"SSSS" - Secondary Security Screening Selection
Apr 29, 2010, 12:37 pm
#61
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FrostByte Falls, Mn
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Posts: 2,157
That happened to my wife and I at SFO when we questioned a baggage charge. The screening guys took a look at it and rolled their eyes. One of them told me to complain to the airline, since SSSS is not supposed to be used as retaliation.
We got the full go-over, but the screeners were very professional and polite about it all.
They said Air Canada was famous for it...no kidding.
We got the full go-over, but the screeners were very professional and polite about it all.
They said Air Canada was famous for it...no kidding.
Complaints and status did nothing until TSA changed their policies.
Apr 29, 2010, 12:42 pm
#62
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: *wood Gold
Posts: 1,781
I guess the same stupidity still applies to those who buy only one way tickets with cash last minute and have no luggage to check. How dumb.
Apr 29, 2010, 12:50 pm
#63
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
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color me confused <pause> but didn't the maSSSSage on one's bp go away quite some time ago (as it was just way to easy for the bad guys 'n gals to figure it out) and get replaced with one of the new at the airport "many layers of skewrity" where you simply get told to "go wait over there"
Apr 29, 2010, 12:55 pm
#64
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MCO (Orlando, Florida)
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Posts: 209
Happened Twice in Omaha
On two seperate occasions, my UA flight was cancelled so I had to leave the gate area and go to ticketing where an new boarding pass was issued with big SSSSS printed on it. I was annoyed because the airline cancelled the flight that caused it. I did nothing IMHO to warrent it.
Apr 29, 2010, 1:07 pm
#65
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Just yesterday at IAD I picked up my new boarding pass for F IAD-SFO at the gate, and "SSSS" clearly on it. Can't recall that happening before.
Apr 29, 2010, 1:30 pm
#66
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,444
Apr 29, 2010, 1:59 pm
#67
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FrostByte Falls, Mn
Programs: Holiday Inn Plat NW gold AA gold
Posts: 2,157
tsa lack of candor
Apr 29, 2010, 2:03 pm
#68
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Even if they had to tear apart a carry on it would have been faster, as there were two or three people checking it, so it was quick.
You don't want those terrorists waiting.
Apr 29, 2010, 2:06 pm
#69
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Location: Greater DC
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Posts: 12,943
Completly agree with this. If you can pass whatever you are carrying to somebody else, it's just a pat down and you are on your way. Even if you can not, the time it was my turn the regular lines were very long, I was quite happy they sent me to the one person waiting for his SSSS treatment line.
Even if they had to tear apart a carry on it would have been faster, as there were two or three people checking it, so it was quick.
You don't want those terrorists waiting.
Even if they had to tear apart a carry on it would have been faster, as there were two or three people checking it, so it was quick.
You don't want those terrorists waiting.
Apr 29, 2010, 2:18 pm
#70
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, GlobalEntry, Admirals Club, United Club
Posts: 1,949
It used to be given to people who said anything bad about the TSA or DHS. (American citizens with no ties to terrorist groups whatsoever-I remember a news story about someone who openly spoke out against the TSA and got the SSSS every time they took a flight- he was a no-name actor or director or something and he had never been out of the country-didn't even have a passport). I guess now they stopped those types of things and are actually doing it randomly, but who the heck knows whats going on with the DHS.
Apr 29, 2010, 2:32 pm
#71
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 599
geez, i thought it was gone 100%too! oh well, only having 10% is better than nothing (in 2008 my grandma from singapore who was in a wheelchair got SSSSed at SFO when conencting from HKG to IAH. we joked that "she was special" but little did i know the truth!)
Apr 29, 2010, 4:52 pm
#72
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
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On two seperate occasions, my UA flight was cancelled so I had to leave the gate area and go to ticketing where an new boarding pass was issued with big SSSSS printed on it. I was annoyed because the airline cancelled the flight that caused it. I did nothing IMHO to warrent it.
. once i realized the agents could remove it, it never happened again 
Apr 29, 2010, 4:58 pm
#73
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A photocopy of a bp would be on airline card stock, so it might be noticed. If you meant OLCI BPs, those won't have SSS because OLCI BPs won't be produced.
Apr 29, 2010, 5:20 pm
#74
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 180
This happened to me once, when the ticket agent gave me my BP i instantly saw the SSSS and made a comment about how I had been "randomly" selected, and she replied with "oh, this one was actually random!" So I gave all of my carry-ons to my wife and went thru the line without anything.
Apr 29, 2010, 7:13 pm
#75
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 88
I think some information is slowly sinking in.
I'm a somewhat disabled person - I suffered a fracture (small, hairline) in a vertebrae that left me with a slipped vertebrae - it's worse than a slipped disk and cannot easily be fixed. Consequently, I have a hard time lifting anything ( and am under doctor's orders not to).
So - my husband could actually "manage" my two items for me at the security checkpoint? Whether SSSS or not, I could just walk through and just deal with my jacket and shoes (getting jackets on and off exacerbates the condition, tying shoelaces or putting on shoes is one of the few daily tasks that is most bothersome - if I tense up, it's worse).
We're waiting for my spine to fuse itself (it takes years, it's getting better - I think) but I never really considered just having my husband carry everything (he keeps insisting that's how it should be).
That's really possible?
I'm a somewhat disabled person - I suffered a fracture (small, hairline) in a vertebrae that left me with a slipped vertebrae - it's worse than a slipped disk and cannot easily be fixed. Consequently, I have a hard time lifting anything ( and am under doctor's orders not to).
So - my husband could actually "manage" my two items for me at the security checkpoint? Whether SSSS or not, I could just walk through and just deal with my jacket and shoes (getting jackets on and off exacerbates the condition, tying shoelaces or putting on shoes is one of the few daily tasks that is most bothersome - if I tense up, it's worse).
We're waiting for my spine to fuse itself (it takes years, it's getting better - I think) but I never really considered just having my husband carry everything (he keeps insisting that's how it should be).
That's really possible?