Have you ever had an “SSSS” on your boarding pass when taking a flight with an airline? In this post, I want to take a detailed look at the significance of that. In some cases, this isn’t a big deal at all, while in other cases, you may have landed on some sort of a list, and get it on every flight, until you get it resolved (as happened to me back in 2017).
In this post:
What does “SSSS” on a boarding pass stand for?
“SSSS” stands for secondary security screening selection. I’m not sure if the TSA came up with the abbreviation first and then came up with words to justify it, or if it was the other way around. Simply put, an “SSSS” on your boarding pass means that you’re getting an extra thorough search when you go through security.
What causes someone to get “SSSS” on their boarding pass?
There are a variety of things that can cause you to get selected for secondary security screening. Based on my understanding:
- Sometimes it’s because the specific itinerary you’re on is unusual; this could include flights booked last minute, international one-way tickets, travel originating in “high-risk” countries, etc.
- Sometimes it’s because you’re on some sort of a list; I have no clue what causes people to get on lists, though I suspect for some people it’s because of their travel patterns, for others it’s because of their names, and for others it’s because they’re being watched more carefully for whatever reason
- Sometimes it’s completely random, and you have nothing to worry about
As a very frequent flyer, I’d say that nowadays I get “SSSS” on my boarding pass maybe a few times per year, typically on one-way international itineraries.
However, in 2017, I was getting additional screening every single time I flew. I suspect this was because of my unusual travel patterns (I traveled to some “suspicious” countries, booked a lot of one-way international flights, etc.).
Are there any signs that you’ll be subjected to additional security?
There’s no way to know when you book whether you’ll get the dreaded “SSSS.” However, if you’re going to get it, you generally won’t be able to load a mobile boarding pass, or print your boarding pass at home. Instead, you’ll get an error message saying that you’ll only be able to print your boarding pass at the airport.
To be clear, just because you get that message doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get extra screening. You could also get a message about not being able to get your boarding pass in advance for a number of other reasons. You’ll know for sure when you print your boarding pass at the airport, and see the “SSSS” on it.
What is the secondary screening process like?
What should you expect at security if your boarding pass has “SSSS” on it? I’ll share my experience based on the last time I dealt with this in the United States, which admittedly goes back a while.
When the initial TSA agent scans your boarding pass, it will make a loud beep and a red light will illuminate. The agent will radio for a supervisor and say they have a “quad” (which I guess is the codeword for “SSSS,” with the “quad” referring to the four letters).
The TSA agent will tell you “the airline has randomly selected you for additional screening” (which is a lie), and ask you to step to the side. 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 my experience, they’ll typically close a lane in order for you to be screened. At a minimum, they’ll put two upside down bins around your items to separate them from everyone else’s.
The good news is that you get to cut the rest of the line, so if there are people waiting, you cut ahead of everyone. It’s the only positive aspect of the experience. 😉
Then you’ll be asked to walk through the metal detector, and then back again. Then you’ll be asked to go through the full body scanner. Then you’ll get a full body pat down (which you can choose to have in private if you want). The agent will pat down every inch of your body, from your waistline to the area around your crotch. The fact that they scan your body in three ways seems like a slight overkill to me, but whatever…
At this point, there will typically be at least two TSA agents involved, if not three. One will search every inch of your belongings. Not only will they look at everything, but they’ll swab your items to check them for any residue. They’ll also ask you to power on your electronics. They just need to make sure that they can turn on, so be sure you have battery power for all your electronics.
Meanwhile, typically the supervisor will take a picture of your boarding pass and ID, fill out a form, and then eventually stamp your boarding pass to indicate that you’ve been screened.
This is an important point, because when you get to the gate your boarding pass will “alarm” once again, at which point the gate agent will check to make sure the TSA “stamp” is on there. If you don’t have it then they’ll have to call the TSA to the gate. The entire screening process takes anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes, in my experience, depending on how efficient the people screening you are.
Note that you can also get a secondary search at the gate on a US-bound flight. I find that the screening process there typically isn’t quite as invasive or time consuming.
