SSSS - Experiences?
May 18, 2018, 6:49 am
#91
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,945
SSSS for BA flights exLHR does not prevent you from selecting seats or doing OLCI. You should be able to do both as normal. What will happen though is that ba.com and the app will not issue you with a bp and you will have to get that from the airport.
May 18, 2018, 6:53 am
#92
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
The 2 times I've had SSSS a've not been able to select my seat or indeed check in online. Both times it told me to go to the ba desk at the airport.
May 18, 2018, 6:55 am
#93
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,945
May 18, 2018, 7:06 am
#94
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
Jun 1, 2018, 11:24 am
#95
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,894
I've not been able to get my BP for my BA flight to EWR tomorrow. Well, not from BA anyway. However, Finnair has issued me with a BP for the same journey with SSSS printed on it. Looking forward to only my second SSSS in many, many years of flying 
Jun 1, 2018, 1:13 pm
#96
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
...or not. It's an easy experience, don't fret like I did that time (when starting this thread).
Jun 2, 2018, 9:19 am
#97
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: CEG
Programs: UA, BAEC, HH Gold, PC Plat, Marriott Silver.
Posts: 160
First SSSS yesterday, LHR-SEA. GE obviously had no effect. Actually it worked out quite well, we were in Grp 4, but got on board earlier the the rest of the Y section. BTW no questions, just swabs taken.
Jun 3, 2018, 3:41 pm
#98
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Programs: plenty - ggl, ccr, etc, etc.
Posts: 1,704
BA also have an unrelated IT problem with their system is not presently processing or recognising green cards properly. (You could nt make it - oh, hang on, its BA IT.)
Jun 3, 2018, 9:15 pm
#99
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK - BHD
Programs: BMI Diamond Club refugee: BA-Br; HH-D
Posts: 912
Had my first SSSS en route to ORD last week and it was fantastic. Called through ahead of boarding commencing, brought downstairs to the additional security screening (on the way to the airbridge) and my luggage was swabbed - no unpacking or questioning. And I was first on the upper deck, luggage stowed, and nicely tucked into 62K before anyone else arrived. I'm all for this SSSS lark!
Jun 3, 2018, 10:32 pm
#100
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 357
Agreed!
Had my first SSSS en route to ORD last week and it was fantastic. Called through ahead of boarding commencing, brought downstairs to the additional security screening (on the way to the airbridge) and my luggage was swabbed - no unpacking or questioning. And I was first on the upper deck, luggage stowed, and nicely tucked into 62K before anyone else arrived. I'm all for this SSSS lark!
Had my first SSSS en route to ORD last week and it was fantastic. Called through ahead of boarding commencing, brought downstairs to the additional security screening (on the way to the airbridge) and my luggage was swabbed - no unpacking or questioning. And I was first on the upper deck, luggage stowed, and nicely tucked into 62K before anyone else arrived. I'm all for this SSSS lark!
- I checked in with the app, but couldn't get a boarding pass "because I need to have my passport / visa status checked at the airport"
- No problem with seat selection, although I didn't change it from the seat I'd chosen a month ago
- Got to the gate just as my name was being called anyway. One of the T5C gates for an A380. Head downstairs - about 6 or 7 others already seated. Called for PC, laptop, shoe/sock, phone, belt swabs, OK'd in seconds. Boarded with Group 1
- No issues at all on arrival at LAX - straight through the APC machines & down to the luggage carousels within seconds.
Jun 14, 2018, 5:18 am
#101
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,021
Exactly what has happened to Mrs Bluemoon for tomorrow's flight. I guess I will be boarding with her bags! She was intending travelling in sandals or flip-flops, talk on this thread of clean socks leaves her slightly concerned.
