"SSSS" - Secondary Security Screening Selection
Mar 13, 2016, 9:43 am
#211
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
Sadly, a Known Traveller Number (KTN) does not affect SSSS status for flight to the USA.
Eligibility for PreCheck--either through Global Entry, Nexus, SENTRI, or PreCheck enrollment affects only flights within the United States or flights departing the United States operated by US carriers.
Carriers are required to select an estimated 10 or 15 percent of passengers for secondary screening for flights destined to the United States. It would be logical if they only picked people who had not been vetted by trusted traveller programs. But either the algorithm doesn't include that, or the flight hasn't yet met its quota of selectees, so they choose more.
SSSS designation from within the USA is generated by a version of the CAPPS and CAPPS-2 systems along with watch lists. The FAA (and now TSA) design the system, the airlines are the ones who implement it.
Overseas, an airline may use some form of this system, such as flights from Canada and Mexico. In other countries, contract security agents interview passengers (twice) and may be the source of selecting "SSSS" passengers. In many cases, you're just pulled out of line on a continuous basis until the 10 or 15 percent threshold has been met.
In my experience, Canada is the only country that implements secondary screening at the regular security checkpoint for passengers with SSSS designation. The other airlines do this at the gate. (I'm excluding Israel from this discussion since security procedures at its four commercial airports are so different from the rest of the world.)
Lastly, there can be massive variation in what an SSSS earns. In the US, it means a speech from the TSA agent, long strokes of pressing all over one's body--including the groin--and testing the agent's gloves for explosives. Shoes, belts, wallet contents, and bags are also inspected and swabbed.
In other countries (Canada) it might mean a visit to a full-body imaging machine. Some may require detailed questioning (the UK). And the overwhelming majority just put on a brief show of frisking or wanding or just hand luggage inspection. But this is dependent up on the airline, airport, and which contract security agency has been hired.
Eligibility for PreCheck--either through Global Entry, Nexus, SENTRI, or PreCheck enrollment affects only flights within the United States or flights departing the United States operated by US carriers.
Carriers are required to select an estimated 10 or 15 percent of passengers for secondary screening for flights destined to the United States. It would be logical if they only picked people who had not been vetted by trusted traveller programs. But either the algorithm doesn't include that, or the flight hasn't yet met its quota of selectees, so they choose more.
SSSS designation from within the USA is generated by a version of the CAPPS and CAPPS-2 systems along with watch lists. The FAA (and now TSA) design the system, the airlines are the ones who implement it.
Overseas, an airline may use some form of this system, such as flights from Canada and Mexico. In other countries, contract security agents interview passengers (twice) and may be the source of selecting "SSSS" passengers. In many cases, you're just pulled out of line on a continuous basis until the 10 or 15 percent threshold has been met.
In my experience, Canada is the only country that implements secondary screening at the regular security checkpoint for passengers with SSSS designation. The other airlines do this at the gate. (I'm excluding Israel from this discussion since security procedures at its four commercial airports are so different from the rest of the world.)
Lastly, there can be massive variation in what an SSSS earns. In the US, it means a speech from the TSA agent, long strokes of pressing all over one's body--including the groin--and testing the agent's gloves for explosives. Shoes, belts, wallet contents, and bags are also inspected and swabbed.
In other countries (Canada) it might mean a visit to a full-body imaging machine. Some may require detailed questioning (the UK). And the overwhelming majority just put on a brief show of frisking or wanding or just hand luggage inspection. But this is dependent up on the airline, airport, and which contract security agency has been hired.
Mar 13, 2016, 10:21 am
#212
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Redress numbers only help if you are on one of the watch lists because you are a close match to someone who does belong on the list or somehow made your way onto a list for reasons which should not be.
But, those numbers do not get you out from seconday "SSSS" treatment for either random or other reasons which could include one-way tickets, paid for with other than a CC in your name, purchased on short-notice and so on.
But, those numbers do not get you out from seconday "SSSS" treatment for either random or other reasons which could include one-way tickets, paid for with other than a CC in your name, purchased on short-notice and so on.
Mar 13, 2016, 1:00 pm
#213
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,872
Redress numbers only help if you are on one of the watch lists because you are a close match to someone who does belong on the list or somehow made your way onto a list for reasons which should not be.
