linglingfool

The GA called for a supervisor to escort my GF out. In the end it was just a regular agent from out front that came to get her, who insisted that I needed to exit the sterile area as well despite not having SSSS on my boarding pass.

And yes, the GA processed the standby, tore up the original boarding pass, and handed her the boarding pass with SSSS on it once the agent arrived to show her out. I'm not sure how that qualifies as an IDB, since they're just following TSA protocol and didn't have a way of knowing that the new BP would be flagged SSSS.

The GA didn't seem to be willing to bend rules for anyone, partially because he was preoccupied with a phone call to the DFW Airport PD, trying to convince them that a nearby pax filming him in the terminal was illegal. He and the FA standing next to him were shocked to find out that wasn't the case.

MrAndy1369

Seems like you got terrible customer service. I would recommend sending AA a report (if it was AA, which I assume it was because DFW).

Often1

It doesn't qualify as IDB. Nothing requires the carrier to hold the flight whether TSA comes to the gate or not.

But, OP's girlfriend (she, not he got the SSSS) ought to complain to AA about AA's failure to follow protocol. OP ought to complain AA separately about the supervisor's insistence that OP accompany the girlfriend (not that he would have flown on his own).

linglingfool

Already complained to AA about both items together (I'm lazy), making it clear that I wasn't out for compensation, but rather that I wanted my comments forwarded to the station manager at DFW. I received a response less than 24 hours later indicating that they would be forwarded to the GA's supervisor, which I am fine with. (I was frankly surprised how quickly they got back to me.)

Unrelated, but the flight I was rebooked had gone MX earlier in the day and they had to downgauge, leading to a lengthy delay that transpired largely before we arrived. I still received the token apology miles from AA unprompted, and ultimately got home earlier than originally scheduled, so I can't complain too much.

Mats

The agents are so paranoid of getting in trouble, even with the SSSS appears in the middle of a trip.

Years ago, I travelled with a high school student group of fifteen on a connecting flight from La Guardia to Chicago. All fifteen got the SSSS (same PNR.) When I asked the United agent, she said "I'm just doing my job." The TSA said we weren't allowed to ask questions (I was one of two chaperones.) Missed the flight. The first segment boarding cards didn't have the SSSS.

I've also had the mid-trip SSSS due to a flight change. I didn't misconnect because of a delay, but I came close. At that time, United and Continental were under two separate reservations systems. So my ticket became a "new" ticket under the United system, and therefore subject to SSSS, even though it was my third segment of the day, and I was already in a secure area.

Nope... back to security to be frisked all over the place. That saved lives.

I'm guessing that the TSA would never want individual agents to have the right to override an SSSS. But.... the airlines' systems, not the TSA select passengers. But what if the agent could call some special phone number or ask a supervisor: "It's a group of 15-year-olds going to Chicago." or "It's a high-level frequent flyer, and his flight just got cancelled, and we're trying to get him on the next one."

These seem like totally rational reasons to cancel an SSSS.

It's like this: the airlines will allow a bag to fly unaccompanied if it is a "known" bag. In other words, the passenger was involuntarily separated from the bag due to a misconnect or mishandled baggage. The passenger clearly didn't engineer an unaccompanied bag. This is similar: the airlines' system already deemed the passenger to be of regular or ordinary risk. A change in risk status at the airline's fault should not lead to SSSS.

@#$! I'm trying to apply logic to the TSA. It never works.

MrAndy1369

What year was this?

A couple questions here for everyone.

a) In the past, I've heard of people using whiteout on printed BP's to get rid of the SSSS, and this worked. Does this not work anymore?

b) I thought SSSS went away a few years ago?

Section 107

re: a) - altering of travel documents, including boarding passes, can result in SIGNIFICANT delays in one's travel when discovered by Homeland Insecurity.

GUWonder

a) that alone doesn't work now given the transition to bar code scanning -- note that the TSA scans the boarding pass which alerts them to more than just names.

b) <SSSS> flags have been issued for years (even before 9/11), and it never stopped after 9/11 -- the frequency and method of application got adjusted, but <SSSS> has continued to be around.

Loren Pechtel

What they need to do is make it so the system understands when a ticket is being issued airside and categorically block SSSSs on them.

Mats

A+ Loren Pechtel!
Simple fix.

It doesn't help with transfers to other airlines, but it's certainly a step in the right direction. I'm not a coder or programmer, but this seems like a straightforward software fix.

GUWonder

It's easy to do, but they may not be so intent to change this.

It doesn't take genius to inhibit haraSSSSment for flight ticket coupons that are marked with an X in the appropriate field to indicate a connection flight.

Loren Pechtel

It's a simple fix if you have a well designed system.

My understanding is that their systems are nightmares of supporting ancient legacy systems.

Loren Pechtel

So, the bad guy goes outside security and meets a confederate.

It should only apply to coupons issued airside.

linglingfool

The easiest way to fix it would be to ignore it if it comes up when printed airside, but as there are clearly defined TSA procedures on how to handle such situations, I have to believe it's intentional.

daniellam

For those who are wondering...

It is NOT the airline's own computer system that chooses whether a passenger gets selected for SSSS.

Prior to departure, the airline's system submits passenger PNRs to the DHS/TSA (and to ESTA if for flights from outside the US with US destinations) for itineraries that involve the US.

The DHS/TSA then analyzes the data [compares it name lists, analyzes suspicious travel patterns, or even does random selection etc.] and returns to the airline either an AQQ/FCL (passenger is clear for travel), AQQ/SEL (passenger is a selectee which means the passenger will get "SSSS" on their boarding pass) or other status codes.

Once a passenger gets the extra security screening, the TSA (or equivalent in foreign country if passenger boarding a flight to the US) stamps or writes something on the boarding pass.

An alert gate agent should see that if the passenger has already been screened that he/she should go into their system to remove the "AQQ/SEL" flag and possibly change it to "AQQ/FCL" before attempting to board the passenger. Otherwise if the boarding pass is scanned, a message would come back saying that the passenger cannot be boarded (until the "AQQ/SEL" status is manually updated to "AQQ/FCL").

It looks like it is up to the gate agent to override the system (after trusting that the passenger has been screened by TSA based on markings/stamps on the boarding pass) to allow the passenger to board.

In theory, a passenger who has already received enhanced security screening can show their SSSS boarding pass (with TSA stamp) to the gate agent and get their boarding pass reprinted without SSSS (after agent has verified the stamp and updated the system).

Here is a video as to how it works at Air China (note, they also participate in SSSS for flights to/from the US). This was a TravelSky training video I found on youtube. Pay attention to 2:00 of the video.
For passengers who get "SSSS" on a boarding pass printed in the airside, in theory, they should get rescreened by TSA as the gate agent will need to see the TSA stamp/marking on the boarding pass before updating the system. They could get into trouble for updating the system without the stamp (since the system logs which agent has updated the AQQ status).

What if an up to non good passenger exits security at the connecting city and picks up a "package" from a "friend" and takes it back airside and then asks to be put on standby for a flight they are targeting?