At that particular airport entering passengers were ~90% white, but ~70% of those selected for "random" checks came out of the 10% who were visibly nonwhite. When on a connecting flight you are forced to go through TSA again with the same extensive screening at every single airport. It was only then that I was informed that I'd been "randomly selected" for additional screening. Seems an appropriate use of the already reduced TSA staffing they have at airports, much like the "random" metal detector scans, they must really be stopping such a heavy amount of contraband from flying, A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines. Equipment that does not fit through the X-ray machine will undergo a visual/physical inspection by TSA officers. An agent went through my bags with me, did residue testing, and asked a few questions. I felt bad walking through the aisle bumping people with my very visible belly and delaying take off for my additional security check. So I am more than welcome the extra security that is imposed. The way you stalk all these posts shouting down people talking about their wctual experiences is pretty telling. If there is an alarm, the individual will undergo additional screening. Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues - DTW TSA additional gate screenings.. - make me feel SO SAFE. Its the only positive aspect of the experience. ID checks and selected individuals for additional swabbing and bag check. At JFK the first TSA agent was rude (doesn't cost anything to be friendly), the second one who conducted the physical check was friendly though. We did not know this and only found out when we approached the gate in Houston; we had flown from Laredo, TX. I had a lot of cash with me and of course they opened my bag, then questioned me about the amount of cash. You may carry your child to ease the screening process. Reply May 19, 21, 1:52 pm 4s kinda sounds like double SS. No. This is not a lie. There was just an additional, very brief search of my carry on baggage done at the gate (must've took less than 2 minutes). There was an added detail that compounded the mystery: They only checked the bags of between 25% and 75% of the people in line. I just got one in London, I upgraded (no connection with SSSS) from PE to business and the dreaded SSSS was still on the new boarding pass (just in case someone wants to upgrade put of it) - it was 3min procedure, all people very professional, looking in the fact I went for the random sniffer check both in my port of origin and LHR transfer, it was just third iterration of the same (pointless) process in the same day. Note that you can also get a secondary search at the gate on a US-bound flight. My girlfriend is on the dreaded list. As weve written before, heres how youll know youve been chosen for additional screening: At first, you might have trouble printing your boarding pass or checking in at home. On our last trip they took him to a separate room as if he was smuggling drugs. They swabbed my cheeks for gunpowder residue I guess every search under the sun including all the bags. Theres no way to know when you book whether youll get the dreaded SSSS. However, if youre going to get it, you generally wont be able to load a mobile boarding pass, or print your boarding pass at home. We had given ourselves ample time (1.5 hrs from TSA to boarding time) but ended up being the very last ones to board before pushback. One bag or all the bags Lol On my flights to and from the US in 2018 and 2019 I didn't receive the ssss. 100% incorrect perception. I also realized quite recently that Helsinki airport has certain departure gates in the non-Schengen area that are preferred for US-bound flights because they have a dedicated security screening booth, for privacy. Travel with Ease Add your Known Traveler Number to your airline reservation to enjoy faster, more seamless screening. Plastic shielding installed at many travel document checking podiums, divest, bag search, and drop off locations. Are major pain insane security lines at MIA normal? Problem solved by a gate agent. In addition, many passengers forget about removing body jewelry. 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.). I was furious! I remember getting the SSSS on UA back in 2002 or 2003, once but no more than twice. The TSA screening procedures for domestic flights involve passengers showing valid identification, going through a security screening, and separating any prohibited items into a small bag. We did not know this and only found out when we approached the gate in Houston; we had flown from Laredo, TX. I hate gate screenings, expecially if on a Southwest flight. I was rather taken aback when they told me to lift my shirt in front of that audience. No lights went off, but there were a LOT of knowing looks at each other when I went to board the plane. Thanks Chris, that's exactly the scenario I was curious about! From here, youll head to security and likely be brought to a different line for extra screening when you show your boarding pass to a TSA agent; while the process varies depending on the particular airport, this might involve going through a metal detector and body scanner (maybe more than once), a full-body pat-down, and your carry-on checked for explosive residue. Children able to walk through the metal detector without assistance may