But, those numbers do not get you out from seconday "SSSS" treatment for either random or other reasons which could include one-way tickets, paid for with other than a CC in your name, purchased on short-notice and so on.
But, those numbers do not get you out from seconday "SSSS" treatment for either random or other reasons which could include one-way tickets, paid for with other than a CC in your name, purchased on short-notice and so on.
Jun 11, 2016, 2:45 pm
#214
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,302
So if I get upgraded at the gate, what am I supposed to do if it reflects SSSS, and I've already been through SSSS procedures on my original boarding pass? I'm concerned that the helpful comments made by daniellam don't apply to domestic AA flights.
By the way, I was added to the SSSS list by a Flagship lounge employee in LHR.
By the way, I was added to the SSSS list by a Flagship lounge employee in LHR.
Last edited by beachfan; Jun 11, 2016 at 3:31 pm
Jun 12, 2016, 12:18 pm
#215
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
I was told at the time that if the original boarding pass had reflected SSSS and had been appropriately signed by the security checkpoint, rescreening would not have been necessary.
Jun 12, 2016, 2:01 pm
#216
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
So if I get upgraded at the gate, what am I supposed to do if it reflects SSSS, and I've already been through SSSS procedures on my original boarding pass? I'm concerned that the helpful comments made by daniellam don't apply to domestic AA flights.
By the way, I was added to the SSSS list by a Flagship lounge employee in LHR.
By the way, I was added to the SSSS list by a Flagship lounge employee in LHR.
Jun 12, 2016, 2:32 pm
#217
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
So if I get upgraded at the gate, what am I supposed to do if it reflects SSSS, and I've already been through SSSS procedures on my original boarding pass? I'm concerned that the helpful comments made by daniellam don't apply to domestic AA flights.
By the way, I was added to the SSSS list by a Flagship lounge employee in LHR.
By the way, I was added to the SSSS list by a Flagship lounge employee in LHR.
I had a particularly nasty agent do this at flagship too and have escalated it.
Jun 12, 2016, 2:35 pm
#218
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
In my case I hadn't gone through the questions because I checked in online. Thought I'd be efficient and do it there. the woman was super flippant and didn't ask clear questions then got mad at me for not answering how she wanted. She clicked a few keys then printed out boarding pass with the SSSS. I called her out and she said I wasn't compliant. I raised all hell (politely and quietly of course) and there are now multiple levels of LHR and DFW HQ staff involved. Pm me if you had a similar experience and I'll share their info w you.
Jun 14, 2016, 9:31 am
#219
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,302
They took my original boarding pass out of the room with my passport and came back with new boarding passes marked SSSS. She didn't say she did anything.
Jun 14, 2016, 9:34 am
#220
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,302
Jun 15, 2016, 8:02 pm
#223
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
This is discussed in the American Airlines AAdvantage forum.
Unlike other US carriers, American has its own staff asking the security questions for flights out of larger European gateways. This is new for American. Previously, American--like other US airlines--hired contractors like ICTS to ask the questions.
<redacted by moderator>
Unlike other US carriers, American has its own staff asking the security questions for flights out of larger European gateways. This is new for American. Previously, American--like other US airlines--hired contractors like ICTS to ask the questions.
<redacted by moderator>
Last edited by TWA884; Jun 17, 2016 at 10:25 am Reason: Policy debate, not Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues advice/information.
Jun 16, 2016, 3:59 pm
#224
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
This is discussed in the American Airlines AAdvantage forum.
Unlike other US carriers, American has its own staff asking the security questions for flights out of larger European gateways. This is new for American. Previously, American--like other US airlines--hired contractors like ICTS to ask the questions.
<redacted by moderator>
Unlike other US carriers, American has its own staff asking the security questions for flights out of larger European gateways. This is new for American. Previously, American--like other US airlines--hired contractors like ICTS to ask the questions.
<redacted by moderator>
Last edited by TWA884; Jun 17, 2016 at 10:26 am Reason: Conform to moderator's edit of quoted post
Jun 21, 2016, 7:03 am
#225
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
They get a yes/no prompt on their PC for something like "traveller answered all my questions in a satisfactory way". They choose No and you get the SSSS. Simple.