RTW and US (JFK) Immigration
 

Needed to goto London hence decided to do a quick 4 day RTW flew from HK-LHR-JFK-HKG (for miles + 15k bonus offer). Was grilled at JFK immigration as to why I had just come from LHR and immediately flying back out to HK (and also resulted in a whole series of other questions). Had to end up explaining to the officer that a RTW was actually cheaper than a full fare business class ticket to LHR from HKG etc

Anyone had similar issues with US immigration recently?

Similar. I was questioned more or less in depth recently about why I was nesting a return trip to the US from SCL within another from Europe to South America. How the officer sort of 'knew' about it is beyond me; he was quite pleasant though. I guess any unusual flying patterns these days are bound to make the US authorities take a closer look.

For me, the questions seem to vary immigration location.

I tend to find IAD and LAX more ameniable that JFK or SFO.

Has anyone on a xONEx in the USA not got the SSSS on their boarding passes (especially if not on a USA Passport)?

Always for me, although where I am getting a sequence of BPs for the same day it is sometimes only the first one that has the SSSS on it.

Never on an OWE.

You mean, never on a non-US airline...

Er... no it's not. Depends if you have a good travel agent and he/she knows all the tricks of the trade!

I wonder if you change an open segment to a confirmed reservation if the systems think you have changed your booking and then SSSS you?

Last year i had my Swiss mileage account number in my record. SSSS on every singe flight. Then i had it changed to my AA EXP number. No more SSSS.
So it looks like the frequent flyer number is important for the software deceiding if you are dangerous or not.

Your AA FFP number contains all the information on you that is required and can be assessable if needed by "authorities' concerned.

Solution: Book with your AA EXP number. At gate, after security, then change to your SWISS number.

Well, that would be one way of interpreting it. The other would be never on a OWE.

GB - you mind expanding further on this? For a ticket originating out of HK (i.e. not travelling via BKK or TPE) there are effectively ways to purchase a full fare (J) ticket to LHR for substantially less than the published fare?

I would be interested to know as it may come in useful if I need to purchase a 'companion ticket' for my other half but with all the flexibility of J. If this "trick of the trade" is too big a secret to reveal publicly then please msg me.

If you had wanted the full flexibilities of a full fare ticket ex-HKG to LHR , you wouldn't have taken the option of a RTW which has more restrictions. What I am suggesting is to travel ex-BKK. Ticketing may be done in HKG. You may reroute as you so wish.

Having purchased my 2004 AONE5 with cash (wire transfer) in Cairo, I fully expected SSSS treatment, but, thankfully, was never selected.