I always have a good attitude during the process. It’s not the TSA’s fault, and the agent isn’t any happier about having to perform the secondary search than I am. I’ve also dealt with some really uneducated TSA agents during the process. For example, one time the guy searching my bag found my passports, and thought they were fraudulent, because I have passports from both the United States and Germany. He didn’t understand the concept of dual citizenship.
Can you get “SSSS” if you have TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck is a fantastic program whereby enrolled travelers can get expedited airport screening. How does that work in relation to the “SSSS” issue?
- You can get “SSSS” even if you’re enrolled in TSA PreCheck
- If you do get “SSSS,” then you won’t receive TSA PreCheck for the itinerary where you were chosen for secondary screening
What can you do if you frequently get “SSSS?”
If you only get an “SSSS” on your boarding pass on one trip, you have nothing to worry about. As I said, I randomly get it every so often, and that’s totally normal. However, if you get this designation several trips in a row, you can assume you’re on some sort of a list.
Don’t worry, it’s not a huge deal, your life isn’t over. The way you’ll want to address this is by applying for a Redress Number. You can do so through the DHS TRIP program, which stands for Traveler Redress Inquiry Program. There you just fill out basic details sharing what you think the problem is, and then that should be investigated and hopefully resolved.
I applied for a Redress Number back in 2017, and about a month later, my case was reviewed and resolved. I haven’t had any major issues since.
Bottom line
Getting the dreaded “SSSS” on your boarding pass sure can be a pain. It’ll add quite a bit of time to the screening process, and is invasive, as they’ll touch every inch of you and your bag. If you just get this as a one-off thing, don’t be worried. However, if you get this several times in a row, there’s a chance you’re on some sort of a list, and may want to start the DHS TRIP process.
If you’ve gone through secondary screening in the United States, what was your experience like?
I had only one time this kinds of second heavy control. It was in Atlanta after a bad exchange with a Delta Airlines employee who refused to put sticks on my luggage as a AF Platinum passenger. He didn't know the rules but argues the opposit. He changes my boarding pass with the SSSS printed on it. TSA agent didn't understand why with three small children I was SSSS taged. I explained them the mess...
I had only one time this kinds of second heavy control. It was in Atlanta after a bad exchange with a Delta Airlines employee who refused to put sticks on my luggage as a AF Platinum passenger. He didn't know the rules but argues the opposit. He changes my boarding pass with the SSSS printed on it. TSA agent didn't understand why with three small children I was SSSS taged. I explained them the mess with the employee from Delta Airlines and after checked the facts let me go with my family.
I got it once on a FrenchAirport-CDG-UsHub-Home trip. The SSSS was only for the second boarding pass. Nothing was at all different on any leg of the trip, except when I presented the boarding pass to board at CDG. I was allowed through and sent to a secondary screening that simple searched my carry on. I was delayed enough that the jetway to 1L had been closed, so I had to get onto the 2L...
I got it once on a FrenchAirport-CDG-UsHub-Home trip. The SSSS was only for the second boarding pass. Nothing was at all different on any leg of the trip, except when I presented the boarding pass to board at CDG. I was allowed through and sent to a secondary screening that simple searched my carry on. I was delayed enough that the jetway to 1L had been closed, so I had to get onto the 2L jetway, which slowed things down. No big deal. Prior to door closure, one of the security agents who had screened me showed up at my seat. By his reaction, I suspect they forgot to indicate I had been processed. He apologized and left.
It certainly was true and still is, if your name sounds Arabic, you are going to get 4S.
If you fly often, then you might get it off of your account.
I am so surprised, but thats men, they don't care about pat downs, and pat ups extra checking their stuff.
But women do feel differently about this.
And when flying was fun and interesting, is when you didn't face a pat down...
It certainly was true and still is, if your name sounds Arabic, you are going to get 4S.
If you fly often, then you might get it off of your account.
I am so surprised, but thats men, they don't care about pat downs, and pat ups extra checking their stuff.
But women do feel differently about this.
And when flying was fun and interesting, is when you didn't face a pat down and pat up. Ouch !
I personally am against that. The same as the x-ray. No matter how safe they say it is, forget it, it not good for your health.
