Ok gang, here's a non-TSA related question.

Back in February, I was supposed to fly back to EWR to attend the funeral of my grandfather. Unfortunately, he picked the week of a major snow/ice storm in New Jersey to leave us.

We checked out flights, and picked a Continental flight at 6am to get back to NJ (Continental has the only non-stop to EWR from RDU).

Well, fate would have our flight as the first one after EWR reopened. Continential, for reasons STILL not clear to me, decided to change the plane size to a smaller one for the flight, basically stranding 40 of us, and telling us we couldn't get to EWR till Monday.

Well, I told the gate agent that was unacceptable, and that we would seek alternate transportation, and could he please get my bag back out from under the plane so we could make the drive to NJ. He was helpful, but as soon as the supervisor heard this he said "No, he can't get his bag, this flight has to leave on time." Nevermind it was all ready late.

I lost it. Ripped the supervisor good. Yes I was all ready stressed, and here's this schmuck telling me that I'm at his mercy? I wasn't nice. At one point I said "You're gonna get my bag off that plane or..." And he says: "or what?" He's lucky my wife squeezed my arm or I was going over the counter. I couldn't come up with a witty retort. The only good thing was the next 15 passengers behind me demanded their bags back. For the record, I did get my bag. And, for the record, Continental refunded our fare in full on a non-refundable ticket.

Now here's my question: Since I pissed off Continental, what is the chance that they're going to make me an SSSSelectee in retaliation? We know that the airlines decide this, not the TSA. I haven't flown Continental since the incident, however, I will be flying them 3 times over the holidays, and I want to prepare now for abuse and document everything.

Thoughts?

The SSSS "tagging" no longer exists. Unless this turned into a bigger situation than you describe above and the police, etc. became involved, I wouldn't worry about this at all. Did anyone from CO mention anything about repercussions?

The outcome you describe above is exactly what they should have done in this situation. Alternatively you could have mandated that they put you on another airline's combination of flights to reach EWR.

False.

Criteria for an SSSS tagging still exists, only that it happens in much fewer instances.

I just got tagged SSS on a YYZ-BOS flight earlier this week as the Air canada computer couldn't figure out why someone would only want to do a day trip to YYZ. So it does exist as noted previously.

Not false - it simply does not work the way the OP is asking about. Nor is the SSSS terminology used any more in the US.

Does a "selectee" list exist, and can a match occur against that list? Sure.

Again, false.

Read this post.

Here's a quote from a TSAer on that post:

This is another example where you may want to go back to your post and edit out the information specific enough to let them figure out who you are. Somebody may take an interest after reading it here and say, hey, did we mark this jerks account as a jerk?

I do not know one way or the other if Continental does keep track of this, I know some programs have the ability to do so, if you were off the radar you probably want to stay off it.

To answer the question you are probably fine though security, though your bags may go on an adventure of their own, make sure to check and double check the destination, etc.

I tried to get them to put me on another flight, and got laughed at. "We don't do that. I don't care about your circumstances."

I'd much rather fly with another carrier, but you try flying into JFK or LGA during the holiday season.

I only have to worry about this until WN starts service to EWR.

Based on what I read here, and what I hear from colleagues, I don't think I'll another US-based airlines. No way would passengers in any other country put up with this nonsense.

I really don't understand why you want to fly Circlejerk Orgasm air line again.

I don't want to either, however, from RDU they are the ONLY nonstop to EWR, and as I mentioned, going to JFK or LGA during the holiday season is suicidal at best. Plus, they have the best fare, unfortunately.

PHL is too far away.

WN will be flying into EWR soon. Hopefully I'll be able to use them from RDU.

And what would someone's boarding pass say in that instance? Not "SSSS"?

It depends on the airline - in many cases a boarding pass has to be issued by a supervisor and a TSO accompanies the passenger through the security checkpoint. I know of at least 3 airlines where this occurs now in the US.

The "SSSS" should still be print on the BP. As to the airline supervisor issuing the BP, that is not a TSA requirement (as far as I know, I could be wrong), but it actually makes sense to me. When a selected is identified at the TDC, they usually are "escorted" through the checkpoint - that's pretty standard as at most airports we no longer check the BP at the WTMD.

All I can say is that we specifically still look for the SSSS on the BP, but if an airline has problems with their system, they may individually escort a passenger up to the checkpoint. Don't really know about that, though.

To the OP: you will not be added to the selected list. And in not surprised they didn't care about your reasons for flying. I believe you that your family suffered a loss, yet many, many, many passengers lie and say such things to try to get special treatment, so the airline employees have learned - sadly - to take it with a huge grain of salt.

Looks like SSSS still exists, star_world, or would you like to take another crack at explaining that SSSS is a thing of the past when that clearly isn't the case . . .