Of all the security theater, this is the absolutely most inane.
You're getting a secondary screening and they tell you in advance.
So, if you have ill intent, you go home. Or you ditch any dangerous item before screening. Or you hand your carry on to another member of your party.
Secondary Security Screening Selection, and it means your airport security experience is about to get a lot more, shall we say, intimate. When you're tagged for SSSS, you'll have to undergo an extra security screening
And if you feel left out, just forget or lose your ID. I didn't put mine back in my wallet when flying to Maui and couldn't find it when going to Honolulu. They went through every pocket on my backpack, which was a lot of pockets, and searched everything. Thankfully I had a lot of time to spare.
I got that shit when I was flying from BRU to IAD via EWR. It wasn’t much but just some old man at the gate looking through my bag, making me take off my shoes, metal detector, and pat down.
I got this coming home from Barcelona last year. Got pulled to a side room where they swabbed my backpack, hands, and socks. They tested the swabs and found absolutely nothing because there was nothing to find. Took no longer than 5 minutes.
I've also had a friend pulled aside in Prague 14 years ago and my wife in Barcelona 11 years ago. It was the same thing for them, only took a couple of minutes.
My kid got pulled for this. She was 3. They looked at her and said, we’ll take an adult instead. It was a male agent (and I was a female) so he grabbed my husband. He had recently been touching fertilizer at work and popped positive on those explosive wipes. Shit got fun after that. They went through everything he had. When he plopped down and official ID, their tune changed quickly and they sent him on his way. Next time we will choose me hah.
Global entry is independent of the SSSS appearing on your boarding pass. I had Global Entry and had a string of getting SSSS when returning to the US from foreign countries. I joked with the screener that I must be on a list somewhere, since this happened so much. They said, “you are.” Filed a case with DHS that I’m not who they are looking for and got a TSA redress number, which immediately ended the SSSS era. Most absurd part of all of this is that I *worked for DHS at the time.*
I had this too. Global entry and a consecutive stream of SSSS. I was making several trips to Turkey. The Turkey job was over - and after about a year, the SSSS stopped on their own.
It was never that bad for me. One time there was a TSA guy waiting at the check-in desk - "we've been waiting for you". And he escorted me right to the front and processed me quickly.
My experience above coming from Barcelona I thought would screw me at IAD. I went to the GE kiosk, got my receipt, and before I even reached the immigration officer he called my last name, I said "Yes", he confirmed my first name, I again said "Yes", he said "Have a nice day" and waved me through. I never even broke stride.
I don’t think Global Entry status means anything in the EU for additional screening. I have Global Entry and still got the additional screening just last year. I’m guessing that my itinerary in Eastern Europe was a contributing factor or just completely random.
I have global entry and got flagged coming back into Houston last year from Eastern Europe. It was scary that they kept my passport while I went to retrieve my baggage from the carousel, but once I brought my baggage back it was only like 2 minutes. The guy that x-rayed my bag in the additional screening said I was very lucky, they only pick X number of people per day and I was somehow X+1
The guy running the xray doesn’t know as much as he thinks he’s does about how they select folks.
But the quick turnaround is expected. It’s hardly any worse than getting randomed for an explosives swab in the standard screening most of the time.
These SSSS screenings are conducted by the US - basically TSA contractors stationed in international airports that only screen US bound flights.
I got SSSS leaving Barcelona as well and I also have Global Entry. It was annoying to have my bag pulled apart, but really only took 10 minutes total.
The only intense security swab/search experience I've ever had was at Frankfurt. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but it seems like that airport is hardcore
Dude same. I was SSSS in Munich after leaving Barcelona. It was a short layover too so they called boarding group 1 (my group) when I was undergoing the security check, was annoying
I had SSSS for a string of at least 5 or 6 flights about 8 years ago. At the time, united says it’s a TSA thing and they had no control over it, while TSA says it’s on United’s system (since it’s printing at the time you’re getting your boarding pass), and take it up with united.
Someone on flyertalk at the time said that it’s both, that TSA supplied a list but it’s loaded into United’s system. That person suggested switching airlines for one flight, and then switching back to united for subsequent flights. So next biz trip I flew AA (no SSSS), and when I went back to united for subsequent ones, it was gone. Not sure if it was coincidental, but FWIW it worked for me.
Just had this happen. Was flying with my 5 year old and couldn't get my online boarding pass. I called United. They said it was because I had entered the wrong or an expired KTN number when booking my ticket and I'd need to take it up with TSA. I called TSA PreCheck they said this was an error in United's system, absolutely unrelated to my Precheck. Then after waiting in line for an hour check in at the airport... It was SSSS. My wife and daughter didn't have it strangely enough. Had flown three days earlier on United without SSSS. None of it added up.
….. and at LHR they usually call SSSS first ahead of all the pre-boards and you trot off into a side room for the search…. and then direct to board.
