FlyingUnderTheRadar

Therein lies the beauty, security has little to do with the carry on limits. They just care what is in the bins not how many bins.

Not sure on that one ...

sxpsxpsxp

This tip probably saved me 20 minutes if not longer. Considering how closely they examined my sneakers, and knowing how much crap I carry around in my bag, I shudder to think what that experience would have been like. I got the most thorough pat down by TSA at JFK that I think I may have ever gotten. Honestly it was almost a massage. The screener was actually excited that I had no bags. I hope the rest of my trip goes smoother.

Loren Pechtel

Our normal procedure at the checkpoint is she goes through first, I wait until she's in a position to watch the stuff coming out, then I send the bags through. Nobody has ever questioned my walking up to the bins with a double load of baggage. Never tried to play games to avoid a bag search, but only once have we gotten a SSSS that meant anything--in Vancouver. She frequently gets SSSSed, but in Shanghai where it's just ink on the paper.

Apollosmom

On a recent turnaround business flight IAD FRA on United thence FRA ATL on Lufthansa, I received the dreaded SSSS. Earned me a thorough inspection at FRA, to include foot massage as cited above. Entering terminal Z, the SSSS earned me a 10 minute wait to get escorted back to the same security checkpoint for yet another thorough check, to include another foot massage, With all this excitement, I was worried about my Global Entry reception at ATL…fortunately, NADA….had no further issues flying home the next door, or on IAD to MCI flight the following week. Funny part, I am affiliated with Lufthansa Cargo!

sxpsxpsxp

I got tagged again on the return flight from London. So annoying. As last time, I sent all of my stuff ahead with my family so it was just me, my phone and my jacket. Thankfully at LHR they just do this at the gate, not at the security checkpoint. Only took a few minutes.

sxpsxpsxp

I spoke to someone in CBP who supposedly checked my record and said there's nothing in there to explain why I'm getting tagged. This person theorized that perhaps Scotland Yard has me tagged and has sent something to DHS requesting additional screening. I don't know if I believe that, but I suppose anything is possible. So while it could certainly be random, I'm somewhat skeptical of that since out of 4 US-LHR flights (two out, two back) I got tagged on 3 of them (all except for my first outbound back in October).

This person suggested that before I resort to a redress number that I file a FOIA request. If anyone here has experience with these, could you advise on whether that's a viable path forward and what agency I would direct it to?

Thanks.

BNAChairman

Recently completed a paid roundtrip in DL One from SAN/SLC/LHR on a VS marketed ticket. The good news is that all segments posted quickly and accurately using the 40% of miles flown for the MQD calculation. On the outbound everything seemed normal. TSA Precheck worked as usual with my Global Entry number in the ticket record. On the return from LHR to SLC I was unable to check in online. When arriving at the Virgin Upper Class Wing, our Uber Driver had to repeatedly provide information to someone over a speaker. We were finally allowed to drive through. Check in went normally for me and my companion, also traveling in DL One on a separate reservation. We even spotted Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon and his wife in front of us.

After arriving at the gate in LHR we discovered that we both had the dreaded SSSS on our boarding passes. Haven't seen that in over ten years. And upon arrival in SLC I discovered that TSA Precheck was missing from my SLC to SAN boarding pass. My companion still enjoyed Precheck on that segment. A Sky Club rep checked everything and couldn't explain what happened. Has this ever happened to anyone flying back to the US?

Mr. Tickets

You do know that Pre-tsa isn't guaranteed. Every once in a while you might not get it due to random checks. Also, sometimes there is a breakdown in communication between TSA and the airlines. That is why sometimes, if you get your boarding pass reprinted, you will get it.

Cory6188

It's been a while, but the last time I had SSSS on my boarding pass for the international leg arriving in the US, I didn't have Precheck on my connecting BP (for MSP-BDL as part of ICN-MSP-BDL, not that the routing itself probably really matters).

It's the only time in probably the past 5 years that I can think of where Precheck didn't show up - perhaps it's correlated? I'd be curious if anyone else has run into this.

BNAChairman

The reprint didn't work in this case. Sky Club rep printed it again the club and still no TSA Precheck. I would accept the random theory if it weren't for both of us on separate PNRs receiving the SSSS. From the list of selectees where our seat numbers were recorded we were the only passengers selected for additional screening in DL One.

flyerCO

If flying same airline and you get SSSS, you should get SSSS for both segments. (At least from personal experience of me and co-workers) If however had been flying say VS LHR-US and DL US-US then would've been able to to get Pre on the domestic segments. The SSSS in most cases is a random selection of passengers on international inbound flights. It is done by the airline and is noted in that airlines systems.

As for OP he could also now match someone on a list. People somtime need both a KTN and a redress number to get Pre.

GagaPilot

The TSA is increasing their number of “Random Checks.” This is for both the traveling public (SSSS on a boarding pass) as well as airline crewmembers utilizing KCM, Known Crewmember, (receiving USP upon scanning their ID - Unpredictable Screening Protocol).

As an airline pilot it’s becoming a real pain. About 50% of all Crewmembers are “randomed” daily - further increasing long TSA lines. Had it happen this morning to me in AUS.

I would imagine it was a one off for the OP, but would expect to see it happen more frequently to others soon.

findark

SSSS will suppress Pre on downline segments on the same PNR.

Sometimes reprinting helps, sometimes checking in again once the international coupon is lifted helps, and sometimes it doesn't come back. This is normal.

flyerCO

Which makes sense as to why i posted happens. Each airline has their own PNR usually.

RobOnLI

Got SSSS'd on United yesterday and no PreCheck on the domestic connection. I SDC'd (same concept for DL) and suddenly PreCheck appeared. I used that BP to get through security and then SDC'd back to the earlier flight I was on that wouldn't give me PreCheck even after re-checking in while on the long haul flight or by re-entering my KTN.

I suspect the same would happen for DL. If you SDC to a different flight it's considered a brand new check-in so will likely get PreCheck back. Of course SDC'ing to a later flight does not guarantee you can SDC back to your original flight. Plus things like RUC/GUC can muck up SDC. Sometimes it may not be worth it and standard security screening should just be used.

-RM