Why do I always get SSSS?

While travelers may be concerned when SSSS is printed on their boarding passes, it isn't as bad as you fear. Something about your trip may have triggered concern with TSA, so they need to perform a secondary screening of you and your bags. This process usually takes a few minutes, but it could take much longer.



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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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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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If you are flying in the US, it is possible you have been singled out by Secondary Security Screening Selection . Check your boarding pass. If it has the letters “SSSS” on it, it means you have been selected in advance for additional screening. There are many reasons this can occur that you can do nothing about.

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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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If you see the SSSS code on your boarding pass it means you have been selected for extra security screenings, which may take additional time. Most likely, you will go through a metal detector, receive a pat-down and have your hands and luggage swabbed to test for explosives.

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What Is “Secondary Security Screening Selection” (SSSS)? According to the TSA, any passenger with the four-letter code on their boarding pass can be swabbed for residue of illegal substances, such as drugs or explosives. Those passengers will also face additional questioning over travel plans and previous trips.

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The airport official swabs the outside of your hand luggage liberally, before inserting the swab into a mysterious machine. This process, known officially as explosive trace detection, is doing just that—checking to see if your luggage has come into contact with a bomb or explosive material.

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This is an optional process for passengers, who may opt-out of the process at any time and instead choose the standard identity verification by a Transportation Security Officer (TSO).

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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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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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SSSS is NOT about immigration but about another security search immediatoy before you board the plane.

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According to officials briefed on the results of a recent Homeland Security Inspector General's report, TSA agents failed 67 out of 70 tests, with Red Team members repeatedly able to get potential weapons through checkpoints.

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As a result, prohibited items may result in both a TSA civil enforcement action and a criminal enforcement action. Before leaving home, remember to check your baggage to ensure you are not carrying any prohibited items to avoid a possible arrest and/or civil penalties.

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On many aircraft, the rightmost seats have letter designations HJK, skipping the letter I. This is because each seat has a row number followed by letter; letters that may be confused with numbers (I, O, Q, S, or Z) must be avoided, usually for people with dyslexia.

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Here are some signs that the Department of Homeland Security says may indicate you've been flagged for additional scrutiny: You were not able to print a boarding pass from an airline ticketing kiosk or from the internet. You were denied or delayed boarding.

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How not to be “That Guy” at the airport checkpoint
  1. Get there early. ...
  2. Consider checking your bag. ...
  3. If you must carry-on, make sure your bag is well-organized. ...
  4. Get the 411 on 3-1-1. ...
  5. If you must travel with it, know how to safely pack your gun. ...
  6. Be ready when you get in line. ...
  7. Get through the line faster with TSA PreCheck™.


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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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