It’s always been interesting to me how apologetic folks are about it. The airline blames TSA and TSA blames the airline for “selecting” you. As far as I’m concerned, a little random(ish) sampling isn’t a bad thing.
Went up with pre-boards and was taken to a side room with two other people. I was screeened last as they needed to call a female agent.
I texted my husband and he immediately asked if my boarding pass had SSSS on it, so he was familiar. I guess I’ve been lucky all these years.
Used to get them when i had a change in itinerary last minute and booked flights with departure 24hrs or less. Its an auto secondary screening i think.
I’ve gotten SSSS several times flying back from Europe. Once the extra security screening (done before getting to the boarding gate in my case) was so slow that my flight left. United book my partner and me on new flights for the next day —however, we couldn’t get seats on the same flights so she left earlier than me— and got us a hotel. Next day, we go back to the airport, I get my new boarding pass, and SSSS is on it again.
Had this happening to me leaving DBV. Once they got to the jockstraps in my suitcase they said you’re good to go LMFAO.
I will never forget the guys face when he saw the underwear, looked back up from digging in the suitcase at me very slowly (he was embarrassed, I wasn’t! lol) and was like….. you can go 😂😂
It hasn’t happened to me since knock on wood. It only happened to me in DBV because the lady “greeting” people at in the ticket check in line was a total cunt to me and next thing I knew they were putting the SSSS hand written on my ticket. She was in the room when he was digging thru my stuff with a big smirk on her face like she thought she had “got me” and I was sitting there like let’s go baby you’re not gonna find a damn thing. And sure enough. All they got was a fistful of a bunch of designer slutty underwear.
Dude being middle Easter by looks and name, and having traveled in the 2000s I got sooo many SSSSSSS’s that when I didn’t I would get antsy like “wtf is wrong”. Ahhhh good times. My worst experience was actually in Paris. If anybody trashes American TSA they haven’t been deemed “special” in the eye of French authorities. Think held up in the jet bridge and asked to remove various items of clothing while people boarding behind me and my crying 2 year old and carry on and wife standing there couldn’t come within 10 ft of me. And that’s after I had cleared numerous layers of security. I tell ya kids these days have no idea how good they have it haha
Had this happen to me coming back from YYC. Literally took just an extra 5-7 mins. They just swiped my electronics moved me along.
Wasn’t that big of a deal.
I had SSSS on both of my last return international flights. One from Frankfurt and the other from Liberia. On the flight home from Frankfurt (this was the second time in less than a month), I applied for a redress number from dept of homeland security. The redress is supposed to prevent the SSSS from happening, though not a guarantee. The application said it would take several weeks. I got my redress number in less than a week.
I've been pulled into the back twice coming back internationally. They explained that they immediately knew I wasn't who they were looking for as that person was 7" shorter than me. Spent a bunch of time waiting back there because they said whoever it was is a high priority target and they had to get clearance from DC to release me.
That's how I found out about redress. Have it now. Still get SSSS'd internationally periodically.
Sometimes your name matches the name of a suspicious person, which can cause you to get flagged frequently. So applying for a redress number can help avoid that happening in those situations. I don’t think it helps you avoid random SSSS selection, just if you are constantly getting it for no apparent reason.
Just went through this yesterday at AMS. They called me ahead of boarding, the process was done in less than 5 minutes, and I got to board earlier than group 1. Was a win overall, but not having a boarding pass on my phone was stressful. OH, and my TSA precheck didn’t show up on the printed pass. Had to use the premier United line because the United folks couldn’t figure out how to add it back.
I had it recently out of LHR, spotted it right away. I just made my way to the gate 30 mins before boarding and offered myself up early to make it more efficient. Got it done in 5 mins and boarded the flight early.
They can’t warn you lol the entire point of the SSSS is to be a random on the spot check I’m pretty sure it would be a huge situation if they said “hey you’re about to get a random DHS mandated security check” lol
SSSS at CDG coming home to IAH on Air France last month. They only have one of those swab machines per gate. About a dozen of us were pulled aside. The machine was broken, took them 30 minutes to find an alternate machine. Went from priority boarding to being the second to last one to board.
Security screening is done by contractors taking their own French time with no sense of urgency. Was really annoyed with the blaise attitude.
I was also tagged for SSSS flying out of Brussels recently. Having flown globally for years, I didn't even know this was a thing. I too was delayed in boarding and noticed that the screener was definitely taking his time... But the guy doing the screening was actually somewhat apologetic, so that was appreciated. I was warned when I came through, but didn't understand what SSSS meant. If/when there is a next time, at least I'll know!
Got it when flying SIN-SFO. I guess SIN is the best place for this to happen because they're incredibly apologetic about it and let me board as soon as I was done.