do so separately from their parent or guardian. As soon as boarding begins, one of them announces loudly: Attention passengers. Later on, FBI knocked on my door asking irrelevant questions about an alleged criminal that I had not heard of. If you just get this as a one-off thing, dont be worried. Your child or infant does not need to be present or traveling with you to bring breast milk, formula and/or related supplies. The TSA does indeed check checked baggage, but most of the time they don't need to do a physical search. - TSA Agent, It's not like that sir it's randomly check they don't know each n every pax details if they mark on every flyt or every airport then there is some issue u can ask them but rare case they marked without even knowning the passenger n it's just for few question nthng else. SSSS stands for secondary security screening selection. Why didnt they always check my bag? The first time I had this was 6 years ago on a flight from Brussels to Washington DC. I had to give permission or we were not getting on the plane. If your bags overweight, expect to take a few minutes just to unpack, redistribute your things, and re-pack again to appease an airline agent. Gate screening - which can. As a senior aged female (caucasian) I hardly coluld imagine anyone thinking I was a threat!! Walk . We generally fly the same itinerary. Three to six TSA agents set up at the gate. However, they didn't know I also had a 1-year residency ID. All rights reserved. Call TSA Cares 72 hours priorto traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. This became a "thing" not too long after 9/11. Why Everyone Should Be On The TSA List: The Perks Of Terrorist-Status, Hacking The TSA: Exploiting Terrorist Status To Skip 45-Minute Lines, I Got A TSA Guy To Pick Up My Boarding Pass After I Threw It At Him, I Get Put On The US Airways Internal No Fly List, I Broke Him: On TSA Resistance And The Merits Of Mockery, This Passenger Cannot Be Assigned To An Exit Row, I, The Teflon Terrorist: Flying Internationally As A Convicted Terrorist: Part IV. Have you ever had an SSSS on your boarding pass when taking a flight with an airline? As you mentioned, "SSSS" screening at foreign airports is done at the departure gate. Turned out we had bought some cheese at the Vermont cheese factory and apparently that is the same consistency as some explosive. While it's implied in your post, I would suggest that you explicitly clarify that this whole thing is an exclusive US-only invention. 1. Right? Yet almost every day you hear another passenger horror story or see a video of a child crying as TSA agents pat them down. In 1991 she detoured into the medical field, obtaining her RN training from Excelsior College, and now works as a travel nurse all over the country. I already knew I was going to be subjected to a secondary. I said I was going to Vegas, it was gambling money. Voting Is Now Open for the 2021 FlyerTalk Awards! They bring a little wheeled cart. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Youre on a gate pass, so youre only eligible for standard screening. Or waiting until they are busy harassing someone else before boarding. Changed back to plain Mrs now so Im inconspicuous. I've always wondered if check-in agents can also add SSSS to a pax. I can't even count how many times I got the SSSS but I was never sent to secondary screening or had any other issue during boarding. TSA, "automated target recognition software detects any metallic and non-metallic threats concealed under clothing by displaying a generic outline of a person on a monitor attached to the advanced imaging technology unit highlighting any areas that may require additional screening." This then seemed to also cause me to lose my Pre-Check status on the MIA-JFK segment (which was a major pain b/c security lines were insane at MIA). It was certainly introduced before the shoe bomber (all shoes off) and the underwear bomber (the large, mainly ineffective nude o scan machines that rotate around you supposedly to find explosives). They actually pulled me off of the plane for that one. It means you are in for a very long and frustrating day! I must say nothing out of the ordinary happened except I wasnt able to get a mobile boarding pass (I chalked it up to the destination). Every flight Im on gets one of these random security audits. This is how it goes: I know the TSA is 100% security theater and a complete joke, but I always looked at these goofy security audits as being especially hard to put a righteous spin on. Youll know for sure when you print your boarding pass at the airport, and see the SSSS on it. This SSSS on my ticket is ridiculous. In 2017, the ACLU also analyzed 13,000 TSA documents, which, among other significant findings, found that some officers referred passengers to additional screening far more than others, "a. It was certainly introduced before the shoe bomber (all shoes off) and the underwear bomber (the large, mainly ineffective nude o scan machines that rotate around you supposedly to find explosives). Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Remove infants and children from strollers and car seats and carry them in arms through the walk-through metal detector. What should you expect at security if your boarding pass has SSSS on it? Modified screening procedures are in place to reduce the likelihood of a pat-down. It is treated just like any other identification and will not give you a free pass, so if you get selected for random, you will be sent for random. The use of 'SSSS' codes has been formalized and strengthened under this, but its use has been reported before. Its not the TSAs fault, and the agent isnt any happierabout having to perform the secondary search than I am. CS three? First step: Place the carrier on the belt that leads to the scanner. It existed before TSA did. No. The SSSS is just an SSSS. Just drive to a destination. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. "In support of TSAs overall security strategy, the frequency of gate screening has increased and may occur unannounced at gate areas anytime.". These poor guys at TSA probably get enough abuse from passengers. The circular design of the power strip allows for the 15" to coil up inside the body of the productmaking it easy to wrap up and throw in a bag to take with you when traveling. I was sent to Secondary and searched none the less. He was probably wearing a cast or some type of medical device at that time, and when they performed the swab, there was probably an alarm, so a secondary patdown has to be conducted including a property search. He was probably wearing a cast or some type of medical device at that time, and when they performed the swab, there was probably an alarm, so a secondary patdown has to be conducted including a property search. A few weeks back on my flight from FLL-LAX had the same. Has anyone experience with these domestic screenings? She gets SSSS couple times a year (or more), I never get SSSS. TSA and CBP don't care whether you are a Muslim or etcand certainly will not take a "forensic copy" of your phone. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Complete waste of taxpayer dollars. When I came back to the USA I was asked how long have I been out of the USA and do I have a job from passport control. First step: Place the carrier on the belt that leads to the scanner. . TSA PreCheck is a fantastic program whereby enrolled travelers can get expedited airport screening. So this is nothing new. Would love for all the Trump Terrorists at the Jan 6 insurrection to have SSSS for life with no chance of redress. Review: EgyptAir Lounge Cairo Airport (CAI), Another Year On The Executive Platinum Hamster Wheel. There are a variety of things that can cause you to get selected for secondary security screening. I think it's important to note that it can happen much more on international journeys. This became a "thing" not too long after 9/11. Until I had a flight back to US on LOT, which does not accept redress or KTN number. The gate checks for passengers follow the establishment of an employee security program in 2007, which included random screenings. Make your screening experience as smooth as possible and become familiar with the process. However, they didn't know I also had a 1-year residency ID. I had to lift my shirt exposing my belly and back half way up for the lady to check me. You are one of those people posting made up stories Why do you have to make up that story? The TSA agent will tell you the airline has randomly selected you for additional screening (which is a lie), andask you to step to the side. - TSA Agent. But if it's half full, that's NOT 3.5 ounces. Once traveling with a colleague who didnt have Global Entry, attempting to exit through Customs at JFK, I was selected for search but when they looked at my receipt, they sent me through and selected my colleague who was behind me in the line. At my home airport everyone with a carry on gets searched at the gate if the SSSS has a carryon. Dont worry, its not a huge deal, your life isnt over. Ill share my experience based on the last time I dealt with this in the United States, which admittedly goes back a while. I was worried because I had it on 4 consecutive trips. 3. I noticed a big decline in the frequency I'd get SSSS after getting Global Entry. Regulations for Crossing the Canadian Border. Never had it before and after. We were just told how many passengers to select for the extra screening on each flight and we just manually marked those passengers boarding passes at random. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Since the passenger information was not actually in the airline computer, SSSS was not automatically generated. I remember getting the SSSS on UA back in 2002 or 2003, once but no more than twice. Then they let me go. , Then youll be asked to walk through the metal detector, and then back again. Not sure how I should feel about that. They had me go through the scanner like everyone else, then waved me aside and patted me down. I was taken down a hall to a room. Ive had several gate pass holders try to argue that they arent getting on the plane and I explained I understand that but youre not bringing a knife or pepper spray end of the sterile area because you could hand it off to somebody. It was about 10 times faster then regular security. Im just out for good blog material at this point. I never had another SSSS for 10+ years? You can do so throughthe DHS TRIP program, which stands for Traveler Redress Inquiry Program. Enrolled travelers can get expedited airport screening for the lady to check me to your airline reservation to faster. 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