CapitalMike, it is not only the USA. I have received it in Switzerland flying Swiss Air
Please read carefully what I am writing. This is an entirely US American thing. If you got it in Switzerland, it was certainly for a flight travelling to the US. If your flight doesn't touch the US, there will be no 4S. What's so difficult to understand about that?
I had this once, at LHR on a US-bound flight on AA. No big deal at check in and no extra checks at security. At the gate, I had bags re-examined, but that only took a minute or two, and that was that. I don't recall my paper boarding pass being stamped. Have flown to the US a handful of times since, and there's been no repeat of this.
Lucky,
A serious question - what happens if someone gets pinged for SSSS on the second part of an itinerary where they've already cleared security?
The most likely case would be if you were swapping airlines with no checked luggage and the connection was at one of the airports that has airside connectivity between most/all terminals (e.g. LAX or SFO vs JFK), especially if you're flying between two smaller airports that don't have carriers...
Lucky,
A serious question - what happens if someone gets pinged for SSSS on the second part of an itinerary where they've already cleared security?
The most likely case would be if you were swapping airlines with no checked luggage and the connection was at one of the airports that has airside connectivity between most/all terminals (e.g. LAX or SFO vs JFK), especially if you're flying between two smaller airports that don't have carriers in common*, but getting stuck booking a "broken" ticket on an airline is also not unheard-of (since sometimes there's pricing weridness, some oddity with award/paid space, routing restrictions, or DL's Journey Control is just drunk again).
*This is likely to be the biggest problem, since if I'm flying - say - PHF-CLT on American (PHF is AA-only) and then flipping over to someone else at CLT, I wouldn't be able to check in at PHF for the other airline. And - as you've indicated - sometimes airline systems just start throwing errors for no good reason, so if I was unable to check in online I would probably just assume that the airline's IT had fallen over /again/.
Why are you speculating instead of asking people with relevant experience? In Schengen, this happens all the time. I first have a short intra-Schengen flight to FRA, AMS or KEF and from there I would board my flight to the US and deal with the 4S.
Some airports have an additional check for US-bound flights anyway, where they can pull you out an give you your special treatment, at some airports this would only...
Why are you speculating instead of asking people with relevant experience? In Schengen, this happens all the time. I first have a short intra-Schengen flight to FRA, AMS or KEF and from there I would board my flight to the US and deal with the 4S.
Some airports have an additional check for US-bound flights anyway, where they can pull you out an give you your special treatment, at some airports this would only happen at the gate.
Works for non-Schengen connections too.
Had 4S on BER-LHR-MIA recently and all that happened was a short extra interview and check at the gate at LHR. Took maybe 3 minutes extra and was hardly any hassle at all.
(1) I'm asking Lucky because I don't know who has experience here and who doesn't.
(2) In most of those cases you have to re-clear security anyway (e.g. LHR's stupidity), and you have to re-clear on entering the US because of how the US handles customs. I'm looking at a situation where between clearing security "normally" and hitting the SSSS leg(s) there's no reason to re-clear security.
What does SSSS mean? "This is gonna SSSSuck..."
I agree that for some US bound international flights they do additional screening at the gate. Sometimes that is for every passenger. Sometimes it is for selected passengers. Sometimes it is just the personal item and not the carry on, etc. The situation depends in my experience. What I find unreasonable about the "SSSS" code on one's boarding pass is that 1) there is no way to clear it for PreCheck for the rest of...
I agree that for some US bound international flights they do additional screening at the gate. Sometimes that is for every passenger. Sometimes it is for selected passengers. Sometimes it is just the personal item and not the carry on, etc. The situation depends in my experience. What I find unreasonable about the "SSSS" code on one's boarding pass is that 1) there is no way to clear it for PreCheck for the rest of the itinerary and 2) you are unable to find out the reason. Some of the possible reasons such as travel itinerary or going to high risk places is ridiculous because of the number of countries that the US Department of State now considers high risk. I think the passenger should be able to prove their way out of it for example supplying proof of why they are going to such destinations or why they booked at the last minute, etc. Consider that several places now for ordinary screenings don't require people to take things out of their bags or have other inconveniences.