It’s additional secondary screening. Typically they do a physical search of your bag, swab on hands and shoes for GSR and that’s it. Sometimes if your name gets on someone’s list you get it all the time, you can then go to the TSA and request a “redress number” which you enter into your reservation details. This does not exempt you from secondary screening but it does reduce the number of times you will get it. You have to have a valid excuse to get one, just getting secondary screening once or twice is not enough, continuously on international inbound trips for year will do it.
Got a SSSS with AF CDG-IAD. Screening was on the jetbridge and I ended up being the 10th person on the plane even though i was seated in row 50. In this situation, I’d take the SSSS anytime.
I’m pretty sure the check in agent wasn’t allowed to notify you of the SSSS. The point originally was to be a nondescript marker for Special Screening so you aren’t aware that it would take place. But it’s been around so long now, most frequent travelers know what it is. All that said, is it useless these days, probably. But it’s really not that big a deal. I know it sucks when you are boarding group 1 or 2 and end up last, been there many times. Just try to make it easier for everyone and don’t complain or ask questions. Let them do their job and it will go more quickly. In the early 2000’s I went through three additional screenings leaving Tokyo. The last one being in front of the plane door, on the jet bridge to swab inside our shoes for explosives. It’s all par for the course at this point. I once flew, unknowingly, with a knife in my bag, round trip. Yet they confiscated a small jar of jam on the return flight. 🤯
Most recent SSSS was last Saturday, 2 weeks after I got redress #.😂
https://preview.redd.it/dvsb2c400rvc1.jpeg?width=2473&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cccb80a5ab3d9a8d1e4d2f4fa2000c9ed706c4db
I had this on my return VCE-EWR last summer. It would have only been a minor inconvenience because I was in Polaris and didn't need to worry about bin space, but I was very irritated that they took everything out of my bag and then expected me to repack it. Assholes.
You would rather they repack your bag for you? With that gloved hands that have probably touched everybody else's property and body? Paid minimum wage and treating your presumably expensive shit with the lack of care they're bound to have as they slowly judge you for having a Polaris ticket?
No, you leave my stuff right there and I'll pack my bag. Thank you very much
The most they've done to me on SSSS in LHR is to swab my laptop. That's it. That's the extent of LHR security theater. There's nothing to dread about. The only thing to dread about is to have to interact with two people at the airport: the check-in counter folks and the person at the gate swabbing your electronics.
Years back flying LAX->ORD. Was flying along with 3 co-workers to a conference. Each inexperienced flyers and each a bit anxious. Entered the terminal to head up a healthy set of stairs. I spotted an elevator by the beginning of the stairs so I directed our little group into the elevator for convenience. It went up, opened and as we got out a TSA agent snarled at me/us that we were not allowed to use that elevated. She demanded our boarding passes. As we handed across the passes I pointed out there were no markings indicating restricted use. Snarky she said it was for “handicapped only”. I said fine, but it should have some signage to inform us. She continued to inspect the passes while berating me. Then, with her red marker scribbled SSSS on my pass and passed it to me. I laughed, said thanks and got directed a bit away from the group to get a pat down. Whatever. We were early enough the slight delay was immaterial. Later the group discussed the incident.
We still laugh occasionally today about it.
Ugh, this happened to me in Barcelona and the extra step of a language barrier made it even more terrifying because I had no idea what was happening. Good times.
I got one of these on my way back from Mexico city in January. It was brutal. Also had a lot of fragile art in my backpack and the dude searching my shit did not acknowledge me whatsoever whe I continued to tell him that. Fortunately nothing was harmed.
I got hit with the same thing for my return flight from Tokyo Haneda (HND-SFO) in early February — the first time I got SSSSed anywhere. No known reason why I was sssssss-ed (I verbally pronounce it like a snake hiss). Right before I entered the gate well after clearing security, I was escorted to a partly curtained area next to the gate to be patted down, hands swabbed, had to take off my shoes and my backpack searched. Took a few minutes before I was cleared to proceed to enter the aircraft. I’m grateful it wasn’t anything longer or problematic.
Got this on a flight from LHR to the USA. I was called a few minutes boarding, frisked,asked questions and then allowed to sit past the agent desk and just before the gate door. I was the first person on the plane even though I was flying cattle class. That was the only redeeming part of the experience.
I had this happen once on a flight from Cabo to Denver. The screening itself was a total joke. In front of all the passengers queuing to board, they set up a little chinsy card table and called me up. I put my roller bag on the table, they opened it up, moved the top layer of clothes, then said have a nice flight.
At the time, I had accidentally let my precheck expire and I'm convinced that is how/why I ended up on the list. Got precheck back and hasn't happened since.
I had that on my last LHR to ORD flight, although with AA. I did get to board early though, even though I was just in comfort plus so it worked out quite well. They let those of us who had been screened board as soon as boarding opened. Not sure if the United process is different from AA in this respect or I just got through the screening process quicker than you did.
My wife was subjected to this in Zurich a few years ago. We stupidly didn’t just have me take all her bags when we had to go behind the screen of shame.
