety-inducing, it serves as a reminder of the constant efforts made by airlines and authorities to maintain safety in the skies.

So, if you ever find yourself face to face with those dreaded letters on your boarding pass, take a deep breath, trust the process, and remember that your safety, and the safety of other passengers, is of utmost importance.

Final words on Four Letters You Never Want to See on Your Boarding Pass : A Personal Experience.

I hope you found this feature about Four Letters You Never Want to See on Your Boarding Pass helpful, and you can also have a look more of our travel features.

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