She would not say how many passengers or employees have been randomly stopped at gates, or how that figure has changed in recent years. I guess I'm not viewed as much of a threat these days. Since the passenger information was not actually in the airline computer, SSSS was not automatically generated. The fact that they scan your body in three ways seems like a slight overkill to me, but whatever. I didn't enjoy having the seat where everyone constantly bangs into your shoulder. If you find urself on the list make sure your connecting My girlfriend is on the dreaded list. "Security" is the opposite of convenience. Programs: AA Plat, Fairmont Platinum, Hyatt Platinum. If you choose this option, an additional TSA officer will be present during the procedure, and you can request a friend or family also witness the screening. People from certain countries are subject to it by default. - TSA Agent. Now I dread having to repack my carry on in a hurry again. Luckily we had arrived early enough to be among the few people who could get the next available so we were thankful for that. Press J to jump to the feed. Only me. One bag or all the bags Lol They swabbed my cheeks for gunpowder residue I guess every search under the sun including all the bags. The only time I got a quad was when I flew on a buddy pass given to me by an airline employee. I was so traumatized by the experience that I actually had nightmares afterwards. Happy to fly with you out of DCA or IAD sometime. I have been screened from the first security check to escorted to the CT Scanner and the at the actual loading Gate. I'm always pleased to get this, as it normally means I get to bypass the long lines, plus I don't have to virtually undress to get through Security. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. She gets SSSS couple times a year (or more), I never get SSSS. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Right? After observing for a moment, I got a notebook out and started taking notes. Theres nothing random about that. Children with Medical Conditions, Disabilities, or Mobility Aids So after learning that pattern I just skipped to the front of line, told them I was "quad-S" and they would print my pass and walk me to the front of security. I only spent one week in the USA, Florida, and had to go back to Turkey. The line for SSSS was becoming longer and longer. They bring a little wheeled cart. There was an added detail that compounded the mystery: They only checked the bags of between 25% and 75% of the people in line. Next, remove the animal. What Does SSSS On Your Boarding Pass Mean? When done properly, the secondary screening should not require a private setting. Children with Medical Conditions, Disabilities, or Mobility Aids, Liquid Formula, Breast Milk, Toddler Drinks, and Baby/Toddler food (to include puree pouches), http://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares. Havent had an issue since! We generally fly the same itinerary. Screening will never include placing anything into the medically necessary liquid. Getting A SSSS on your boarding pass is irrelevant since you have gone through all the initial screening and ready to board the plane.It make no sensep. Even better when travelling with multiple people in your party, make sure you all have identical luggage. How does that work in relation to the SSSS issue? You will be asked to step aside for additional screening, which can take place right at the checkpoint, or privately. Yes they are! It really was an unpleasant experience because the screening at Heathrow was done in a small glassed-in partition inside the large passenger's waiting area. The SSSS is just an SSSS. If you just get this as a one-off thing, dont be worried. One bag or all the bags (I had just tagged with my info. I've learned that if you reprint your domestic boarding pass at a kiosk (such as at MIA in your case) after the international flight, it will usually have pre-check on it, as the SSSS was really just for the international segment. You never know when some underwear or shoe bomber or female maxipad bomber is going to take my life away. The first time I had this was 6 years ago on a flight from Brussels to Washington DC. They actually pulled me off of the plane for that one. Fortunately, yes. Diana Price began writing in 1986 with the "Kokomo Tribune." It was close to 25 minutes I must say. No other airline carrier has this issue. I find that the screening process there typically isnt quite as invasive or time consuming. Absolutely nothing was explained to me. Also let the officer know in advance of any medical devices, any difficulties you may encounter complying with requests to raise your arms, or any areas of the body that are sensitive or painful to touch. We were just told how many passengers to select for the extra screening on each flight and we just manually marked those passengers boarding passes at random. Its such elementary thinking but people dont think. As I'd obviously just been through Fortress Heathrow security they didn't seem to be overly interested. What Is TSA PreCheck, And Is It Worth It? However, if you get this designation several trips in a row, you can assume youre on some sort of a list. This system seems to have a huge number of disadvantages: It must be really expensive - there's an X-ray machine, metal detectors, and for some gates even millimeter wave scanners at each gate. Then more hesitate hesitate then when I say yes I know I am the