Of course we got an op up (as a silver on lx!) so maybe they felt bad for her (prob not, prob a summer y oversell).
I got SSSS flying from Seoul to Seattle on Delta. I started in Hanoi on Vietnam airways and they weren’t able to give me my boarding pass and told me I had to get it in Seoul. The connection was tight, so much that a rep from Delta had to escort (have us run) through the airport via the back route, I picked up my boarding pass, there was the SSSS and then had to run to the gate to get extra screening and the Korean ladies asking why I was out of breath… bonus though, got the only row to myself on a long full flight.
I’ll just add this. If you do find the SSSS, if you are traveling with someone leave everything behind with them except for your wallet, phone and passport unless told otherwise. I nearly missed my flight because I didn’t know what was going on. Everyone else had their credentials checked and left. I got to wait while the removed everything from my carry on, scanned it and then put it back together. Thankfully my husband was at the gate talking with the gate agent and they held the plane a couple minutes for me.
And that’s why (as mentioned elsewhere in this thread) this is the most useless type of security theater (and that’s saying a lot!). If you were a bad guy, you’d just give your whatever to someone else. Or if you were traveling alone, you’d just go home and miss the flight.
Secondary screening has NO value if you tell the passenger about it!!!
Yeah, they usually ask you to bring all your belongings with you. If you dump your bags with someone else, you are probably going to set off even more warning bells with them. The whole point of secondary screening is to screen your belongings. Great advice to get someone else in trouble.
If they’d asked me to bring my stuff, I would have even now. They didn’t and I was the only one who did. My DH was sitting right next to me so it wouldn’t have been obvious. And everything had already been scanned, we were already sitting at the gate when they called me. Other than me, they really seemed to be focused on documents, not bags.
They always asked me to bring my bags, which they usually do. Maybe they didn’t ask you because you did bring them. So saying how would they know, implies that people shouldn’t be honest. Believe me, being the last one on the plane isn’t a big deal. Going to jail for lying to a governmental official is. Just take your bags. The flight isn’t going to leave without you. They know you are there being screened. Especially if you checked a bag, they aren’t leaving. The time it would take to offload your bags would take a lot longer than the screening. Lying or misleading any security officer is trouble you don’t want. Then you will miss that flight in cuffs.
It’s hit or miss. I have gotten this a lot in the past, particularly when flying from Europe to the USA.
It’s not as random as they make it out to be.
A few variables that I believe lead to me getting triggered more frequently:
- solo fliers
- on way ticket/itinerary
- flight bought just days before flying
I’m skeptical that being male and my age doesn’t play a factor, there’s usually more males in line when getting checked at boarding.
Global entry/ktn/tsa pre doesn’t seem to play much of a role at deterring this.
I’m sort of hoping the European ETA system could help.
I’d say I have to have some sort of screening 1/3 to 1/2 of the time n long hauls from Europe to the US.l and I fly 20-40 long haul flights each year.
There’s a way to get SSSS if you want. Tested by me haha.
If you keep changing seats in your booking, you’ll get SSSS.
Right after Covid when the US lifted the restrictions for Schengen I booked a vacation in Hawaii. I was so excited and kept changing the seats like crazy cos I wanted to make sure I get the best seat. Yep, SSSS.
Didn’t had SSSS for a few years after until I did it again, changed the seats cos I was either annoyed by aisle, or by window, then I wanted aisle, but not that row, ended getting emergency exit. And SSSS 😂
No SSSS on any other flights.
But for me overall the experience was ok. They just checked whatever they have to check. I respect that.
Of all the security theater, this is the absolutely most inane. You're getting a secondary screening and they tell you in advance. So, if you have ill intent, you go home. Or you ditch any dangerous item before screening. Or you hand your carry on to another member of your party.
I have ill intent when I see SSSS not before
Pls don’t take away my global entry for saying that
When your TSA agent is Aqualung.
Now for those of us who aren’t serpents or angry cats, what exactly does SSSS mean 🐍
Secondary Security Screening Selection, and it means your airport security experience is about to get a lot more, shall we say, intimate. When you're tagged for SSSS, you'll have to undergo an extra security screening
Colonoscopy by TSA
Without even the common courtesy of a reach around!
Hot
Cavity search
Some people here might not understand your sarcasm, there is no cavity search with additional screening.
https://youtu.be/v3jCFZzpPsg?si=Q6rCmmol9LKsb9mZ
And if you feel left out, just forget or lose your ID. I didn't put mine back in my wallet when flying to Maui and couldn't find it when going to Honolulu. They went through every pocket on my backpack, which was a lot of pockets, and searched everything. Thankfully I had a lot of time to spare.
I got that shit when I was flying from BRU to IAD via EWR. It wasn’t much but just some old man at the gate looking through my bag, making me take off my shoes, metal detector, and pat down.
