The six-digit alphanumeric code that appears on your boarding pass is your PNR, or Passenger Name Reference—also known as your record locator, reservation code, or booking code.
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TSA doesn't publish specific guidelines on why certain passengers get SSSS markings on their boarding passes. Anecdotally, passengers with unusual travel patterns, one-way international flights and travelers to certain countries get it the most. It is also possible that TSA assigns SSSS markings randomly.
The letters stand for Secondary Security Screening Selection and if they appear on your boarding pass, it means your name is on a highly classified roster - the Selectee List. Once they come to pass through security, they'll likely be subject to “enhanced” pat-downs while their luggage might be inspected by hand.
Secondary Security Screening Selection — or The Quad S, as some call it — means you have been selected for additional enhanced security screening by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
Checking in 24 hours before your flight will usually land you somewhere in the B boarding group — which is generally adequate to find either a window or aisle seat or 2 seats together if you are flying with a companion.
Checking in 24 hours before your flight will usually land you somewhere in the B boarding group — which is generally adequate to find either a window or aisle seat or 2 seats together if you are flying with a companion.
How are American Airlines boarding groups assigned? American passengers are put in the highest group for which they qualify. For example, basic economy passengers are typically assigned to Group 9. However, if a passenger with AAdvantage Gold elite status books a basic economy ticket, they will get upgraded to Group 4.
An “A” or “F” mean first-class treatment, while a “B” often means you're more likely to get upgraded than if you have a “Q” or a “Y” on your ticket—the latter two are typically the cheapest economy fares.
If the letter B, H, M or Y is on the boarding pass, then the traveller is in the most basic class. This stands for economy seats, revealing the passenger is sitting in some of the cheapest seats onboard.
If SSSS appears on your boarding pass regularly, you can apply to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP). That program may remove you from whatever mysterious watch list you may be on — if you're not a security threat, that is.
Keep in mind that basic economy passengers board last, unless they are able to board in an earlier group due to holding elite status, a United credit card or otherwise qualifying for priority boarding.
There are nine boarding groups on American Airlines. These range from Group 1 — reserved for premium class passengers and elite flyers — to Group 9 — reserved for basic economy passengers within the U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Mid-tier elites (American Airlines Platinum and Oneworld Sapphire) get at least Group 3. And the lowest-tier elites (American Airlines Gold and Oneworld Ruby) are assigned to Group 4. However, this is the lowest boarding position you'll get as an elite member.
Boarding group 8 on American Airlines includes general boarding for passengers who do not hold any elite status with AAdvantage or Oneworld and do not carry any of the eligible co-branded American Airlines credit cards. Group 8 also includes Basic Economy class passengers traveling to and from Europe and South America.
You can add Priority Boarding to your trip to get an earlier boarding group. If you add Premier Access to your trip you get Priority Boarding automatically and you get access to faster check-in and security lines.
After preboarding is complete, first-class ticketed passengers are the first boarding group. Then the process continues, in alphabetical order, beginning with Group A and ending with Group E.
Group 2 is mostly reserved for elite members. However, Flagship Business class passengers board during Group 2 if they're flying on a three-class aircraft. This is the case on American's Airbus A321T and its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Premium economy passengers also get priority boarding.