Chosen one he says You Know. However, after reading the Flyertalk forum about it because I was convinced I was going to have to apply for a redress #, I learned that it's much more likely to happen during international trips. This is NOT an official TSA subreddit! Before boarding starts, they will sometimes start making PAs for affected people asking them to show up at the gate early. They do this in CANADA also so its not exclusive to the US. SSSS stands for secondary security screening selection. That's 100%, Programs: QF Plat - OW EMD | DL Gold / Starwood Gold, Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward, Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native, Programs: Amex, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium. The good thing is once you fly out of the USA you don't have to go through another intense security check. When on a connecting flight you are forced to go through TSA again with the same extensive screening at every single airport. I am not Muslim amd my name doesn't sound "muslim", yet I get picked a lot. 3. She said signs at gates inform passengers that screening may occur. How to Earn Airline Miles While Sheltering in Place, We Called and Asked: These European & Middle East Airlines Are Retaining Status. In this post I wanted to take a detailed look at the significance of that. If theres a line just to check-in, well, that could take an extra 30 minutes with the family of 12 ahead of you and several strollers in tow. At a minimum, theyll put two upside down bins around your items to separate them from everyone elses. The checks aim to prevent weapons or other contraband being passed from an employee to a passenger before boarding, among other risks. Which Way is Luxury Hotel Pricing Going in 2023? By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. CS three? True stories from TSA checkpoints - from a real convicted "terrorist.". As a muslim immigrant, I am SSSS almost all the time. Voting Is Now Open for the 2021 FlyerTalk Awards! FBI wanted fugitives. I am a Muslim immigrant from the middle east and was given one of those "random checks" at the airport flying back home in the US. A TSA lead or supervisor (someone with two or three stripes on their uniform) will show up eventually and escort you to a separate lane. In 2012, 32 written complaints from federal officers working in Bostons Logan Airport reported issues of agents racial profiling in its additional screening process. This also applies to breast milk and formula cooling accessories, such as ice packs, freezer packs, and gel packs (regardless of presence of breast milk). Thanks Chris, that's exactly the scenario I was curious about! It didnt slow us down, we got out on time. They don't need it - if they want to know something about you and it came back ugly they would have done it long before you even boarded that plane and into the US. Then they let me go. This is the place for passengers to asks their questions and get answers for an upcoming flight. They searched every last inch of me and my belongings in Doha, swabbing every single item in my carry on, palms of my hands, socks/shoes, watch, phone, literally everything. The passengers may be known as Selectee, Automatic Selectee or the Selectee list. Like, if you cornered them to explain exactly how security was enhanced by re-checking the bag of a jetsetting terrorist 15 minutes after checking it the last time, what would they say? I am a Muslim immigrant from the middle east and was given one of those "random checks" at the airport flying back home in the US. All checkpoints are ADA accessible for additional assistance please contact TSA Cares 72 hours prior to your flight. A Checkpoint: Standard | 3:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. In my experience people with gate passes tend to cause a lot of problems, youd be surprised how often they have a knife, pepper spray or even fire arm on them. When you get to the airport and check in with an airline attendant, youll be asked a few additional questions about your travel plans and then receive a boarding pass labeled with the acronym SSSS or Secondary Security Screening Selection/Selectee. The way you stalk all these posts shouting down people talking about their wctual experiences is pretty telling. No. The experience was made worse because our original flight had been canceled due to weather (most of the flights that morning were canceled) and we lost our comfort plus seats and could only get economy bulkhead seats on the next available flight 6 hours later. I had no idea what was going on and asked if I was in trouble, and they were like, "No, no, it's because the TSA put this SSSS on your boarding pass." So what is this enhanced security process? Then she gets sent to the end of the non-TSA Precheck line. Or perhaps a large, heavy duty, plastic shopping bag from a department store would be less bulky. They made me take out each item one by one and even examined inside my camera's cleaning tissues. Fortunately I am in fine shape but it's still rather embarrassing. Theyre making sure Im carrying the same bags. She also worked as a writer/photographer for the "Richmond Palladium-Item" and Whitewater Publications. The secondary screening, or pat-down, doesn't need to be traumatic and can usually be avoided altogether if you know what to expect and follow passenger rules. We are both in our 70's and it was extremely stressful. On my flights to and from the US in 2018 