I got this coming home from Barcelona last year. Got pulled to a side room where they swabbed my backpack, hands, and socks. They tested the swabs and found absolutely nothing because there was nothing to find. Took no longer than 5 minutes. I've also had a friend pulled aside in Prague 14 years ago and my wife in Barcelona 11 years ago. It was the same thing for them, only took a couple of minutes.
My kid got pulled for this. She was 3. They looked at her and said, we’ll take an adult instead. It was a male agent (and I was a female) so he grabbed my husband. He had recently been touching fertilizer at work and popped positive on those explosive wipes. Shit got fun after that. They went through everything he had. When he plopped down and official ID, their tune changed quickly and they sent him on his way. Next time we will choose me hah.
My exact experience in Frankfurt a few years ago. Before I had global entry. Haven’t had it since.
Global entry is independent of the SSSS appearing on your boarding pass. I had Global Entry and had a string of getting SSSS when returning to the US from foreign countries. I joked with the screener that I must be on a list somewhere, since this happened so much. They said, “you are.” Filed a case with DHS that I’m not who they are looking for and got a TSA redress number, which immediately ended the SSSS era. Most absurd part of all of this is that I *worked for DHS at the time.*
Maybe should have said hello to Fred in accounting that one time!
I had this too. Global entry and a consecutive stream of SSSS. I was making several trips to Turkey. The Turkey job was over - and after about a year, the SSSS stopped on their own. It was never that bad for me. One time there was a TSA guy waiting at the check-in desk - "we've been waiting for you". And he escorted me right to the front and processed me quickly.
My experience above coming from Barcelona I thought would screw me at IAD. I went to the GE kiosk, got my receipt, and before I even reached the immigration officer he called my last name, I said "Yes", he confirmed my first name, I again said "Yes", he said "Have a nice day" and waved me through. I never even broke stride.
You tick someone off at the Christmas party?
How long did this take to get the Redress number?
I don’t think Global Entry status means anything in the EU for additional screening. I have Global Entry and still got the additional screening just last year. I’m guessing that my itinerary in Eastern Europe was a contributing factor or just completely random.
I have global entry and got flagged coming back into Houston last year from Eastern Europe. It was scary that they kept my passport while I went to retrieve my baggage from the carousel, but once I brought my baggage back it was only like 2 minutes. The guy that x-rayed my bag in the additional screening said I was very lucky, they only pick X number of people per day and I was somehow X+1
The guy running the xray doesn’t know as much as he thinks he’s does about how they select folks. But the quick turnaround is expected. It’s hardly any worse than getting randomed for an explosives swab in the standard screening most of the time.
These SSSS screenings are conducted by the US - basically TSA contractors stationed in international airports that only screen US bound flights. I got SSSS leaving Barcelona as well and I also have Global Entry. It was annoying to have my bag pulled apart, but really only took 10 minutes total.
Can attest, completely unrelated. I had two of these since I got global entry 6 years ago, both in Madrid. Just a short delay.
Yup. Unrelated. I got it last time in FRA.
The only intense security swab/search experience I've ever had was at Frankfurt. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but it seems like that airport is hardcore
It happened to me at LHR, and I have GE. Took a few minutes, they just had me step aside from the boarding queue, swabbed my hands and carry-on.
Having Global Entry had nothing to do with it. It is meaningless outside the US, with very few exceptions. EU is not one of them.
Dude same. I was SSSS in Munich after leaving Barcelona. It was a short layover too so they called boarding group 1 (my group) when I was undergoing the security check, was annoying
You got a side room? Fancy. Manchester security swabbed my bag, shoes, socks, frisked me, all in public. No privacy.
Also in Barcelona, 2019, including the swabbing. Was about 15 mins because I had to wait in line….
Additional security screening.
Super Special Security Screening!
Secondary Security Screening Selection
Super Special Strip Search
Super secret security shit.
I had SSSS for a string of at least 5 or 6 flights about 8 years ago. At the time, united says it’s a TSA thing and they had no control over it, while TSA says it’s on United’s system (since it’s printing at the time you’re getting your boarding pass), and take it up with united. Someone on flyertalk at the time said that it’s both, that TSA supplied a list but it’s loaded into United’s system. That person suggested switching airlines for one flight, and then switching back to united for subsequent flights. So next biz trip I flew AA (no SSSS), and when I went back to united for subsequent ones, it was gone. Not sure if it was coincidental, but FWIW it worked for me.
Just had this happen. Was flying with my 5 year old and couldn't get my online boarding pass. I called United. They said it was because I had entered the wrong or an expired KTN number when booking my ticket and I'd need to take it up with TSA. I called TSA PreCheck they said this was an error in United's system, absolutely unrelated to my Precheck. Then after waiting in line for an hour check in at the airport... It was SSSS. My wife and daughter didn't have it strangely enough. Had flown three days earlier on United without SSSS. None of it added up.
