Dreaded "SSSS"
 

I'm in London this week, and Minneapolis the next. The itinerary is SAN-LAX-LHR (one week elapsed) LHR-ORD-MSP (one week elapsed) MSP-ORD-SAN. Due to some arcane AA rules, the MSP-ORD-SAN can't be booked as part of the SAN-LAX-LHR-ORD-MSP trip (my travel agent said going from MSP to ORD would count as "going backwards" and you can't do that, even though it would only be to change planes).

As a result, I think I'm technically booked on a round-trip SAN-LHR-MSP, and a one way MSP-SAN. I think both are on the same PNR. However, likely because of the presence of the one-way, I had the dreaded "SSSS" show up on my boarding pass in SAN.

They seemed to be training new TSA staff in the SAN commuter terminal, so the secondary screening took a long time and involved three people. Everything was done multiple times.

Am I going to have to undergo this when I check in at LHR for the flight to ORD? I assume I will have to when I transfer at ORD to go to MSP. I have a two hour connection. Will that be enough time to clear customs, immigration, and the secondary screening and still be able to pop in to the Flagship Lounge?

I also assume I'll have to check in early in MSP for my return, to allow time for the asinine secondary screening?

Doing a full secondary screening just because an itinerary includes a one-way seems to pointless! It wastes everyone's time, increases TSA costs, diverts attention from real threats, and, since it is widely known, would seem to have no actual value in deterring any actual bad guys.

There you go again..... Using logic and TSA in the same sentence. :D

There are any number of reasons you could've gotten the dreaded "SSSS" moniker, including the scenario you listed.

I'm a little confused about the "going backwards" thing. If AA sells a connection from MSP to SAN via ORD, I don't see why it's a big deal... I used to work at the place, and I can't remember seeing that one. *disclaimer* It's been a while since I worked there, and even longer since I sold a ticket.

The pieces of filth in charge of the TSA don't care. They just want to appear to be doing something to justify their worthless jobs and lives.

I have not heard any reports of haraSSSSment occurring at international airports. You may need to check in a few minutes early at MSP, however. Try checking in online 24 hours in advance. If you are unable to do so, there's a good chance you'll be subjected to a disgusting search and groping.

Be sure to complain via the form at the checkpoint, phone, web, and to your elected representatives each and every time you are haraSSSSed with this useless, un-American stupidity.

Does checking in on-line make a difference?


I've been thinking of writing my Representative and Senators.

No, not as far as whether you are selected for haraSSSSment or not. However, you will not be able to check in online if you are selected to be haraSSSSed. So, it's a good (not perfect) indicator.

Please do. Why any American citizen (or anyone else, for that matter) tolerates this un-American haraSSSSment that serves no purpose at all is beyond me.

I'm a Swedish citizen with a US Green Card. Have lived in this country for 6 years. Since 9/11 I'm permanently SSSS'd. It's a real pain since there's hardly any time to enjoy any Admirals Lounges outside security since I need to anticipate getting stuck in secuity for up to 45 minutes.

Wonder if it's just because I'm a foreign passport holder or if they have something else down on my record?

Do you have your AAdvantage number in the reservation prior to ticketing? It's the best way to avoid haraSSSSment. If you want to earn CX Asia Miles, change your FF# after you've passed through "security", hopefully unharaSSSSed.

Super Slow Service Sucker is enjoyable! Just sit back and smile.

Sorry to hear about the harassssment. The times I've been through SAN (always the commuter terminal), the security there has been incredibly slow, even at 6am in the morning with no one in line to speak of.

I don't know if it's the equipment, but the times I've been there, the belt through the x-ray machine at the checkpoint wouldn't reverse, so if the screener needed a second look at something, he had to ask one of the other screeners to carry the bag back to the beginning and run it again. This was slow, and then of course they had to individually x-ray my batteries and GPS twice among times I've been there (why you'd x-ray a BATTERY individually is beyond me).

Fortunately, even though I've been held up so long at that checkpoint before, the gate agents have seen me waving to them from the checkpoint when they called my name for "final boarding call" and have waited patiently ;)

wait
 

MY life isnt worthless! How presumptuous of you.


I dont know how you could assume that they are his elected politicians

Since when did you assume command of the TSA?

I said in charge of, not employed by.

As a non-US citizen who travels very frequently to the US, I have ocassionally fallen foul of the SSSS, but there seems to be no real pattern to it.

I typically get selectred when I'm travelling on a single itinerary AND I don't have my AAdvantage EXP number in the booking (either because I'm not travelling on AA or because I'm trying to top up my BA miles balance). But there are plenty of occasions where both of these factors are present and I'm NOT selected for SSSS.

That said, I've really got no complaints about the process. In many cases getting selected means that I get to the front of the security line anyway. And the process itself isn't exactly time-consuming.

Save your energy. I've done it and gotten the same form letter in response four times.

(Might I also add that it completely ignored the topic of my letter?)

One of three Congresspeople responded to my complaints - a Republication member of the House and all he did was toe the party line.

Neither Democrat Senator responded.

A few months back I got the 4S treatment on three consecutive flights. On the third one out of STL I asked to see the TSA manager and demanded to know why I was getting the scrutiny. He checked my boarding pass and then said that TSA did not flag me for screening - it was done by AA. I sent an e-mail to AA and got a form letter reply. I have not seen the SSSS since.