I've said it before and I'll say it again. I bet SSSS is an IT problem. The government mandates it, and the easiest way to apply it using current software is to take some preexisting bucket of passengers and print SSSS on their BPs. Making it truly random would be more work and there's no incentive to do it, no money in it for the airlines. And, the government is segmented enough bureaucratically to have one group of people know that it is ineffective and another group of people, who are responsible, but just don't care because their immediate higher ups don't care either.

A number of the 9/11 hijackers were selected by CAPPS (and one was selected by a ticketing agent who thought he was suspicious). Back then all that did was make sure they flew with their checked luggage.

Under today's system they'd get secondary screening - which may or may not have turned up a box cutter or mace (if the person in question had any, and if so, if he wasn't smart enough to give the contraband to his accomplice before reaching the checkpoint). But he'd still make it onboard the plane.

Excellent post.

Eureka! Finally! What I have NEVER read here or elsewhere! Two screeners who at least "don't doubt" a percentage of SSS is done in spite and not for security.

If in spite, why is it honored? Bart's "ripple effect" at work! Airlines "messed with" me, in Bambi's words, and in so doing "messed with" ALL screeners I'll ever again encounter or speak of. The stain continues to spread.

Better get word UP to your superiors, guys. I've tried and received equal doses of silence, form letters and other ineptitudes so far, but I'll never give up. I'm to the point now of complaining about the handling of my complaints.

Good luck in the trenches, but you know what you're doing full well...

By extension, you're "messing with" folks who deserve better.

Sorry, this theory is incorrect. I have received SSSS several times when I have checked in on a self-serve kiosk. I do not think that airlines have implemented technology by which a machine can determine that a passenger has drawn negative attention to himself.

Lumpy, how are we supposed to determine which catagory a person falls into. The SSSS is not color coded or anything, so we don't know why they do it either.

Didn't say that. I said that in addition to all the usual parameters that automatically tag someone with SSSS, there are probably those who will get SSSS on their boarding passes if they give the ticket agents a hard time. Not saying that all ticket agents do this; but I am saying that there are a few out there who will.

Now, are you saying that you're one of those who gives ticket agents a hard time? :p

Since Feb, '05, damn right! You know why, too, oh defender of SSSS "a farce" (by your own definition!) You know what flows downhill, too, and where it ends up. Your hands, gentle screener. Right where it's designed to go. Maybe someday, when the 'cattle pens' get filled too full of it, something will change.

No. Not holding my breath. Your 'governmental agency inertia' theory is usually pretty dependable.

I never give ticket agents a hard time initially. A corollary of the Golden Rule ... If one gives a ticket agent a hard time, one will not get an upgrade from the ticket agent. Several times ticket agents have upgraded me when I have been pleasant.

Another corollary of the Golden Rule:

After you're done peeing in my face, try to resist trying to convince me it was just a little rain...

Almost SSSS??
 

Attempted curb side check in the other day at LAS. Was told they couldn't check us in and to go inside to the airline counter because we were going to need extra screening. I assumed that meant that one of us or both of us were selectees. We proceeded to check in at airline counter and I asked if one or both of us were selectees as per what we were told outside, but she said no, neither of us were and didn't know why curbside agent didn't check us in.