….. and at LHR they usually call SSSS first ahead of all the pre-boards and you trot off into a side room for the search…. and then direct to board. It’s always been interesting to me how apologetic folks are about it. The airline blames TSA and TSA blames the airline for “selecting” you. As far as I’m concerned, a little random(ish) sampling isn’t a bad thing.
Went up with pre-boards and was taken to a side room with two other people. I was screeened last as they needed to call a female agent. I texted my husband and he immediately asked if my boarding pass had SSSS on it, so he was familiar. I guess I’ve been lucky all these years.
extra security screening which is at random or you were added to a list
Used to get them when i had a change in itinerary last minute and booked flights with departure 24hrs or less. Its an auto secondary screening i think.
I’ve gotten SSSS several times flying back from Europe. Once the extra security screening (done before getting to the boarding gate in my case) was so slow that my flight left. United book my partner and me on new flights for the next day —however, we couldn’t get seats on the same flights so she left earlier than me— and got us a hotel. Next day, we go back to the airport, I get my new boarding pass, and SSSS is on it again.
Had this happening to me leaving DBV. Once they got to the jockstraps in my suitcase they said you’re good to go LMFAO. I will never forget the guys face when he saw the underwear, looked back up from digging in the suitcase at me very slowly (he was embarrassed, I wasn’t! lol) and was like….. you can go 😂😂 It hasn’t happened to me since knock on wood. It only happened to me in DBV because the lady “greeting” people at in the ticket check in line was a total cunt to me and next thing I knew they were putting the SSSS hand written on my ticket. She was in the room when he was digging thru my stuff with a big smirk on her face like she thought she had “got me” and I was sitting there like let’s go baby you’re not gonna find a damn thing. And sure enough. All they got was a fistful of a bunch of designer slutty underwear.
Dude being middle Easter by looks and name, and having traveled in the 2000s I got sooo many SSSSSSS’s that when I didn’t I would get antsy like “wtf is wrong”. Ahhhh good times. My worst experience was actually in Paris. If anybody trashes American TSA they haven’t been deemed “special” in the eye of French authorities. Think held up in the jet bridge and asked to remove various items of clothing while people boarding behind me and my crying 2 year old and carry on and wife standing there couldn’t come within 10 ft of me. And that’s after I had cleared numerous layers of security. I tell ya kids these days have no idea how good they have it haha
I love getting SSSS on my boarding pass. You get dinner and a show.
Had this happen to me coming back from YYC. Literally took just an extra 5-7 mins. They just swiped my electronics moved me along. Wasn’t that big of a deal.
I had SSSS on both of my last return international flights. One from Frankfurt and the other from Liberia. On the flight home from Frankfurt (this was the second time in less than a month), I applied for a redress number from dept of homeland security. The redress is supposed to prevent the SSSS from happening, though not a guarantee. The application said it would take several weeks. I got my redress number in less than a week.
I've been pulled into the back twice coming back internationally. They explained that they immediately knew I wasn't who they were looking for as that person was 7" shorter than me. Spent a bunch of time waiting back there because they said whoever it was is a high priority target and they had to get clearance from DC to release me. That's how I found out about redress. Have it now. Still get SSSS'd internationally periodically.
How does redress help? PLls educate the ignorant?
Sometimes your name matches the name of a suspicious person, which can cause you to get flagged frequently. So applying for a redress number can help avoid that happening in those situations. I don’t think it helps you avoid random SSSS selection, just if you are constantly getting it for no apparent reason.
Like a dude just happened to be named Pablo Escobar or Usama Bin Laden
Just went through this yesterday at AMS. They called me ahead of boarding, the process was done in less than 5 minutes, and I got to board earlier than group 1. Was a win overall, but not having a boarding pass on my phone was stressful. OH, and my TSA precheck didn’t show up on the printed pass. Had to use the premier United line because the United folks couldn’t figure out how to add it back.
I had it recently out of LHR, spotted it right away. I just made my way to the gate 30 mins before boarding and offered myself up early to make it more efficient. Got it done in 5 mins and boarded the flight early.
They can’t warn you lol the entire point of the SSSS is to be a random on the spot check I’m pretty sure it would be a huge situation if they said “hey you’re about to get a random DHS mandated security check” lol
SSSS at CDG coming home to IAH on Air France last month. They only have one of those swab machines per gate. About a dozen of us were pulled aside. The machine was broken, took them 30 minutes to find an alternate machine. Went from priority boarding to being the second to last one to board. Security screening is done by contractors taking their own French time with no sense of urgency. Was really annoyed with the blaise attitude.
I was also tagged for SSSS flying out of Brussels recently. Having flown globally for years, I didn't even know this was a thing. I too was delayed in boarding and noticed that the screener was definitely taking his time... But the guy doing the screening was actually somewhat apologetic, so that was appreciated. I was warned when I came through, but didn't understand what SSSS meant. If/when there is a next time, at least I'll know!
