Full Metal Jacket What You Didnt Know
Have you always had an "SSSS" on your boarding pass when flying? Well, unfortunately at i bespeak I became so accustomed to getting this that I figured I'd write a guide about what to expect.
What does "SSSS" on a boarding pass mean?
"SSSS" stands for secondary security screening selection. I'm not sure if they came up with the acronym first and then came up with words to justify it, or what.
Simply put, it ways y'all're getting an actress thorough search when yous go through security.
What causes someone to get "SSSS" on their boarding pass?
At that place are a multifariousness of things that can crusade you to become selected for secondary security screening. Based on my understanding:
- Sometimes it's because the specific itinerary y'all're on is unusual; this could include flights booked terminal minute, international one-style tickets, travel originating in "high-risk" countries, etc.
- Sometimes information technology's because you're on some sort of a listing; I accept no clue what causes people to get on lists, though I suspect for some people it's considering of their travel patterns, for others it'southward because of their names, and for others it's because they're being watched more carefully for whatever reason
- Sometimes it'due south completely random, though best I can tell that'south the exception
I'thou a super frequent flyer, and in the past I'd get subjected to additional screening possibly once every couple of months. All the same, in 2017 I was getting additional screening every single time I flew. I doubtable this is because of my unusual travel patterns (I travel to some "suspicious" countries, book a lot of one-way international flights, etc.).
Are at that place any signs that you'll be subjected to additional security?
At that place's no way to know when you book whether you'll get the dreaded "SSSS." However, if yous're going to become it, you won't be able to load your boarding pass online. Instead, y'all'll get a message proverb that you'll only be able to impress your boarding laissez passer at the airport.
To be clear, merely because you get that message doesn't necessarily mean you'll go extra screening. Y'all could also get that for a number of other reasons. You'll know for certain when you print your boarding pass at the airport, and see the "SSSS" on information technology.
What is the U.S. secondary screening process like?
When the initial TSA agent scans your boarding pass, it will make a loud beep and a red calorie-free will illuminate. They'll 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 messages).
The TSA amanuensis will tell y'all "the airline has randomly selected you for additional screening" (which is a prevarication), and inquire you to step to the side. A TSA lead or supervisor (someone with two or three stripes on their uniform) will show up somewhen and escort yous to a separate lane. In my experience, they'll typically close a lane in order for you lot to be screened. At a minimum, they'll put two upside down bins around your items to separate them from everyone else's.
The adept news is that yous get to cutting the rest of the line, so if there are people waiting, you cut ahead of everyone. It's the just positive attribute of the experience. 😉
And then you lot'll be asked to walk through the metal detector, and and then back once again. Then you lot'll exist asked to go through the total trunk scanner. So you lot'll become a total torso pat down (which you can choose to have in individual if you want). They pat down every inch of your torso, from your waistline to the expanse around your crotch. The fact that they scan your torso in 3 ways seems like a slight overkill to me, just whatever…
At this indicate, there will typically be at least ii TSA agents involved, if not three. 1 volition search every inch of your belongings. Non 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 tin turn on, so be certain you have battery power for all your electronics.
Meanwhile, typically the supervisor will have a picture of your boarding pass and ID, make full out a form, so eventually postage stamp your boarding pass to indicate that y'all've been screened.
This is an important point, because when y'all get to the gate your boarding pass will "alert" once again, at which point the gate agent will check to make certain the TSA "stamp" is on there. If you lot don't have it then they'll have to phone call the TSA to the gate.
The unabridged screening process takes anywhere between x and 20 minutes, in my feel, depending on how efficient the people screening y'all are.
I ever have a practiced attitude during the process. It's not the TSA'southward fault, and they're non any happier near having to perform the secondary search than I am. I really accept it a pace further and tell them that I become information technology multiple times a week and am familiar with the process. Information technology saves everyone time. While I'm non usually a fan of the TSA as such, I'g non going to let it out on the frontline workers.
However, I've also dealt with some actually impaired TSA agents during the process. For example, one fourth dimension the guy searching my bag institute my passports, and idea they were fraudulent, considering I have both a U.S. and German one. He didn't empathize the concept of dual citizenship.
What can yous exercise if y'all often get "SSSS?"
If you lot merely get this on 1 trip, y'all have nothing to worry nearly. Equally I said, I've randomly gotten it every then often in the past. Notwithstanding, if you become this designation several trips in a row, you can assume yous're on some sort of a list.
The way you'll want to address this is by applying for a Redress number. You lot tin do so through the DHS TRIP program, which stands for Traveler Redress Inquiry Programme. In that location yous simply fill up out basic details sharing what you lot think the problem is, and then supposedly they'll investigate.
That's what I did, and nearly a month later my case was reviewed and resolved.
Bottom line
Getting the dreaded "SSSS" on your boarding pass certain tin can be a pain. Information technology'll add together quite a chip of time to the screening process, and is invasive, every bit they'll bear on every inch of you and your bag. If you just get this equally a one-off thing, don't be worried. Nonetheless, if you become this several times in a row, in that location'southward a hazard you're on some sort of a listing, and may want to start the DHS TRIP process.
If yous've gone through secondary screening in the U.S., what was your experience like?
Source: https://onemileatatime.com/what-does-ssss-on-boarding-pass-mean/
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