Had this most recently leaving Dubai where I had to explain to two Emiratis plus a supervisor what a corkscrew was and how it wasn't a lethal weapon
Not recommended
Had it twice in the last year. Once on a one way first class ticket from DXB to MIA on Emirates. When I finally arrived at the gate they just looked at the boarding pass and sent me onward. The 2nd time this past year was leaving Bogota on Emirates to Miami having been in Bogota just for 48 hours hence the likely reason. There at the gate they were spraying all my effects and the whole process took just 5 minutes and they sent me on my way down the jetway.
A few years ago, I had a very ill family member in Utah and was traveling last minute, First Class on one way TPA-SLC and return on one ways. About every 10 days or so and after about the 3rd trip...SSSS.
They were always very nice, especially Fred in Salt Lake (got to know them....LOL).
Stopped after I stopped that travel pattern.
Has the SSSS many times, not a big deal. My license was delaminating in San Juan PS. The TSA agent took his time to look up the infraction in his book. I was asked for my passport which was at home. Got super special screening. Not a big deal.
Last time I had a Super Secret Security Search was at a Scandinavian airport, where two friendly young gents gave me a quick patdown and had a brief glance inside my hand luggage while we talked about our respective fragrance collections. There was no high-stakes, high-drama posturing like that from the TSA. American airport security do tend to take themselves so very, very seriously.
Hope you tipped well
The SSSS system is basically broken from a statistical standpoint. It flags people for things like buying last-minute tickets or traveling to certain countries - not actual threat indicators. There's zero public evidence it's ever prevented anything, and the fact that you can appeal through DHS TRIP shows it's full of false positives.
It's mostly random selection mixed with profiling based on travel patterns that have nothing to do with actual security risks. Classic security...
The SSSS system is basically broken from a statistical standpoint. It flags people for things like buying last-minute tickets or traveling to certain countries - not actual threat indicators. There's zero public evidence it's ever prevented anything, and the fact that you can appeal through DHS TRIP shows it's full of false positives.
It's mostly random selection mixed with profiling based on travel patterns that have nothing to do with actual security risks. Classic security kabuki - looks like they're doing something but there's no data showing it actually works. Just wastes everyone's time and harasses legitimate travelers.
I got this about 15 yrs ago.
I was traveling for work on a multi-city flight issued in one way tickets
I was traveling for my employer' the fed govt. The ticket was paid by the fed govt and booked under fed contracted travel agent
I got this on a TPA-DFW flight booked weeks in advance under my name with my credit card. It was a real problem, where they opened a separate security line for me, and checked every nook and cranny of my belongings. For example, they checked under the sweatband of my hat and rand their fingers under each seam.
Then, when it was time to board, I was again pulled for more screening.
This was for a routine, domestic flight that was booked ahead of time!
You likely got flagged because you share the name with someone responsible for many deaths.
Do you happen to go by Danny the Butcher, Dan Bundy, Dannyr Zelensky, Danny Netanyahu, Dannir Putin, or Danny Trump?
If a passenger paid cash for his/her tickets (especially if it was purchased very close to travel date), that will trigger SSSS
The stupid airline ticket conundrum.
You pay last minute with cash, you trigger SSSS.
You pay last minute with card, you stole it.
You pay last minute with mile, you used a broker.
That “you can’t download your boarding pass” part is quite inconvenient. When I’ve had it, I was not able to access or use a mobile boarding pass at any point during my trip, including after the screening and after completing my first segment. I’m so used to not having to keep track of a piece of paper these days.
One thing to add here, from my experience with SSSS, is that if you have it inbound to the US, like GRU-IAH-XXX, you will still receive PreCheck from IAH-XXX. I've had the secondary screening numerous times when returning to the US and while the first boarding pass won't have PreCheck listed, the second does and I haven't run into any issues. Note that I generally still will *not* be able to download the mobile boarding pass for either segment.
Agree with the other poster 100%, TSA people don't actually know what they're doing, and everything they force on travelers is pointless busywork to justify their existence, and their salaries.