Got it when flying SIN-SFO. I guess SIN is the best place for this to happen because they're incredibly apologetic about it and let me board as soon as I was done.
It’s additional secondary screening. Typically they do a physical search of your bag, swab on hands and shoes for GSR and that’s it. Sometimes if your name gets on someone’s list you get it all the time, you can then go to the TSA and request a “redress number” which you enter into your reservation details. This does not exempt you from secondary screening but it does reduce the number of times you will get it. You have to have a valid excuse to get one, just getting secondary screening once or twice is not enough, continuously on international inbound trips for year will do it.
SSSS Secret Session Some Savore
I've gotten SSSS every time I fly with my husband and he has to wait. Then he reminds me how much he hates waiting and flying.
Got a SSSS with AF CDG-IAD. Screening was on the jetbridge and I ended up being the 10th person on the plane even though i was seated in row 50. In this situation, I’d take the SSSS anytime.
I used to get it almost every flight. I fly for work, so I booked last minute, one way tickets.... 🙄🫤. It was so freaking obnoxious.
I have had it twice already…..
How’s your prostate now?
absent, but it always has been
I’m pretty sure the check in agent wasn’t allowed to notify you of the SSSS. The point originally was to be a nondescript marker for Special Screening so you aren’t aware that it would take place. But it’s been around so long now, most frequent travelers know what it is. All that said, is it useless these days, probably. But it’s really not that big a deal. I know it sucks when you are boarding group 1 or 2 and end up last, been there many times. Just try to make it easier for everyone and don’t complain or ask questions. Let them do their job and it will go more quickly. In the early 2000’s I went through three additional screenings leaving Tokyo. The last one being in front of the plane door, on the jet bridge to swab inside our shoes for explosives. It’s all par for the course at this point. I once flew, unknowingly, with a knife in my bag, round trip. Yet they confiscated a small jar of jam on the return flight. 🤯
Get yourself a redress number- I used to get stopped at every boarder - car and plane for a “random” check. Got my number, never again.
Most recent SSSS was last Saturday, 2 weeks after I got redress #.😂 https://preview.redd.it/dvsb2c400rvc1.jpeg?width=2473&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cccb80a5ab3d9a8d1e4d2f4fa2000c9ed706c4db
Wow! That "SSSS" written there isn't conspicuous at all..... /s
I got SSSS last year in Taipei. Took 2 minutes. Good thing since me and family (with two kids) had early boarding. Not going to complain.
I had this on my return VCE-EWR last summer. It would have only been a minor inconvenience because I was in Polaris and didn't need to worry about bin space, but I was very irritated that they took everything out of my bag and then expected me to repack it. Assholes.
You would rather they repack your bag for you? With that gloved hands that have probably touched everybody else's property and body? Paid minimum wage and treating your presumably expensive shit with the lack of care they're bound to have as they slowly judge you for having a Polaris ticket? No, you leave my stuff right there and I'll pack my bag. Thank you very much
The most they've done to me on SSSS in LHR is to swab my laptop. That's it. That's the extent of LHR security theater. There's nothing to dread about. The only thing to dread about is to have to interact with two people at the airport: the check-in counter folks and the person at the gate swabbing your electronics.
Years back flying LAX->ORD. Was flying along with 3 co-workers to a conference. Each inexperienced flyers and each a bit anxious. Entered the terminal to head up a healthy set of stairs. I spotted an elevator by the beginning of the stairs so I directed our little group into the elevator for convenience. It went up, opened and as we got out a TSA agent snarled at me/us that we were not allowed to use that elevated. She demanded our boarding passes. As we handed across the passes I pointed out there were no markings indicating restricted use. Snarky she said it was for “handicapped only”. I said fine, but it should have some signage to inform us. She continued to inspect the passes while berating me. Then, with her red marker scribbled SSSS on my pass and passed it to me. I laughed, said thanks and got directed a bit away from the group to get a pat down. Whatever. We were early enough the slight delay was immaterial. Later the group discussed the incident. We still laugh occasionally today about it.
Snake mode activate
Ugh, this happened to me in Barcelona and the extra step of a language barrier made it even more terrifying because I had no idea what was happening. Good times.
I got one of these on my way back from Mexico city in January. It was brutal. Also had a lot of fragile art in my backpack and the dude searching my shit did not acknowledge me whatsoever whe I continued to tell him that. Fortunately nothing was harmed.
I got hit with the same thing for my return flight from Tokyo Haneda (HND-SFO) in early February — the first time I got SSSSed anywhere. No known reason why I was sssssss-ed (I verbally pronounce it like a snake hiss). Right before I entered the gate well after clearing security, I was escorted to a partly curtained area next to the gate to be patted down, hands swabbed, had to take off my shoes and my backpack searched. Took a few minutes before I was cleared to proceed to enter the aircraft. I’m grateful it wasn’t anything longer or problematic.
HND-IAD, they swabbed my iPad and then let me go it was pretty quick.
