One-way = Automatic SSSS ?
 

I just purchased a one-way ticket to fill in a gap in a multi-city itinerary. I purchased the ticket online from the airline's website six months before departure. I have elite status with this airline and used the same credit card that I use to purchase all of my air travel. Will I get SSSS'ed and be subject to Complete & Total Super Selective Secondary Screening?

I assume the only condition I meet is a one-way ticket. I would suspect that I do not fit any of the other criteria for SSSS'ing.

Update on 1 Nov:

Did common sense win? No SSSS on two one-way tickets! No SSSS on WN out of Hobby, and no SSSS on AA out of DFW.

I'd be prepared for it. Post back when you travel and let us know.

I've had SSSS on every one-way even with status. I've had SSSS on a roundtrip once on United (and I had Premier Exec with them) because my plans changed a few days before travel and I had to rebook a new itiniary at the last minute.

My experience with SSSS on one-ways varies from airline to airline. US Airways, where I have top-tier status, has never SSSSed me. United (where I use my US Airways FF number) has done so several times, namely when I've missed my original flight and had to go standby on a later one. This seems to be because once I've missed my flight, the UA CSR has to create a new PNR from scratch to print out a standby pass---surely a flag for SSSS.

All the LCC's I've flown one-way, even with a frequent flyer number (JetBlue, Southwest, and Independence Air) have always given me an SSSS on a non-round-trip ticket.

I've never flown AA one-way, and I assume that it's the airline in question for you, aamilesslave. I'd say your chances are good that you won't get haraSSSSed because of your status, but you never know.

Your airline can deselect you for SSSS. I'd speak with the gate agent about it, and then take it to a higher level with your airline if you are unable to get out of the haraSSSSment. They do this all the time if passengers get SSSS'ed because of cancelled flights.

I completely forgot about WN, wahooflyer. Looks like I'm more likely to get SSSS'ed from Hobby than on my AA flight from DFW.

I'll post back the results (though, like I said, this is 6 weeks out).

Thx.

Flew WN today on one way purchased last night. Security.....nada.

It seems to depend on the airline and what FF # you have in the booking.

The one way is a "flag" or risk factor in this outdated POS system. Typically, if I am on my carrier of choice with my FF # for that carrier's metal in my booking, I never get hit with the SSSS.

If I book on a partner airline, codeshare carrier, or alliance partner one-way, even if part of a "round-trip" via codeshares, and use a partner FF # for credit while on the partner metal, that always means I get SSSS'd (unless I am overseas and I am using partners like KLM, Malev, or Air Europa for intra-European flights).

I am looking at booking a "circle" trip shortly (US Domestic) which will involve two carriers (NW & CO, my FF # with NW). Even though it'll all be on one ticket, I fully expect the "parter" airline, CO, I am doing the one sector on to SSSS me (i.e. A-B on NW, B-C on CO, C-A on NW). For sector B-C, I fully expect the SSSS to spit out on the BP.

If I wanted to, I could book sector B-C on NW, depart earlier and spend an extra few hours en-route, but CO has a better schedule. To take advantage of the better schedule CO provides, I am branded "high risk" by an outdated POS profiling system as a result. Anyone feeling safer yet?

SDF_Traveler

In my experience, Delta is absolutely nuts about handy out SSSS at the drop of a hat...I also get SSSS from NWA when flying a split NW/CO ticket where NW will see their segment as a one-way.

Here is a general list of things that have an increased chance to get you a SSSS

1) buying a one-way ticket (especially last minute, or booked in FC)
2) buying any ticket with cash
3) making changes to flights/dates close to departure
4) making seating changes close to departure (a DL specialty for SSSS)

Having said this, your chances of getting SSSS also depend greatly on how well your carrier knows you...depending on your elite status and length of relationship, some carriers might let things slide while others wont.

However, the entire concept of the SSSS is a bad joke...telling people they will get special screening upfront pretty much eliminates the chance they will catch someone who really intends to do harm to the flight, versus a passenger who packed a prohibited item by mistake. However, there are cuticle scissors, toenail clippers, and bookmarks to be confiscated and innocent citizens need to be arrested and prosecuted to keep the charade alive...

Yesterday I flew LAX-PHX. As I drove over there and was not sure I what time I would get to the airport from Octoberfest I did not buy a return ticket.

So walkup oneway ticket from WN had SSSS all over it. I didnt like the lfight time so I walked over to HP. Walkup one way ticket - no SSSS. And the "guard" didnt even look at my picture on my passport, all 3 lighters made it thru security - who knows these days :confused:

LAX T1 does not do SSSS at the checkpoint; the screeners just ignore it. (I believe this has something to do with the fact that ID still has to be checked at the gate there). I flew on a one-way WN ticket with SSSS a couple of months ago and was not subject to additional screening.

Do they still do a gate screen at T1? The SSSS is for an extra passenger screening and examination...not just for verifying ID. If they ignore it at the checkpoint and are not doing extra gate screens before boarding, then basically they are ignoring the entire SSSS process...which is certainly laughable, especially for an airport that totally shuts down if someone in a concourse flatulates too loudly.

rediculous
 

The three lighter rule is. You can go down to the shops past security and get more!

Joh and I - both 1Ks have often got one SSSS and one not SSSS on UA domestic flights. So it seems pretty random.

Does anyone suppose after several years seeing everyone with a pulse knows what SSSS mans that Al Queada might have also heard? :rolleyes:

Just a thought. Americans in charge of security are a pretty funny bunch to watch from a distance. Often looks good in theory, but a 10 year could work around most of it.

Plastic knives are still with us for goodness sakes. :td:

Not only has Al Qaeda long ago figured out what SSSS means, they have certainly developed new and sinister methods for bringing down aircraft - the most dangerous of which is getting almost no attention from the authorities - the use of shoulder fired missiles. American airport security is just a show and tell charade - remove cuticle scissors, bookmarks, and pen knives from passengers with no intent or ability to use these, or any other object to take over an aircraft....while conveniently placing their heads in the sand to ignore the real threats that could permanently crippled the aviation industry because they are clueless on how to stop it.

Ever taken off from the long new runway at AMS?

You can park your car and fire a shoulder held missile at planes sitting still or taxiing at a crawl. From a range of about 50 yards. Not even a fence between you. And then drive off home. Scot free.

That long line of planes includes a lot of USA airlines too - Department In Charge of Plastic Knives and Stupidity.

Back to the thread: WHO do these bozos think will be fooled by these "SSSS" BP?