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What is SSSS on a boarding pass?

An SSSS code on a boarding pass stands for “Secondary Security Screening Selection.” While somewhat of an annoyance, this code only means you have been flagged to undergo additional security screening procedures.



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If you are on the Selectee List you will automatically be chosen for additional screening each time you fly. Being on one of these lists or even if you share the same name with someone on one of these lists means you are likely to receive a SSSS on your boarding pass.

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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.

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If you already think airport security is a hassle, you better buckle up if you spot SSSS printed on your boarding pass. The dreaded designation stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection, and it means your airport security experience is about to get a lot more intense.

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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.

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A Secondary Security Screening Selection or SSSS designation on your boarding pass means that you've been picked for a secondary security screening. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may select passengers for SSSS on flights from, to and within the U.S.

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The TSA largely looks for physical evidence that a passenger could be a threat, so they'll generally have no reason to search through the data on your phone. After all, they're the Transportation Security Agency, not a detective agency. Even if they did have reason to want to access your phone, they'd need a warrant.

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There are signs that will indicate you have been flagged for additional screenings: You were not able to print a boarding pass from an airline ticketing kiosk or from the internet. You were denied or delayed boarding. A ticket agent “called someone” before handing you a boarding pass.

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It all depends on the country and the airport. Some metal detectors and scanners are set to give a false positive signal at random intervals, leading to a personal search, but in many instances what are declared to be random searches are not that at all.

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You can provide your Global Entry number/TSA Pre-Check PASSID number (Known Traveler Number) when checking in online and at the check-in desk at the airport.

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TSA rules say the name on the boarding pass must exactly match the passenger's government-issued ID presented at the security checkpoint.

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Of course, travel apps can be hacked too, so digital boarding passes aren't entirely safe either. If you do opt for a printed boarding pass, it wouldn't hurt to shred or tear it up before you throw it out. Sharing your boarding pass details could have consequences beyond travel-related theft and scams, too.

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Speedy boarding is for customers who have an easyJet Plus card, have bought Standard Plus or FLEXI fares, or paid to add a large cabin bag to their booking. It cannot be bought separately.

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TSA protects transportation systems: they scan your luggage, ensure your ticket is valid, and provide airport security. The only reason they might be interested in your phone is if it looks suspicious.

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You're Deemed Suspicious Prior to Check-In There is an extensive list of about 92 of these behaviors in the U.S., but the most common ones are: Paying for any of your tickets in cash. Booking only a one-way ticket out of the country. Booking your ticket extremely last-minute.

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TSA is among the U.S. government agencies that screen individuals using information from the Terrorist Screening Database. TSA implements the No Fly List through its Secure Flight program. Individuals on the No Fly List are prevented from boarding an aircraft when flying within, to, from and over the United States.

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Why Does the TSA Swab Hands? The Transportation Security Administration randomly swabs passengers' hands at security checkpoints and airport gates to test them for traces of explosives. The TSA swabs are analyzed for nitroglycerin, nitrates, glycerin, or other chemicals.

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