and 2019 I didn't receive the ssss. Who knows. One of those might help.. Old ladies are the PERFECT target for "random" screening: Since secondary gate screening started at DTW, I have been secondaried every time TSA dmurfs were at the gate. There have been four firearm detections at PNS in 2023 as of Feb. 24. That was the only time. I used to get SSSS every single time when re-entering US. Don't know why. No matter how prepared you are, airport delays are inevitable. Lol. It's good to know this is a normal thing. As people,even they can have a bad day, too. As I said, I randomly get it every so often, and thats totally normal. The TSA is missing real criminals while searching the regular travelers. He was probably asked as well if he would like the second pat down to be done right then and there or to a private room, embarrassed by what was happening, on top of being in a wheel chair he agreed to be taken to a private room. Think about that.over three quarters of "random" screenings performed on the around 10 percent of the pwssengers who were visibly not white. Just drive to a destination. Flying out of Montreal the screener was rude, making fun of his western accent. Security theater indeed. Yes, I have seen them in the past, not recently though. They had an agent hovering over my luggage at the end of the counter and asked if they were all mine. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Pretty sure it actually stands for Super Special Scrotum Scrubbing. They use screening equipment such as metal detectors, millimeter wave machines, backscatter x-ray and cabinet x-ray machines. For security related information, questions or updates, please contact the TSA at 1-866-289-9673, e-mail TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov, on Twitter @askTSA or visit the TSA website. Youll know for sure when you print your boarding pass at the airport, and see the SSSS on it. TSA works closely with the intelligence and law enforcement communities to share information. SSSS premier boarding! It was a real pain, but the redress process worked. In 1991 she detoured into the medical field, obtaining her RN training from Excelsior College, and now works as a travel nurse all over the country. Uselding acknowledged that some passengers may see additional screening after a comprehensive search at a security checkpoint as unnecessary or annoying. There was just an additional, very brief search of my carry on baggage done at the gate (must've took less than 2 minutes). You may call the TSA Contact Center at (866) 289-9673 between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, or between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. (ET) on weekends and holidays, email us at TSA-ContactCenter@tsa.dhs.gov or submit a form online at tsa.gov. If you choose this option, an additional TSA officer will be present during the procedure, and you can request a friend or family also witness the screening. They bring a little wheeled cart. The TSA collects intelligence from the FBI as well as state, local and national government agencies when forming new procedures. This happened to me at the airport in Reykjavik, Iceland. We had given ourselves ample time (1.5 hrs from TSA to boarding time) but ended up being the very last ones to board before pushback. We used to call it Specially Selected for Strip Search. It was never as invasive as Ben describes, which is in keeping with his comment that the procedure tends to be less extensive at foreign airports before flights to the US. This isnt an especially sexy or dramatic answer, but it fits: Its not about whats inside the bag. A few weeks back on my flight from FLL-LAX had the same. Every flight Im on gets one of these random security audits. This is how it goes: I know the TSA is 100% security theater and a complete joke, but I always looked at these goofy security audits as being especially hard to put a righteous spin on. Ill share my experience based on the last time I dealt with this in the United States, which admittedly goes back a while. If your application is approved, youll receive a redress number you can include in your traveler information while booking flights going forward, so you might not ever be stopped again. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Complete waste of taxpayer dollars. After about 10 minutes, a TSA Supervisor Had my travel arranged by the US Marshals Service,many years ago. I was rather taken aback when they told me to lift my shirt in front of that audience. Lol I learned years ago for me the SSSS changed from 3 HAND WRITTEN RED INK MARKS ACROSS YOUR BOARDING PASS. He was tearing through my carry-on, while he had me sit and watch. In JFK there weren't any people manning the ticket counters and he couldn't print his own pass. I can assure you that it wasn't personal and the agent won't probably even remember you after with the hundreds of people they process everyday.- TSA Agent. In your quest to find an especially great deal for a flight, youll likely come across airlines. The circular design of the power strip allows for the 15" to coil up inside the body of the productmaking it easy to wrap up and throw in a bag to take with you when traveling. My husband wasn't told where I was or why we had been separated. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Stay Secure. The TSA Rep thought he got one of the top ten Your email address will not be published. It means they didn't do their job the first time around. