Have you ever ever had an “SSSS” in your boarding go when taking a flight with an airline? On this publish I wished to take an in depth take a look at the importance of that. In some instances this isn’t a giant deal in any respect, whereas in different instances you’ll have landed on some type of a listing, and get it on each flight, till you get it resolved (as occurred to me again in 2017).
What does “SSSS” on a boarding go stand for?
“SSSS” stands for secondary safety screening choice. I’m unsure if the TSA got here up with the abbreviation first after which got here up with phrases to justify it, or if it was the opposite means round. Merely put, an “SSSS” in your boarding go implies that you’re getting an additional thorough search once you undergo safety.
What causes somebody to get “SSSS” on their boarding go?
There are a number of issues that may trigger you to get chosen for secondary safety screening. Primarily based on my understanding:
- Typically it’s as a result of the particular itinerary you’re on is uncommon; this might embrace flights booked final minute, worldwide one-way tickets, journey originating in “high-risk” international locations, and so forth.
- Typically it’s since you’re on some type of a listing; I’ve no clue what causes folks to get on lists, although I think for some folks it’s due to their journey patterns, for others it’s due to their names, and for others it’s as a result of they’re being watched extra rigorously for no matter purpose
- Typically it’s fully random, and you don’t have anything to fret about
As a really frequent flyer, I’d say that these days I get “SSSS” on my boarding go perhaps a couple of occasions per yr, usually on one-way worldwide itineraries.
Nevertheless, in 2017 I used to be getting further screening each single time I flew. I think this was due to my uncommon journey patterns (I traveled to some “suspicious” international locations, booked plenty of one-way worldwide flights, and so forth.).
Are there any indicators that you simply’ll be subjected to further safety?
There’s no strategy to know once you e book whether or not you’ll get the dreaded “SSSS.” Nevertheless, should you’re going to get it, you usually received’t have the ability to load a cell boarding go, or print your boarding go at residence. As a substitute you’ll get an error message saying that you simply’ll solely have the ability to print your boarding go on the airport.
To be clear, simply since you get that message doesn’t essentially imply you’ll get further screening. You might additionally get a message about not with the ability to get your boarding go prematurely for quite a lot of different causes, particularly with the difficult journey restrictions these days. You’ll know for positive once you print your boarding go on the airport, and see the “SSSS” on it.
What’s the secondary screening course of like?
What must you anticipate at safety in case your boarding go has “SSSS” on it? I’ll share my expertise primarily based on the final time I handled this in america, which admittedly goes again some time.
When the preliminary TSA agent scans your boarding go, it’ll make a loud beep and a pink mild will illuminate. The agent will radio for a supervisor and say they’ve a “quad” (which I suppose is the codeword for “SSSS,” with the “quad” referring to the 4 letters).
The TSA agent will let you know “the airline has randomly chosen you for added screening” (which is a lie), and ask you to step to the facet. A TSA lead or supervisor (somebody with two or three stripes on their uniform) will present up finally and escort you to a separate lane. In my expertise, they’ll usually shut a lane so as so that you can be screened. At a minimal, they’ll put two the other way up bins round your objects to separate them from everybody else’s.
The excellent news is that you simply get to chop the remainder of the road, so if there are folks ready, you narrow forward of everybody. It’s the one optimistic facet of the expertise. 😉
Then you definitely’ll be requested to stroll by way of the metallic detector, after which again once more. Then you definitely’ll be requested to undergo the total physique scanner. Then you definitely’ll get a full physique pat down (which you’ll select to have in non-public if you’d like). The agent will pat down each inch of your physique, out of your waistline to the world round your crotch. The truth that they scan your physique in 3 ways looks as if a slight overkill to me, however no matter…
At this level, there’ll usually be a minimum of two TSA brokers concerned, if not three. One will search each inch of your belongings. Not solely will they take a look at every little thing, however they’ll swab your objects to test them for any residue. They’ll additionally ask you to energy in your electronics. They only must guarantee that they’ll activate, so make sure you may have battery energy for all of your electronics.
In the meantime, usually the supervisor will take an image of your boarding go and ID, fill out a type, after which finally stamp your boarding go to point that you simply’ve been screened.
This is a crucial level, as a result of once you get to the gate your boarding go will “alarm” as soon as once more, at which level the gate agent will test to ensure the TSA “stamp” is on there. In case you don’t have it then they’ll need to name the TSA to the gate. The complete screening course of takes wherever between 10 and 20 minutes, in my expertise, relying on how environment friendly the folks screening you’re.
Word that you could additionally get a secondary search on the gate on a US-bound flight. I discover that the screening course of there usually isn’t fairly as invasive or time consuming.
I all the time have a great angle throughout the course of. It’s not the TSA’s fault, and the agent isn’t any happier about having to carry out the secondary search than I’m. I’ve additionally handled some actually uneducated TSA brokers throughout the course of. For instance, one time the man looking out my bag discovered my passports, and thought they had been fraudulent, as a result of I’ve each a United States and German one. He didn’t perceive the idea of twin citizenship.
Are you able to get “SSSS” in case you have TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck is a improbable program whereby enrolled vacationers can get expedited airport screening. How does that work in relation to the “SSSS” concern?
- You may get “SSSS” even should you’re enrolled in TSA PreCheck
- In case you do get “SSSS,” you then received’t obtain TSA PreCheck for the itinerary the place you had been chosen for secondary screening
What are you able to do should you continuously get “SSSS?”
In case you solely get an “SSSS” in your boarding go on one journey, you don’t have anything to fret about. As I mentioned, I randomly get it sometimes, and that’s completely regular. Nevertheless, should you get this designation a number of journeys in a row, you may assume you’re on some type of a listing.
Don’t fear, it’s not an enormous deal, your life isn’t over. The best way you’ll need to handle that is by making use of for a Redress Quantity. You are able to do so by way of the DHS TRIP program, which stands for Traveler Redress Inquiry Program. There you simply fill out primary particulars sharing what you assume the issue is, after which that needs to be investigated and hopefully resolved.
I utilized for a Redress Quantity again in 2017, and a few month later my case was reviewed and resolved. I haven’t had any main points since.
Backside line
Getting the dreaded “SSSS” in your boarding go positive could be a ache. It’ll add fairly a little bit of time to the screening course of, and is invasive, as they’ll contact each inch of you and your bag. In case you simply get this as a one-off factor, don’t be nervous. Nevertheless, should you get this a number of occasions in a row, there’s an opportunity you’re on some type of a listing, and should need to begin the DHS TRIP course of.
In case you’ve gone by way of secondary screening in america, what was your expertise like?
