100% Random Security Check - HELP!!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: AC*E
Posts: 24
100% Random Security Check - HELP!!
I wanted to reach out to the forum for advice and help, because things have become very frustrating for me when traveling to and from the US. I am a frequent traveler who fly's to the US from Canada close to once a week for business. Over the last few years I have had no issues. In fact I am a Nexus member and therefore a trusted traveler. Starting early this year, I began getting the dreaded SSSS on my boarding pass and was consistently screened (TSA) on every trip in and out of the US. I asked the Nexus folks about this and they said they have nothing in their database and this is a TSA issue. I reached out to the TSA and went through the process of getting a redress number from the DHS, I updated all my reservations and my profile and I still am getting the secondary screening 100% of the time on every single trip in and out of the US. I called TSA and they were of no help, they said my redress number checks out but they cannot guarantee I will not be screened again. I told them I understand that, but I am getting screened 100% of the time. They still said there is nothing they can do.
Has anyone else had a similar issue? If so I would love to hear your advice on how to get this rectified. Any help or advice would be fantastic!
Has anyone else had a similar issue? If so I would love to hear your advice on how to get this rectified. Any help or advice would be fantastic!
#3
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 223
Going from Canada to US, this happened to me last year (for many, many many months). It has nothing to do with CATSA (other than you get their fun-loving attention at the checkpoint). Transport Canada makes the requirement for the airline to perform, though I believe that I must have made someone at Air Canada upset along the way for this to happen so consistenly to me (read every week).
I switched airlines (and don't co-share on AC equipment), and all is better again. Haven't had outbound Secondary since.
I switched airlines (and don't co-share on AC equipment), and all is better again. Haven't had outbound Secondary since.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: AC*E
Posts: 24
You are right it is CATSA that does the screening in Canada, but I was told that the flag for secondary comes as a result of the TSA secure flight info that is sent when flying to the US. So ultimately it is the TSA that generates the screening request.
#5
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 55
I wanted to reach out to the forum for advice and help, because things have become very frustrating for me when traveling to and from the US. I am a frequent traveler who fly's to the US from Canada close to once a week for business. Over the last few years I have had no issues. In fact I am a Nexus member and therefore a trusted traveler. Starting early this year, I began getting the dreaded SSSS on my boarding pass and was consistently screened (TSA) on every trip in and out of the US. I asked the Nexus folks about this and they said they have nothing in their database and this is a TSA issue. I reached out to the TSA and went through the process of getting a redress number from the DHS, I updated all my reservations and my profile and I still am getting the secondary screening 100% of the time on every single trip in and out of the US. I called TSA and they were of no help, they said my redress number checks out but they cannot guarantee I will not be screened again. I told them I understand that, but I am getting screened 100% of the time. They still said there is nothing they can do.
Has anyone else had a similar issue? If so I would love to hear your advice on how to get this rectified. Any help or advice would be fantastic!
Has anyone else had a similar issue? If so I would love to hear your advice on how to get this rectified. Any help or advice would be fantastic!
Maybe you could try a different airline like johnston21 said and see if that helps.
#6
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: HKG NYC
Programs: AA EXP, CE G, HYATT G, HH D, MR P, Accor P
Posts: 26
I confirm the extremely horrible procedures that TSA and the government behind imposing on other countries. My last flight from HKG-JFK on Cathay 2 weeks ago, not only I had to be double checked at the gate, but the security told me I was "randomly" picked by the US and had to perform an extra check (which is a more troublesome checking including full padding down and complete search of hand carry luggages.). The security there was pretty sorry about my situation when I was complaining and I saw an American next to me saying "Why is this airport performing so many security checks?". I think he really needs to know the answer.
Geez, I have flown 100k miles for the first 4 months in this year. I'm doing another Asia trip in May, and I hope I'm not in the 100% kind to be checked and checked all over again.
Geez, I have flown 100k miles for the first 4 months in this year. I'm doing another Asia trip in May, and I hope I'm not in the 100% kind to be checked and checked all over again.



That would be CATSA, not TSA, at the security checkpoint in Canada.