Loren Pechtel

Reality: The routines that decide on SSSS are flawed. If they didn't warrant an SSSS originally then no airside ticket change should make them more risky. Thus the proper thing to do would be to never issue a SSSS airside unless there was new information since the passenger originally went airside.

The system you describe is simply covering up their bad programming that doesn't understand the last-second airside ticket is due to IRROPS, not a terrorist trying to beat the system.

daniellam

AFAIK, the AQQ system does not differentiate between IRROPS and last minute bookings. When a change to the PNR is made (especially when very close to departure), it is resubmitted to the DHS/TSA so that the AQQ flag can be updated again.

Mats

Thank you, daniellam.

The TSA always claims "your airline selected you. It wasn't us." Hmmmm.

GUWonder

That wouldn't be the first or last time the TSA has tried to lie and/or otherwise misled the public.

The airline can select passengers too, but for haraSSSSment at US airports, it's mostly the government doing the selecting of passengers for haraSSSSment.

exerda

This is entirely true.

Airline employees, however, also lie, in stating that they cannot do anything / can't remove the SSSS, as they most assuredly can. Maybe some are afraid of consequences--but they nonetheless can remove the SSSS designation, particularly when it's insanely obviously stupid like when reprinting BPs, clearing standby, etc. for pax who have already been through screening.

Loren Pechtel

Exactly--it doesn't distinguish and thus makes a wrong decision.

GUWonder

Most last minute bookings for US flights don't result in haraSSSSment. Most IRROPS-related changes for US flights also don't result in haraSSSSment. The era when those two factors were primary driver of haraSSSSment has passed. The primary driver of haraSSSSment on US flights is now due to other factors being primary.

Blueskyheaven

I had SSSS on my boarding pass again this time few days ago on flight from DOH to PHL on Qatar. Last time I had was on from SIN to US.
Both are one ways. After the first incident, I filed TSA redress and I did enter the number on my recent flight. It seems the TSA redress things don't work and the GOV or whoever it is, assumes me as an unwanted thug for booking one ways.

I wish there was a lawsuit against the GOV for this haraSSment. Also as a naturalized US citizen, ( asian american) my family with 2 year got grilled at immigration & custom POE. All we went to was HKG, IN and Nep for 30 days. Questions such as, why you went, what you do, national origin, and than was sent to have our bags checked because we had some baby foods and some cookies and non meat stuffs.

zitsky

It must be pretty frustrating to get this treatment. But at least some whites get treated this way as well.

Often1

How did you answer the food question on your Customs declaration? Did you check "yes" or "no?"

Proudelitist

My understanding is that it is the carrier itself which does this, and they are required to randomly assign them to x number of pax in a given time period as part of their operating agreement with the GOV.

Blueskyheaven

ofcourse i checked YES and declared the baby food and cookies on the form.

MY unhappiness is over the repeat SSSS even after filing redress. Will my US senator help me to get this cleared? Because readdress number didn't help I didn't have SSSS on boarding pass for my final destination from PHL to ORD. And about the CBP agent officer at POE, I guess it maybe very routine and very normal for them to question any US passport holders? They want me think my sweet home USA is no longer the " land of the free "? This never happens to me when I visit any other countries.

wilp888

Last week, I flew SIN-SFO-YVR, inbound on a RT ticket. I was issued 3 boarding passes and had SSSS on both SIN-HKG and HKG-SFO. Am I wrong to think that was excessive? I can understand one segmnt having SSSS but two segments with a 3 hour layover? I have been a GE member for over 6 years and also have NEXUS and CLEAR memberships and I have had PreCheck on every flight I have taken since the program originated. I cleared GE at SFO with a clean receipt. I complained to a United supervisor at SIN but he claimed that the SSSS was generated by US Homeland Security but I think it's generated by United's computer system. Does anybody know definitively whether the SSSS is generated by the airline?

Mict

second time I am flying IST-YYZ-DTW, second time I get SSSS'ed ...
I am in IST right now, will see how it goes in YYZ, last time I almost missed my flight to DTW, they started to look for my bags to unload them from the plane.

Blueskyheaven

Tickets were one ways?
I had them on one ways twice, the later one even after getting TSA readdress number.

My return flight was Qatar, booked with AA miles on phone. After it was booked, I logged in my aadvantage account to look for the reservation and entered my Readdress number and passport info, etc.


I wonder if I should have the readdress number added by AA agent on phone?