Selected for Special Screening? What a joke!
Jun 6, 2014, 9:27 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,782
I have been temped to put a bunch of random squiggles on my BP before giving it to the TDC.
Last edited by FlyingUnderTheRadar; Jun 6, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Jun 6, 2014, 11:08 am
#17
Moderator: Hilton Honors forums
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Marietta, Georgia, United States
Posts: 24,996
Thread Alert
The new home for this discussion is now the Checkpoint and Borders Policy Debate forum, as the topic has little to do with Delta Air Lines or the SkyMiles frequent flier loyalty program.
Regards,
Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles forum
Regards,
Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles forum
Jun 6, 2014, 11:36 am
#18
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Twin Cities
Programs: Delta DM MM, IHG Plat, Hilton DM, Marriott SE, Emerald EE, Oakdale Gun Club, NRA & GOA Life Member
Posts: 3,870
I haven't seen SSSS since 2008 when I was on an AA or UA flight in the old IND airport. I didn't have it on my original boarding pass but I was called up by the GA and told that there was no way I was going to make my connection in ORD so they put me on a direct NWA flight. She handed my boarding pass and I had to go through security again to get to the NWA gate. That's when the TSA agent pointed out the SSSS and said I needed extra screening. I told him I had just went through security once already. He told me I was randomly chosen for extra scrutiny. I said that was illogical and he smiled and shrugged his shoulders. It hasn't happened since (knock on wood).
Jun 6, 2014, 12:05 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
No, the vast majority of the FT population know what those mean, but I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of the flying public have absolutely no idea what those mean.
Jun 6, 2014, 1:33 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2012
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 506
to point out the deficiencies.
They spend more time looking at my documents, luggage and scanner
pictures than they do making and holding direct eye contact with me
while asking some questions.
So we are all like unwilling participants in this gigantic theater production
that no one wants to be part of... yet they claim it is working given the
items seized and lack of incidents.
Jun 6, 2014, 2:56 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: DL exDM MM
Posts: 762
It does not take a rocket surgeon to figure out the following.
Mrs. SSSS could give her 4oz lotion to her non-SSSS companion before approaching the TSA in the first place. Saying nothing about the "security breach" after the fact.
Duh!
I can not believe anyone with at least a 1st grade education thinks this makes any sense at all.
Mrs. SSSS could give her 4oz lotion to her non-SSSS companion before approaching the TSA in the first place. Saying nothing about the "security breach" after the fact.
Duh!
I can not believe anyone with at least a 1st grade education thinks this makes any sense at all.
Jun 6, 2014, 3:02 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: DL exDM MM
Posts: 762
Probably the right decision, but, for the record, I think the problem was caused by the Delta agent highlighting the "SSSS" on the BP for the connecting flight...
Jun 6, 2014, 7:49 pm
#23
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Ex Platinum & 1MM, DL PLT, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,490
Never stopped-there is a whole thread in this forum that has FT'er reports of on-going gate searches.
Jun 6, 2014, 11:28 pm
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
TSA gate searches continue; while they declined in frequency, the TSA still used them as part of its dog and pony show routine for various flights at various airports. I've seen them done at ORD each and every year since the TSA was created.
That is the case, at least in the US or when flying on US airlines.
That is the case, at least in the US or when flying on US airlines.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jun 6, 2014 at 11:33 pm
Jun 15, 2014, 11:48 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 대한민국 (South Korea) - ex-PVG (上海)
Programs: UA MM / LT Gold (LT UC), DL SM, AA PLT (AC), OZ, KE; GE and Korean SES (like GE); Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,995
I can not believe anyone with at least a 1st grade education thinks this makes any sense at all.
Jun 16, 2014, 2:48 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: AUS / DXB
Programs: BA Silver | AA LT Gold | EY Silver | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,838
So I have been lucky enough to never receive the dreaded SSSS (odd given that my travel is primarily international, and often to/from the Middle East). Is it required to get a stamp on the BP from TSA after clearing the checkpoint for all SSSS boarding passes?
Jun 16, 2014, 4:04 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
I was on a return trip from ZRH (Zurich) to JFK [about 6 months ago]. I was at the airport the night before my flight; I printed my bp from one of the automated kiosks [instead of TSA Pre-Check, which I normally get, even for intl to the USA] I got SSSS. There is NO TSA in ZRH, but at the gate AA agents do "extra security" for the SSSS pax. [The agent who did that security had a printout of 15 (or so) names; mine was one of the RANDOMLY selected 15
]. He did a minor hand check of my bag and pat-down of me. DHS has this program (at least from ZRH) for intl. to USA.
]. He did a minor hand check of my bag and pat-down of me. DHS has this program (at least from ZRH) for intl. to USA.
Jun 16, 2014, 4:13 am
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Mrs. Guru traveled with me this week. Checked in online for our return. Delta.com would not allow her to check in and suggested there might be a name mis-match. Called DM line to fix. Told the name was fine but she was randomly selected and would have to show her ID to get the BP.
Fine. Delta ticket counter prints BP, highlights the "SSSS", on the BP and tells her there will be additional screening.
Much to our surprise the credentials checker waves us both through and we proceed as normal through the TSA gauntlet.
Now sitting near the gate. T-15 minutes to boarding her name is called. She is told her BP was not properly stamped by TSA. The gate agent says she has to go back to TSA and they begin to walk in that direction. The GA then sends her back to our sitting area to collect her rollerboard. She returns about 10 minutes later after being patted down and having her carryons re-x-rayed.
Am I the only one who questions the effectiveness of this process?
Fine. Delta ticket counter prints BP, highlights the "SSSS", on the BP and tells her there will be additional screening.
Much to our surprise the credentials checker waves us both through and we proceed as normal through the TSA gauntlet.
Now sitting near the gate. T-15 minutes to boarding her name is called. She is told her BP was not properly stamped by TSA. The gate agent says she has to go back to TSA and they begin to walk in that direction. The GA then sends her back to our sitting area to collect her rollerboard. She returns about 10 minutes later after being patted down and having her carryons re-x-rayed.
Am I the only one who questions the effectiveness of this process?
Jun 16, 2014, 8:07 am
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: DL exDM MM
Posts: 762
I do not know. I actually had her BP with me and I was not at the gate when I heard her being paged. When I got back to the gate she had already been told by the GA that she had to go back to security. She and the GA headed in that direction. 30 seconds later she came back to gather the rest of her carry-ons.
Jun 16, 2014, 8:27 am
#30
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
This happened to a former colleague of mine. Their flight was cancelled, and they were re-accommodated on another airline within same sterile concourse.
The new airline gave them SSSS. So even thought they had already been through security, they had to back to the checkpoint and repeat the process but with frisking, open bag inspection, and explosive detection swabs.
That obviously saved a lot of lives.
The new airline gave them SSSS. So even thought they had already been through security, they had to back to the checkpoint and repeat the process but with frisking, open bag inspection, and explosive detection swabs.
That obviously saved a lot of lives.