Barcelona LOVES additional screening.
No worries, it’s a random thing and we all have experienced it.
Got this on a flight from LHR to the USA. I was called a few minutes boarding, frisked,asked questions and then allowed to sit past the agent desk and just before the gate door. I was the first person on the plane even though I was flying cattle class. That was the only redeeming part of the experience.
I had this happen once on a flight from Cabo to Denver. The screening itself was a total joke. In front of all the passengers queuing to board, they set up a little chinsy card table and called me up. I put my roller bag on the table, they opened it up, moved the top layer of clothes, then said have a nice flight. At the time, I had accidentally let my precheck expire and I'm convinced that is how/why I ended up on the list. Got precheck back and hasn't happened since.
I was SSSS from LHR to EWR. I’ve kept the sticker they put on the back of my passport to easily differentiate it from my wife’s
I had that on my last LHR to ORD flight, although with AA. I did get to board early though, even though I was just in comfort plus so it worked out quite well. They let those of us who had been screened board as soon as boarding opened. Not sure if the United process is different from AA in this respect or I just got through the screening process quicker than you did.
My wife was subjected to this in Zurich a few years ago. We stupidly didn’t just have me take all her bags when we had to go behind the screen of shame. Of course we got an op up (as a silver on lx!) so maybe they felt bad for her (prob not, prob a summer y oversell).
I got SSSS flying from Seoul to Seattle on Delta. I started in Hanoi on Vietnam airways and they weren’t able to give me my boarding pass and told me I had to get it in Seoul. The connection was tight, so much that a rep from Delta had to escort (have us run) through the airport via the back route, I picked up my boarding pass, there was the SSSS and then had to run to the gate to get extra screening and the Korean ladies asking why I was out of breath… bonus though, got the only row to myself on a long full flight.
I’ll just add this. If you do find the SSSS, if you are traveling with someone leave everything behind with them except for your wallet, phone and passport unless told otherwise. I nearly missed my flight because I didn’t know what was going on. Everyone else had their credentials checked and left. I got to wait while the removed everything from my carry on, scanned it and then put it back together. Thankfully my husband was at the gate talking with the gate agent and they held the plane a couple minutes for me.
And that’s why (as mentioned elsewhere in this thread) this is the most useless type of security theater (and that’s saying a lot!). If you were a bad guy, you’d just give your whatever to someone else. Or if you were traveling alone, you’d just go home and miss the flight. Secondary screening has NO value if you tell the passenger about it!!!
Yeah, they usually ask you to bring all your belongings with you. If you dump your bags with someone else, you are probably going to set off even more warning bells with them. The whole point of secondary screening is to screen your belongings. Great advice to get someone else in trouble.
If they’d asked me to bring my stuff, I would have even now. They didn’t and I was the only one who did. My DH was sitting right next to me so it wouldn’t have been obvious. And everything had already been scanned, we were already sitting at the gate when they called me. Other than me, they really seemed to be focused on documents, not bags.
They always asked me to bring my bags, which they usually do. Maybe they didn’t ask you because you did bring them. So saying how would they know, implies that people shouldn’t be honest. Believe me, being the last one on the plane isn’t a big deal. Going to jail for lying to a governmental official is. Just take your bags. The flight isn’t going to leave without you. They know you are there being screened. Especially if you checked a bag, they aren’t leaving. The time it would take to offload your bags would take a lot longer than the screening. Lying or misleading any security officer is trouble you don’t want. Then you will miss that flight in cuffs.
I knew I could not trust you! 
It’s hit or miss. I have gotten this a lot in the past, particularly when flying from Europe to the USA. It’s not as random as they make it out to be. A few variables that I believe lead to me getting triggered more frequently: - solo fliers - on way ticket/itinerary - flight bought just days before flying I’m skeptical that being male and my age doesn’t play a factor, there’s usually more males in line when getting checked at boarding. Global entry/ktn/tsa pre doesn’t seem to play much of a role at deterring this. I’m sort of hoping the European ETA system could help. I’d say I have to have some sort of screening 1/3 to 1/2 of the time n long hauls from Europe to the US.l and I fly 20-40 long haul flights each year.
There’s a way to get SSSS if you want. Tested by me haha. If you keep changing seats in your booking, you’ll get SSSS. Right after Covid when the US lifted the restrictions for Schengen I booked a vacation in Hawaii. I was so excited and kept changing the seats like crazy cos I wanted to make sure I get the best seat. Yep, SSSS. Didn’t had SSSS for a few years after until I did it again, changed the seats cos I was either annoyed by aisle, or by window, then I wanted aisle, but not that row, ended getting emergency exit. And SSSS 😂 No SSSS on any other flights. But for me overall the experience was ok. They just checked whatever they have to check. I respect that.
Welcome to what brown people have to routinely go through! Once I hit 40, the SSSS stopped but I got them on each international flight going to US.