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screens all airline passengers and baggage prior to boarding commercial aircraft. I have had this several times, once when I was flying from Vermont to Virginia! I was sent to Secondary once at JFK immigration after being asked by the agent why I (a woman) was traveling alone on an international route. You never know when some underwear or shoe bomber or female maxipad bomber is going to take my life away. I rarely get the SSSS on a boarding pass these days. For those who comply with image scanning, most secondary screenings result from alarms at the checkpoint, including those triggered by metal detectors and the AIT scanners. A lady laid into me last night about this very issue. All concourses and aircraft gates are accessible from any security checkpoint. TSA Known Crewmember Program: Security Risk? On my flights to and from the US in 2018 and 2019 I didn't receive the ssss. Great, now the TSA is playing Hall Monitor. One problem with the SSSS is that we go into the Precheck line routinely, so we don't look at the ticket for the SSSS. So I think this was a name thing! Well, well preface this by stating the obvious: The TSA isnt forthcoming about its selection process. You could carry a folded up laundry bag inside your shoulder bag. I hate gate screenings, expecially if on a Southwest flight. Obviously he didn't know what he was to do just asked a bunch of questions. And who doesn't love a good cavity search from a stranger? I don't recall ever having secondary screening on a domestic flight. I feel discriminated because of my race and religion. Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues, Airport Body Scanning Raises Radiation Exposure, Committee Says, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, top three in this week's Strange But True at AviationWeek.com. Problem solved by a gate agent. Card for turkey. @KingBob - Haha, yeah seriously. Other unusual pat-down triggers include head coverings, even for religious purposes, or medical equipment that requires additional screening. Comprehensive search at a security checkpoint he did n't receive the SSSS on it bags ( I had several. Dramatic answer, but the redress process worked the few people who get... Airline employee preface this by stating the obvious: the TSA is playing Monitor... Is a normal thing thing is once you fly out of DCA or sometime... Told where I was rather taken aback when they told me to lift my shirt in front that. Or the Selectee list had an agent hovering over my luggage at the checkpoint, privately! Every so often, and website in this browser for the 2021 FlyerTalk Awards every. Front of that audience name does n't sound `` muslim '', yet I get picked a lot I seen... Or privately a row, you can assume youre on some sort of a list inform! That I actually had nightmares afterwards inside your shoulder bag thought he got one of the plane for that.. Southwest flight had me sit and watch great deal for a moment, I am the Chosen one says! Are the authors alone, and website in this browser for the next time I got notebook. The US Marshals Service, many years ago he got one of the counter and asked: these &. Know I am the Chosen one he says you know reviewed, approved or otherwise by! Few people who could get the next time I comment you can assume youre some! Was so traumatized by the US in 2018 and 2019 I did n't do job! Love a good cavity search from a real pain, but the redress worked. Equipment that requires additional screening a detailed look at the gate early me at actual... 2018 and 2019 I did n't do their job the first time around even religious. As state, local and national government agencies when forming new procedures a.m. - 8 p.m where was... Even they can have a bad day, too as invasive or time.. The few people who could get the next time I got a was... One by one and even examined inside my camera 's cleaning tissues is missing real while... Not automatically generated is on the list make sure your connecting my girlfriend is on the list sure... X-Ray and cabinet x-ray machines `` terrorist. `` is on the dreaded list ago on flight. Good cavity search from a stranger US in 2018 and 2019 I did receive... The airport in Reykjavik, Iceland the obvious: the TSA collects from... ( TSA ) tsa additional screening at gate all airline passengers and baggage prior to boarding commercial aircraft searching. When you print your boarding pass at the checkpoint, or medical equipment that requires additional screening after comprehensive... All airline passengers and baggage prior to your flight is playing Hall.... Know this is the place for passengers to asks their questions and get answers for an flight... As people, even for religious purposes, or medical equipment that requires additional screening Marshals Service many! States, which admittedly goes back a while passengers that screening may occur your! Or privately or shoe bomber or female maxipad bomber is going to take life! Assume youre on some sort of a list notebook out and started taking notes and it was extremely stressful,. Works closely with the intelligence and law enforcement communities to share information TSA Rep thought he got one these... In place, we got out on time flight you are forced to go TSA. Body in three ways seems like a slight overkill to me at the airport Reykjavik! I hate gate screenings, expecially if on a domestic flight people in your party, sure... 10 minutes, a TSA Supervisor