What is SSSS?
 

Hello folks.
I want to know what is SSSS.
I've found a lot of acronym every time when I read threads. However, someone tell me the definition.
Last year, on my first UA flight, it was printed on my BP.

Randon Security Check....not as in suspected teror person...computer generated!

Technically, people who get the SSSS are referred to as selectees.

I got my first one this week at SFO. I made Jet'Dillo come with me so although that means we both get the Royal Treatment, we also have two people to keep an eye on our stuff. They made a weak attempt to send him off on his own through the regular line (who would volunteer for this?) but I insisted. It took a good long time, we each had a laptop, two bags plus coats, shoes, my walking stick, etc.

I was not terribly fond of having my laptop sit around unattended on a table (but at least I could see it through the glass) or inspecting the contents of every single box, bag or package in my carry-on. (I like to sort things into clear plastic bags.)

SSSS also knows no preferential treatment. I was selected twice last year on UA/UX/US out of 130 flights. I am 2003 UGS so status has no effect on selection.


I was also selected once out of 4 DLX flights (where I Have no status). This happens so it is something we all have to put up with it.

Even more reason why "random" searches are idiotic. Instead of putting their efforts into identifying real targets, they take the easy way out and do the random thing. Makes the once a year flyer to Grandma's think they are "safer" and the TSA is actually doing something.

And last time I checked this was still a democracy, so this is most certainly NOT something we have to put up with.

It appears the original poster's question has been asked and answered?

So further comments on this thread in this forum will probably be best related to UA, not TSA practices in general, etc. Those would be better in the Travel Security forum

Thanks,

Chuck
aka cblaisd
Moderator, United

Remember there is a way with UA anyway to get around this if you object to being searched and hassled for anything up to a few minutes.

Ask for another seat assignment. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

The "SSSS" goes away more often than not. (It is random.)

And then you can change your mind and ask UA for same seat back as you have before you changed your mind. Before you move from the podium. Same deal usually. No "SSSS"

It is an absurd and obvious tagging, and if the TSA thinks for one second that 90% of folks on a BB know it means they are ear-marked for extra searching, one might imagine after a couple of years that all potential terrorists might know about it too. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

The other thing, with UA at least, is that the "SSSS" comes out real large on original BP. Like half inch high type size.

Last month I had seats I did not care to lose, even for an instant, so did not want to try cancelling the seat deal. So I asked RCC for another BP as mine had accidentally got mangled in my briefcase lock. Very mangled as she could see. Tragic. So the new BP from RCC came out with "SSSS" in a font the size of this BB.

I was not secondarily searched. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

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~ Glen ~ sipping bubbly from a UA 747-400 exit row 15 near you SOON!

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited Feb 08, 2004).]

Why United prints SSSS on BPs for the flights flying outside the USA?, while TSA doesn't interfere. I had very first UA flight in 2003 from ICN to NRT. SSSS was printed on my BP for that flight, even though that flight wasn't heading to the USA. That was the only SSSS that I've ever got, although I'm a minor and not a suspicious person.

It's because the microcephalacs at the TSA demand that x% of all passengers be selectees so that they can keep their jobs. Otherwise, all those people who are now on the government dole would have no one to harass, and we can't have that, can we?

UA (and the other carrier) simply extends this BP designation to flights where they have 5th Freedom Rights so that the TSA can pat themselves on the back and say "by golly, x% of the passengers in the systems are selectees, we can continue to avoid going back to being Wal-Mart greeters."

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

Ah, how sad and pathetic the whole thing is. Why don't we just screen EVERYONE properly in the first place? Only had the dreaded SSSS on one flight, and that was AA, not UA. Just this week I flew on a one way ticket BOS-SFO with no advance purchase, etc., etc. and didnt'get the SSSS even then. Isn't that a terrorist-type activity with the one way, etc?


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sftrvlr

Be of "Middle Eastern" appearance, buy the one way and have a nice Anglo-Saxon name like Mustapha, Mohammad or Abdul and see how how you fare then http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif



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~ Glen ~ sipping bubbly from a UA 747-400 exit row 15 near you SOON!

Oh, so Bruce doesn't count then?
Good morning to you ...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif




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sftrvlr

This has little UA content at this point. Please continue to follow in the Travel Security/Safety forum.


Chuck
aka cblaisd
Moderator, United

I'm sure you meant "microcephalics"? 8-)

I'm sure I did.

It's sometimes hard to find the correct spelling of a synonym for "pinheads". http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

SS stands for security service. The first incarnation of the SS was in the middle 1940s. SSSS stands for the second SS.

oh, please. Can't think of anything else?

Not offhand, but if you can, go for it http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

Simply Stupid Secondary Screening

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

Superme Stupid Security Service

Selectees do not keep us in a job....

It's screening regular passangers that WILL keep us in a job...

And BTW, Walmart greeters make less than 1/2 of what I do per hour... I wouldn't want to take your job at Walmart from you...

Yes...and no. I have a Middle Eastern name (Hebrew, not Arabic, but I doubt that many airline people can tell the difference).

I get SSSSed on every single trip: IF I bought my ticket in Tel Aviv. When I buy my tickets in the US, I don't get it.

You see, it is PC to judge someone on WHERE he bought his ticket, but not on his name.

Of course, I doubt that very many of the 9/11 hijackers bought their seats in Tel Aviv -- or for that matter in any country outside of the US.

As the husband of an AC flight attendant, my travel benefits extend to UA as well (on those occasional times when I'd rather NOT buy a cheap ticket) and for some stupid reason they always 'selectee' anyone traveling stand-by. It's been a major bone of contention for me... but luckily only certain airports take any action on it.

I just don't get it.

IF, and that is a big IF they are trying to make us safer, why can they not get a few smarts involved?

If you get SSSS on your boarding pass and you are a bad guy, you just skip going. Duh!

If you realize that standby passengers always get the SSSS, then you make sure you buy a flight in advance. Duh!

All the guys on 9/11 bought their tickets domestically, yet we not assume any ticket bought internationally is a bad guy. Maybe they know that too? Duh!

They are, it is called CAPPSII (here goes the postings about that)

Standby and non-rev get SSSS. Yes, it should be changed. Re-booked passengers also get SSSS but atleast at my airport the air carriers can de-select them.




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{Everyone has a right to an opinion no matter how wrong they may be}

Without getting into a long session on CAPPS, don't they think the bad guys will just get around that as well? Or that TSA will be so busy with the rest of us that they will miss them? Which leads back to the point about SSSS not catching bad guys, or somebody punching their own holes in the BP but you can not because it is a Federal offense, etc.

THINK PEOPLE, THINK!!!!