After receiving my 2nd SSSS of the year Wednesday, I wanted to see what others had experienced. First, I realize that this is/was done prior to my arrival at the airport. I (almost) always fly AA, and I always (try to) check-in online. Twice I have not been able to complete my check-in online and received an SSSS on each of those occasions.

FWIW - I am Platinum w/ AA.

I started a new job this March and I now use the company's travel agent as opposed to booking tickets online. It costs me 500 miles each way, but it saves the company much more money. The differnces now that may have resulted in my two SSSS designations and likely more in the future:

1. Occasionally using one way tickets. I flew MIA to JFK in March. I was flying out on AA and back on Delta. The flights combined for less than $500 w/ no advance and no Saturday stay, but it took two carriers - and two one way tickets. So, instead of no red flags, I get two. Thankfully I only got stopped once.

2. Flying out of MIA. Both times I have been stopped (SSSS), I was flying out of Miami.

3. Changing flights. The most recent SSSS was on a return portion of a DFW-MIA ticket. I changed the return twice (through my TA). Is it possible that the return, when changed by the TA, was treated like a one way ticket?

4. Using a TA. I have already brought this up, but I wanted to expound. Are the money-saving practices utilized by my TA increasing the likelihood that I get flagged? I could ask for more detail, but I *think* that my TA uses bulk tickets at least some of the time (and saves us quite a bit of $$). Other times I get the exact same fare as on AA.com, but we pay an extra $25 and don't get the extra 1000 miles.

Anyway, are any of these contributing to my SSSS boarding passes?

Thanks in advance to the contributions of others who can support or refute my various suppositions.

Sam

I'd say 1) and 3) are your biggest contributors.

4) might contribute if your TA tickets your reservations before adding your FF number. Could be worth inquiry about your TA's ticketing practices.

(3) is likely a big problem. Did you change the ticket close to the flight time? I think within 24 or 48 hours results in SSSS on many airlines. The TSA loves to tell you that your airline selected you, which is technically true but a big cop-out since without the TSA there'd be no SSSS line to select us for.

I changed to an earlier flight on AirTran last night because I showed up early enough. I love AirTran's great policy of allowing standby on an earlier same-day flight, but do they have to SSSS me every time I take advantage of it?

Um, news flash, if everyone knows why he is being selected, then the bad guys will just avoid booking that way. The only people selected by SSSS are guaranteed to be innocent travellers, because the bad guys can easily get around well-known SSSS traps.

Actually, I changed the ticket more than 7 days in advance.

I strongly suspect that the return portion of the ticket was handled in the same manner that a one way ticket would be handled. If so, that would account for both of my experiences as an SSSS selectee.

That being said, on my MIA-JFK flight, my boss was traveling with me. His tickets were set up the same way (AA out and DL back), and he wasn't stopped.

He's AA Platinum as well, however he has attained MM status. With regard to that, I seriously doubt that your elite status is a factor, but I thought I would include the information in case someone disagreed.

I agree w/ GradGirl, though. If people know the criteria, it almost becomes less likely that REAL CRIMINALS will be bothered. B/c I want to save $$, I fly in the least expensive way possible - and that means sometimes using one way tickets. The "problem people" will spend extra to avoid suspicion.

What is it about one way tickets that points toward potential terrorist activity???

Sam

I do think there's an element of random selection. I'm an elite on Delta and travelled the same route I've travelled many times (CMH-HNL) round trip, bought well in advance, purchased from the Delta web site, purchased wtih the same SkyMiles Amex card as always. I'd never been SSSS'ed on this trip before and BAM! There it was.

It took almost 30 minutes to be wanded and inspected. (Including the wanding of my bare skin because I was in shorts and a t-shirt. I wore no shoes but had to take a pair out of my carry-on bag to be inspected--even though I wasn't wearing any.)

I think it's just a way to inconvenience and humiliate as many travellers as possible so that nobody wants to fly and the industry can be further crippled. The TSA blames the airlines; the airlines blame the TSA.

I forgot to mention that my most recent SSSS detainment put me behind schedule and ended up costing me my belt.