Jul 28, 2018, 12:42 pm
#102
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 39
I got the SSSS yesterday on LCY - JFK, with the SNN stop. At LCY it was fine - they actually escorted me to the front of security. They also make you do the full body scanner. The staff seemed to do it infrequently enough (only one US flight I suppose) that it was novel and they fully repacked my bag. They did say it was one or two per plane. Really? On a 32-seater, which wasn't full? I was last to board and they pretty much closed the door behind me, but they had known the status so it was fine. So much for 15 minute check-in…
However, they did it again for the refuelling stop at SNN! That was even more tedious for being done twice in an hour, and as well as not repacking my bag they also insisted on decanting the liquids from my transparent Muji zip-up to their own little Ziploc, which did strain my patience more than it perhaps should have. This is literally the first time I have ever had someone do that in any airport anywhere in the world. They also swabbed my hands. This time I wasn't last to board as they seem to have a more involved luggage process than they did (it used to be that they would show you a photo of your luggage but this time those with luggage had to wait in some other pig pen).
I haven't had it often but I think the last time at LHR it was just extra security at the point of boarding at the gate, no? In the US it also doesn't involve quite as much theatrics.
However, they did it again for the refuelling stop at SNN! That was even more tedious for being done twice in an hour, and as well as not repacking my bag they also insisted on decanting the liquids from my transparent Muji zip-up to their own little Ziploc, which did strain my patience more than it perhaps should have. This is literally the first time I have ever had someone do that in any airport anywhere in the world. They also swabbed my hands. This time I wasn't last to board as they seem to have a more involved luggage process than they did (it used to be that they would show you a photo of your luggage but this time those with luggage had to wait in some other pig pen).
I haven't had it often but I think the last time at LHR it was just extra security at the point of boarding at the gate, no? In the US it also doesn't involve quite as much theatrics.
Jul 28, 2018, 6:14 pm
#103
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: BA exec, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 556
Agreed!
Had my first SSSS en route to ORD last week and it was fantastic. Called through ahead of boarding commencing, brought downstairs to the additional security screening (on the way to the airbridge) and my luggage was swabbed - no unpacking or questioning. And I was first on the upper deck, luggage stowed, and nicely tucked into 62K before anyone else arrived. I'm all for this SSSS lark!
Had my first SSSS en route to ORD last week and it was fantastic. Called through ahead of boarding commencing, brought downstairs to the additional security screening (on the way to the airbridge) and my luggage was swabbed - no unpacking or questioning. And I was first on the upper deck, luggage stowed, and nicely tucked into 62K before anyone else arrived. I'm all for this SSSS lark!
My experience is the opposite (@oxtailsoup can confirm) I was yet again given SSSS and honked off from group 1 taken downstairs in T5B arriving onboard after PBD etc...not arsed personally but does make me laugh. I have the highest security level clearance available in the UK and EU (as is ) all the ticks for Australia / Asia/USA blah it make no difference.... The G4S lady at T 5B said 'Hello mr T" again.
I have GE too in case you are wondering and it makes no difference.
Gotta say now leaning towards some points raised on this thread here as to the 'Point of this" - Its clearly not 'Intel' driven, which it should be!
Happy travels
Last edited by Telecasterman; Jul 28, 2018 at 6:35 pm
Jul 28, 2018, 6:24 pm
#104
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 2,181
Got it on Thursday at T5B on the way to the US. It was not printed on my boarding pass but I was on some kind of list and I beeped at the gate. Not sure what the point is besides swabbing your bag, hands, electronics, etc. The woman doing it asked me if my electronics could be turned on but didn't test them when I said yes and she didn't search my bag.
I also have Global Entry and TSA Precheck, so I don't understand the whole process since if I have been vetted by the US government, why would they then choose to do not-too-thorough additional screenings. Maybe I need to make sure BA has my trusted traveler number in their system. At least everyone was pleasant and I probably only lost five minutes so I still got overhead bin space.
I also have Global Entry and TSA Precheck, so I don't understand the whole process since if I have been vetted by the US government, why would they then choose to do not-too-thorough additional screenings. Maybe I need to make sure BA has my trusted traveler number in their system. At least everyone was pleasant and I probably only lost five minutes so I still got overhead bin space.
Jul 28, 2018, 6:26 pm
#105
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 576