Originally Posted by Mats
I'll never understand why I got SSSS'd flying from Columbus to Honolulu on a regularly purchased round-trip, purchased online a month before departure. I was a Silver Medallion frequent flyer on a route I've flown many times, using the same credit card I always use. I just figured that they had to fill the quota somehow.
I'd say you're correct on that assumption ... from various media stories, the airlines are required to SSSSelect a certain % of their fliers, so if CAPPs and other selection criteria came up short, they'd be pulling at some pseudo-random basis then. Supposedly, Mr. Terrorist can't tell if s/he's going to be SSSS or not, but of course, seeing the BP marking is enough to send him home that day or to hand off his goods to Mr. Terrorist #2.