Repeatedly getting SSSS on boarding passes when flying to the US
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: AA EXP, STWD PLAT
Posts: 29
Repeatedly getting SSSS on boarding passes when flying to the US
The past 6 weeks I've flown Emirates (Delhi), Austrian (Athens), and United (Beijing) and on each flight returning to the USA I've had the SSSS tag. Precheck is valid when leaving the US (no SSSS) but I'm wondering if I should go through the redress program. Haven't had SSSS in over 6+ years and traveled internationally each month.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
You can certainly apply for a redress #, but you should understand that the "SSSS" system has completely different uses for flights headed to the US as opposed to TSA screening at US checkpoints.
For flights headed to the US, DHS requires that a significant % of passengers be subjected to secondary screening and those passengers are selected both randomly and from various lists.
While TSA does select some minimal % of all passengers screened at its checkpoints at random for various types of secondary, most are selected for their presence in one or another database or features of their ticket. But, again the overall % are way lower than for international departures to the US.
For flights headed to the US, DHS requires that a significant % of passengers be subjected to secondary screening and those passengers are selected both randomly and from various lists.
While TSA does select some minimal % of all passengers screened at its checkpoints at random for various types of secondary, most are selected for their presence in one or another database or features of their ticket. But, again the overall % are way lower than for international departures to the US.
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
The past 6 weeks I've flown Emirates (Delhi), Austrian (Athens), and United (Beijing) and on each flight returning to the USA I've had the SSSS tag. Precheck is valid when leaving the US (no SSSS) but I'm wondering if I should go through the redress program. Haven't had SSSS in over 6+ years and traveled internationally each month.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
After enough trips to the US on the same carrier(s), your chances of getting hit by haraSSSSment should drop (even as it's unlikely to drop to zero). I wouldn't waste my time seeking to do DHS TRIP/redress. I would either stick to flying the same carrier(s) that hit you with haraSSSSment until the odds drop down or I would jump over to other carriers that have less/no history of doing the same to you to see if it goes any better there.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,320
You can certainly apply for a redress #, but you should understand that the "SSSS" system has completely different uses for flights headed to the US as opposed to TSA screening at US checkpoints.
For flights headed to the US, DHS requires that a significant % of passengers be subjected to secondary screening and those passengers are selected both randomly and from various lists.
While TSA does select some minimal % of all passengers screened at its checkpoints at random for various types of secondary, most are selected for their presence in one or another database or features of their ticket. But, again the overall % are way lower than for international departures to the US.
For flights headed to the US, DHS requires that a significant % of passengers be subjected to secondary screening and those passengers are selected both randomly and from various lists.
While TSA does select some minimal % of all passengers screened at its checkpoints at random for various types of secondary, most are selected for their presence in one or another database or features of their ticket. But, again the overall % are way lower than for international departures to the US.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 210
I repeatedly get smacked with SSSS!
Okay, for the past 6 months, every single flight (one way or return) back to the USA has put a fat SSSS and secondary screening on my boarding pass. Every single stinking time. I can go from one country to another, but the instant I hit a segment that goes to the USA I get an SSSS. Why? I haven't gone to a single questionable country (routine Europe/Asia destinations), have Global Entry, and OWS status. Even on the same PNR I go from secondary security in MAD or HKG or NRT and through PreCheck the instant I hit American soil... What am I missing? What's going on? Do they want to pick on the few pax who are Americans for this? (The majority of people on the flights back home to the USA were not Americans)
Last edited by oaken; Aug 7, 2016 at 7:50 pm Reason: more detail
#7
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,777
Apply for a redress number ... https://www.dhs.gov/redress-control-numbers
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
Apply for a redress number ... https://www.dhs.gov/redress-control-numbers
#9
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 210
Correct. Redress does not apply. What's weird is my last trip started in the USA with AA, priority precheck. Only the third segment was a code share, and the final flight was on AA to the States. Got an ssss on the flight on AA to the USA. Next day in the USA got my usual precheck to domestic destination. I'm kind of getting tired of secondary screening because it requires guesstimating how long the line will be for leaving the lounge purposes and how long it might take for them to take apart my luggage and repack.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,617
Do you have a name that may be similar to someone who might be on their list? Have you flown to or connected through countries with questionable relations with the US?
I remember a thread a while back where people seemed to think that they've been getting SSSS after transiting IST.
I remember a thread a while back where people seemed to think that they've been getting SSSS after transiting IST.
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
Do you have a name that may be similar to someone who might be on their list? Have you flown to or connected through countries with questionable relations with the US?
I remember a thread a while back where people seemed to think that they've been getting SSSS after transiting IST.
I remember a thread a while back where people seemed to think that they've been getting SSSS after transiting IST.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA EXP, UA Prem Exec, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 93
Book a trip for a friend or give someone an upgrade lately? Happened to me after I let a friend use an upgrade sticker for a couple longhaul international flights.Turns out, the friend required going through redress process. Until he did, I kept getting the dreaded "SSSSS" by affiliation. The day after his redress process ended, I flew into the US and the "SSSSS" was gone. Haven't seen it since.
#14
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,681
I find it hard to believe it really is that big of pain if only affects you flying into USA. Think about it for a little while. I doubt the added screen is really that much time. Now if it was domestic travel I could understand.
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
Book a trip for a friend or give someone an upgrade lately? Happened to me after I let a friend use an upgrade sticker for a couple longhaul international flights.Turns out, the friend required going through redress process. Until he did, I kept getting the dreaded "SSSSS" by affiliation. The day after his redress process ended, I flew into the US and the "SSSSS" was gone. Haven't seen it since.
I've known of people having given/sold/booked upgrades/tickets for people who were blacklisted with placements on government watchlists but that didn't result in being on government blacklists for the giving/selling/booking party. I'm speaking of situations like that of the OP.
As I said, this blacklisting of the sort hitting the OP is most commonly not going to be fixed by doing the USG's TRIP/redress process. Welcome to the airline and its contractors for causing the kind of hassles faced by the OP.
Last edited by TWA884; Aug 9, 2016 at 9:44 am Reason: Policy debate, not practical advice