Somehow in the process of putting my clothes back on, I overlooked my belt. When the flight attendant took my coat, I realized that I was short one accessory. I opted not to deplane and further subject myself to scrutiny - not to mention that I would have needed to lug my backpack and hanging bag with me back to the TSA strip poker party lounge and then fight for space again in the overhead on what would then be a full plane.

At least now that I am aware of my security issues ahead of time (by attempting to check-in online) I can plan accordingly. I can implement a minimalist dress approach, although that didn't work for Mats. I can arrive early. And I can make sure not to take a shower .

Losing my belt isn't that bad. I read here earlier where some guy got fleeced during his "inspection" by the TSA and had the $$$ from his wallet taken.

Inquiring Aussies unfamiliar with American airports want to know!

It doesn't stand for anything - AFAIK. It's the designation placed on the bottom of your boarding pass when CAPPS thinks you are potentially dangerous. CAPPS, of course, does stand for something - Computer Assisted Pre-Passenger Screening.

60 minutes did a story on numerous people who have been lumped into the DANGER group b/c of mistaken identities or similar names or something. This is leading to CAPPS II where you will be providing DOB when you make your reservation.

Frustrated by the invasion of privacy complaints, there is rumor (maybe fact) that there will be an opt-in trial this summer that lets you avoid potential delays by "pre-qualifying" if you choose to do so. Identification to include finger scan or iris scan has been discussed. I'm sure my understanding is slightly offbase, but it seems unfair nonetheless. Think about this, those that don't opt-in are more likely to receive further scrutiny.

i got the SSSS treatment last month- I'm platinum and the ticket r/t and bought with a credit card- I could swear the TA out front did it to me. she was obviously having a bad day,she did not give boarding passes for the connecting flights out of DFW- then when I informed her of this- politely- she huffed and gave me the second set of B.P.s - they were sitting on her desk-and lo and behold- the SSSS.
I was not able to check in either online or at the airport machines, so this was probably pre- ordained.the only thing I can figure is that I had purchased this ticket with funds from a previously cancelled reservation as well as with the credit card for the xs. my s.o. travelling with me - a different PNR-got away scot- free.

What is so special about one way flights that almost guarantees a secondary screening?

Does the TSA honestly think that a serious terrorist will purchase a one way ticket (because they know they won�t need the return leg)? It is such common knowledge now that one way tickets get you SSSS�d that anyone short of a complete moron terrorist would know to buy only round trip tickets. Besides, round trip tickets are usually cheaper than one way and would save terrorist money.

I had a problem about six months ago where I was using a CO code share flight with NW all booked on CO.com. The outgoing flight was NW, but the returning flight was CO. Even though it was all booked on one ternary, all under CO flight numbers, using the CO website, the airline computers looked at the NW flight as one way. Every week, for four weeks, on Monday morning I would show up at the airport and get the old SSSS. That went away once CO introduced a new flight and I was able to take CO metal on the outgoing and returning flight.

So I ask the question again�. What is so special about one way tickets that makes them extraordinarily dangerous to society that they deserve such extra scrutiny? What about one way rentals of U-Haul or Rider trucks (like the one used in the Federal Office bombing)? What about one way car rentals. Surely someone renting a car and not returning to their original rental location must be up to no good, just like those buying a one way airline ticket. They must be planning some kind of suicide attack, driving cars at full speed into the pumps of a gas station.

I guess that is a strong vote for #1 in the original post.

I am thinking about volunteering for the opt-in program that has been discussed for the summer:

http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,62777,00.html

Obviously, I don't know the details, but I would rather sacrifice my personal information in advance than to be continually subjected to "random" searches.

I hate to lay down, but they are going to get all the information they want sooner or later.

I had my first SSSS in many moons on Monday:

I think it was checking in at the kiosk within 30 minutes of departure. I have often checked in at the counter within 30 minutes: no SSSS markings. Usually use the computer to print boarding card from home, but didn't do it on Monday.

This was on the Shuttle at LGA by the way.

My guess was "Selected for Secondary Security Screening"