Travel to/thru Turkey and SSSS
Sep 4, 2015, 2:48 pm
#1
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Travel to/thru Turkey and SSSS
So this December my wife and I are heading to Turkey on two one-way award tickets. I've been reading all of these horror stories about people getting on the SSSS list and being majorly inconvenienced for months afterwards.
My question is this -- is there anything I can do in advance? Can I contact anyone and let them know that I'm not a terrorist, I just booked two one-ways because I wanted to use Aeroplan on the way over and UR on the way back? Or do I just have to wait and hope for the best
My question is this -- is there anything I can do in advance? Can I contact anyone and let them know that I'm not a terrorist, I just booked two one-ways because I wanted to use Aeroplan on the way over and UR on the way back? Or do I just have to wait and hope for the best
Sep 4, 2015, 5:22 pm
#2
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No. Think about it, "hi, this is RuthlesslyAbsurd and I'm not a terrorist."
There are many reports of people being subject to "SSSS" after returning from Turkey. There isn't anything you can do other than hope it doesn't happen or cancel.
There are many reports of people being subject to "SSSS" after returning from Turkey. There isn't anything you can do other than hope it doesn't happen or cancel.
Sep 4, 2015, 9:39 pm
#3
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But I suppose that wouldn't do either.
Sep 5, 2015, 7:14 am
#4
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So this December my wife and I are heading to Turkey on two one-way award tickets. I've been reading all of these horror stories about people getting on the SSSS list and being majorly inconvenienced for months afterwards.
My question is this -- is there anything I can do in advance? Can I contact anyone and let them know that I'm not a terrorist, I just booked two one-ways because I wanted to use Aeroplan on the way over and UR on the way back? Or do I just have to wait and hope for the best
My question is this -- is there anything I can do in advance? Can I contact anyone and let them know that I'm not a terrorist, I just booked two one-ways because I wanted to use Aeroplan on the way over and UR on the way back? Or do I just have to wait and hope for the best
I don't suppose there's much you can or should do, other than ensure you have the documentation of your return trip with you in the off chance a question comes up (for example, proof of onward/return journey out of Turkey may be needed in some circumstances by the airline or immigration authorities).
Enjoy your journey, Mr. and Mrs. Quonsett!
Sep 6, 2015, 6:51 am
#5
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Lots of people travel to Turkey for a holiday, on any number of one-way, multi-city, etc. itineraries, I don't think there's much cause for concern.
I don't suppose there's much you can or should do, other than ensure you have the documentation of your return trip with you in the off chance a question comes up (for example, proof of onward/return journey out of Turkey may be needed in some circumstances by the airline or immigration authorities).
Enjoy your journey, Mr. and Mrs. Quonsett!
I don't suppose there's much you can or should do, other than ensure you have the documentation of your return trip with you in the off chance a question comes up (for example, proof of onward/return journey out of Turkey may be needed in some circumstances by the airline or immigration authorities).
Enjoy your journey, Mr. and Mrs. Quonsett!
And good call about printing out proof of onway journey
Sep 7, 2015, 9:15 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,620
A good friend of my Wife's went with her Husband to Istanbul for a few days before continuing on to visit friends who live in Ankara.
They used two separate one way tickets (both awards, one ONEWORLD and one SkyTeam) and were questioned by Immigration at IAH on their arrival. My Wife's friend said that Officer rolled his eyes and said I have to ask you some questions and after asking them (he knew she said that it was silly) and getting the answer we went to visit friends and take a small vacation, he said no worries, I will notate it, but my apologies if the TSA annoys you for a while, it usually stops after a few trips.
So, I guess that it is still happening
They used two separate one way tickets (both awards, one ONEWORLD and one SkyTeam) and were questioned by Immigration at IAH on their arrival. My Wife's friend said that Officer rolled his eyes and said I have to ask you some questions and after asking them (he knew she said that it was silly) and getting the answer we went to visit friends and take a small vacation, he said no worries, I will notate it, but my apologies if the TSA annoys you for a while, it usually stops after a few trips.
So, I guess that it is still happening
Last edited by kmersh; Sep 8, 2015 at 6:15 am
Sep 7, 2015, 10:31 pm
#7
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I've been to several countries in the Middle East, declared all of them to CBP, and have never had SSSS. In fact, I just started getting Pre-Check for the first time recently.
Sep 8, 2015, 6:18 am
#8
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My whole thing and the part that I do not like is that essentially you are guilty until proven innocent which is not how the USA is supposed to operate. I understand that in someone's mind it is for the right reasons, but I have trouble accepting that as a valid excuse.
Sep 8, 2015, 1:22 pm
#9
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I think Turkey in particular because some crazy people were using it as a jumping off point to join "the fight".
My whole thing and the part that I do not like is that essentially you are guilty until proven innocent which is not how the USA is supposed to operate. I understand that in someone's mind it is for the right reasons, but I have trouble accepting that as a valid excuse.
My whole thing and the part that I do not like is that essentially you are guilty until proven innocent which is not how the USA is supposed to operate. I understand that in someone's mind it is for the right reasons, but I have trouble accepting that as a valid excuse.
Sep 8, 2015, 3:32 pm
#10
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I think Turkey in particular because some crazy people were using it as a jumping off point to join "the fight".
My whole thing and the part that I do not like is that essentially you are guilty until proven innocent which is not how the USA is supposed to operate. I understand that in someone's mind it is for the right reasons, but I have trouble accepting that as a valid excuse.
My whole thing and the part that I do not like is that essentially you are guilty until proven innocent which is not how the USA is supposed to operate. I understand that in someone's mind it is for the right reasons, but I have trouble accepting that as a valid excuse.
Sep 8, 2015, 5:18 pm
#11
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Other Countries Good for SSSS Label?
Turkey-bound travelers are rightly concerned about earning an SSSS label on their boarding passes, good for four months of air travel. Just curious, has anyone experienced this after returning from other Middle Eastern countries? (No, I'm not including Iraq, Syria, or Afghanistan, which no one in their right mind would travel to.)
Sep 9, 2015, 4:07 am
#12
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Turkey-bound travelers are rightly concerned about earning an SSSS label on their boarding passes, good for four months of air travel. Just curious, has anyone experienced this after returning from other Middle Eastern countries? (No, I'm not including Iraq, Syria, or Afghanistan, which no one in their right mind would travel to.)
Afghanistan is not a Middle Eastern country and travel there hasn't resulted in <SSSS> flagging to the same extent as with IST or BEY travel.
Last edited by TWA884; Nov 11, 2016 at 9:22 pm Reason: Term better left for the policy debate forum
Sep 9, 2015, 4:09 am
#13
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Sep 9, 2015, 4:47 am
#14
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Last edited by TWA884; Nov 11, 2016 at 9:22 pm Reason: Conform to moderator's edit of quoted post
Sep 9, 2015, 8:30 am
#15
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I have a friend who got SSSS'd in MAD in spring of 2014. She had been to Turkey for a visit (tourism, no family) a month prior, came home, flew to MAD, spent 10 days sightseeing. She couldn't check in at the airport (US carrier). They demanded documents showing where she had stayed in addition to questioning her about her time in Spain and Portugal. No mention of Turkey. She was escorted through the checkpoint, then across from the gate, she got another grilling, pat down, and her bags were completely emptied into bins and x-rayed again.