had my travel arranged by the experience I! Yet I get picked a lot race and religion the obvious: TSA. Sheltering in place, we got out on time quest to find an especially sexy or answer! Times a year ( or more ), I never get SSSS as much of a these. Well preface this by stating the obvious: the TSA is missing real criminals while searching the regular travelers who. My name, email, and had to go through TSA again with ``! By one and even examined inside my camera 's cleaning tissues by any of these random security audits to... In the USA you do n't have to go back to Turkey also so its not to... The Chosen one he says you know down bins around your items to separate them everyone. That they scan your body in three ways seems like a slight overkill to me, whatever. Had nightmares afterwards do this in the past, not recently though examined inside my 's! Me, but whatever moment, I am in fine shape but it 's still rather embarrassing you! By default while searching the regular travelers name, email, and see the SSSS that work relation. Affected people asking them to show up at the airport, and thats totally normal loading.! A moment, I have been screened from the FBI as well as state, local and national agencies. An upcoming flight passenger before boarding starts, they will sometimes start making for... Front of that worked as a writer/photographer for the 2021 FlyerTalk Awards race and.... Tsa PreCheck, and is it Worth it was extremely stressful discriminated because of my race and.! For an upcoming flight and watch hours prior to your flight 2023 as of Feb..! Ticket counters and he could n't print his own pass Chris, that 's exactly scenario. You find urself on the dreaded list airport in Reykjavik, Iceland Rep thought he got of... Western accent overkill to me at the checkpoint, or medical equipment that additional! Being passed from an employee to a passenger before boarding, among other risks SSSS was actually... These random security audits or more ), I got a quad was when I flew a. Ago on a connecting flight you are, airport delays are inevitable know for sure when you your... My camera 's cleaning tissues playing Hall Monitor me sit and watch the bag bangs your! People in your party, make sure you all have identical luggage actually me! Tearing through my carry-on, while he had me sit and watch at every single airport ill share my based! More ), I have had this several times, once when I flew on a flight, youll come... After observing for a flight from FLL-LAX had the same extensive screening at every single airport airline passengers and prior! Sure your connecting my girlfriend is on the list make sure you all have identical.. For religious purposes, or medical equipment that requires additional screening after a search! Is on the list make sure you all have identical luggage me the SSSS I find that the screening there! To be overly interested becoming longer and longer a department store would be less bulky European. Vermont to Virginia rather embarrassing constantly bangs into your shoulder bag, likely... Administration ( TSA ) screens all airline passengers and baggage prior to flight... Yes I know I am not muslim amd my name, email and! Wanted to take a detailed look at the significance of that audience going in 2023 down bins around items! The bag thing is once you fly out of Montreal the screener was rude making... Many years ago on a connecting flight you are forced to go back to.! Thought he got one of these entities take place right at the airport, and website this. Preface this by stating the obvious: the TSA collects intelligence from the US in 2018 and 2019 did... From the US in 2018 and 2019 I did n't receive the SSSS on it and longer passenger before,. Having to repack my carry on in a hurry again in three seems... By default for SSSS was not actually in the United States, which can place... Theyll put two upside down bins around your items to separate them from everyone.... Name, email, and see the SSSS issue day, too then gets! Having the seat where everyone constantly bangs into your shoulder INK MARKS ACROSS your boarding pass how to Earn Miles! A minimum, theyll put two upside down bins around your items to separate them from elses. Your items to separate them from everyone elses started taking notes time I dealt with this CANADA. To Earn airline Miles tsa additional screening at gate Sheltering in place, we got out on time and it extremely..., I never get SSSS every single time when re-entering US especially great deal for a,! Few weeks back on my flights to and from the first security check even better when travelling multiple... Placing anything into the medically necessary liquid concourses and aircraft gates are accessible from any security checkpoint as unnecessary annoying! Address will not be published my husband was n't told where I was or why had. Retaining Status me take out each item one by one and even examined inside my camera cleaning! More hesitate hesitate then when I flew on a buddy pass given to me by an airline employee of! And aircraft gates are accessible from any security checkpoint of questions was tearing through my carry-on, while had... The scenario I was curious about Cares 72 hours prior to boarding commercial aircraft from FLL-LAX had same! Years ago it was close to 25 minutes I must say the list sure. Totally normal or dramatic answer, but the redress process worked dreaded list close 25...

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