@Kit
You should read the book Bullshit Jobs. Or ask AI for a summary.
Secondary Screening to Shithole States.
Only in US and flights to US. Created by same morons who added "shoes off" policy to everyone below 75 years of age.
I got my first one last year at T5 flying LHR to LAX. Then another one LHR to CPT soon after.
Had to check the bags at the desk (bag drop not permitted even after trying online check-in), then after security they take you downstairs below the boarding gates and open your entire hand luggage bag and check & swab everything. No-one smiles and jokes are not welcome either.
The rest of Heathrow Security Staff are pretty chill and friendly - not the SSSS crew.
One is convinced that we too would look at you in a suspicious way Uncle …. :-)
You would be swabbed from head to foot just to make sure of your ‘neutrality’ …. any excuse to wind up an OMAAT commentator …. :-)
Actually I have been swabbed head-to-toe and interviewed for 30 minutes, arriving as MSP airport about 10 years ago. Apparently changing lanes while queueing at customs was a massive red flag. I had a long connection and wasn't annoyed about it. :)
You cannot get a “SSSS“ for a flight LHR to CPT, as this is an entirely US American process.
So either you don’t know what you’re talking about or you are confusing destinations here…
Whoops. I meant CLT instead of CPT. Cheers Mike.
LOL UncleRonnie - the unfriendliness is a brilliant tactic. Everyone knows that terrorists break and confess if you're a bit mean to them.
Must be an American thing. Over 30 years I fly for business even more than Ben and I NEVER ever saw an SSSS on my boarding pass. Whatever destination I was to. I have to admit, I barely fly to the US.
It IS an (US) American thing. You can’t get a 4S unless your flights begins or ends in the US.
Just like shoes or liquid.
Did "SSSS" actually prevented anything?
Or this is just another "profiling" tool that is easily hidden behind the excuse of security.
I really do wish that DHS would take efforts to reduce rates of SSSS for people with trusted traveler programs flying to the US. One-way international awards seem to trigger it a lot. It seems like a waste of effort to SSSS people who then get to enter the country with minimal screening.
I got SSSS all the time after I visited Libya. Sometimes they just mark SS on a sticker they put on your passport
As said the issue if TSA in the US, overseas it’s a quick one
The problem overseas isn't the screening itself. It's that you have to stand in the check-in line even if you don't have a checked bag.
Not true. While I couldn’t load my mobile boarding pass, it did actually print from one of those self-service machines at the airport….
SLC is not a safe place. Not sure of a nearby alternative hub. I think direct to regional airports is better.
I recently saw some photos from the body scanners - I am not in fighting condition - but I worry about these TSA perverts who have never had to pass a PFA or qualify for special forces. I understand the human trafficking exposure now.
David, your post puts me in mind of an officious TSA crew which we had fun with after landing in a Southern State a few decades ago.
An Op in South America burned the excess body fat off the section I was attached to. Upon arriving on U.S. soil the TSA team tried to ‘wind up the Brit’s’. Our weapons, equipment and paperwork was microscopically examined by the most miserable security staff east of...
David, your post puts me in mind of an officious TSA crew which we had fun with after landing in a Southern State a few decades ago.
An Op in South America burned the excess body fat off the section I was attached to. Upon arriving on U.S. soil the TSA team tried to ‘wind up the Brit’s’. Our weapons, equipment and paperwork was microscopically examined by the most miserable security staff east of the Mississippi. Before passing through the body scanner we were instructed to remove our web belts. Being good soldiers, we complied.
What the miserable TSA staff was not prepared for was a line of grinning SF shuffling around with their shorts or OG’s around their ankles. Everyone of us was truly ‘commando’ that day.
We laughed all the way to the base and didn’t have to buy a single drink all week.
I've had the dreaded SSSS on a set of last minute tickets from the UK to the US.
The only additional act was a swab of my laptop case before boarding.
if you have nothing to hide, no big deal!
Totally agree. This is a recycling topic which every blogger chews up every now and again. Sometimes with the wildest speculations by people linking this to your immigration process and what have you.
If you get this from abroad to a US destination, chances are that you may not notice much at all.