I feel so bad for old people who travel. It's been my observation that older people always seem to be placed in line for additional screening. I think it has to do with their lack of familiarity with the process, but I'm not sure.

It's now a running joke, though, with my colleagues and I to guess whether the elderly person in line will get the extra screening -- and it sure seems like he or she does most of the time.

In fact, whenever I pass through security, I turn around and survey the scene ... and there's always an elderly person getting padded down.

I'm not going to make judgements on whether TSA is wasting their efforts on a segment of the population that is unlikely to be a terrorist, but I was wondering if anyone else has made this observation. Thanks!

I would suspect it's a combination of low travel frequency resulting in SSSS and unfamiliarity resulting in alarming the WTMD. I've not noticed it, myself, but I'll make a point of looking when I fly tomorrow.

Or is unlikely to protest or complain at the treatment.

Older passengers are more likely to have pins, hip replacements, knee replacements, etc. all of which will trigger a grope session.

Partially correct. Though elderly people are not singled out for extra screening, it is more common with them. You are partially correct in your assertion that it is due to the infrequency of travel, infrequency not resulting in SSSS, but more from the lack of understanding what will set off the metal detector. Also, they are more likely to have metal implants that set off the metal detector. They may have more medical issues that make it hard for them to remove their shoes, or have a pace maker; thus resulting in extra screening. Lastly, a lot of them don't keep their I.D's current, also resulting in additional screening.

Ding, ding. The winning entry @:-)

My mother was SSSSSSSed every time she came and every time she left here (home YVR, SFO to visit). Finally it wore her out and she refuses to fly anymore.

I used to see the same @#$%& screener make her stand with her arms up for way too long. Many older people have shoulder problems. The same idiot would wand, and wand and wand and wand the artificial hip joint. Then wand it some more.

She was in her late 70's when she finally threw in the towel on flying ... specifically because of the screening process.

I'm pretty sure that more old people get the extra screening because of hip/knee replacements or pace makers, not because of the SSSS of expired ID.

on second thoughts...NEVER MIND

My dad had hip replacement and thus gets secondary every time. He also has alzheimers so he can't understand why!

My husband and I could both be considered "elderly", though we are frequent flyers (AA Platinum) and Flyer Talk readers--so we can't be said to be clueless travelers. I have never been singled out, and neither had my husband until he had a knee replacement. Now he gets the full pat-down and security going over every time. With joint replacement becoming more commonplace, I wouldn't be surprised if that's the main reason for singling out the elderly for added security checks. Too bad there's not some sort of joint replacement ID card that could be issued by hospitals so that all this security could be avoided.

Well, there are ID cards for people with pacemakers.
I believe that they can show the card if they wish to opt for a groping as an alternative to walking through the deceptor.
But nobody gets to bypass security.

Pacemakers, bone replacements, etc. shouldn't affect the SSSS likelihood as that is determined before the security line.

Saw two elderly pax with SSSS on UA44 today, the LAX-IAD redeye.

This is no doubt a simplification, but elderly pax are almost by definition not flying for business and are probably less likely to have FF accounts. This makes them unique/discrete flyers in the computer records, raising a flag and making them more likely for SSSS..

They do have cards for implants too, but they are not a "get out of jail free" card. You are right, nobody gets to bypass security.

I didn't know that not being a FF was a criteria for designating SSSS.

My mom lives in Florida (land of the snowbirds). Her friends are less likely to buy round trip tickets. They often buy one-way because they are unsure of their return date, or perhaps they will drive a car back north, etc. As such, this increases their likelihood. In addition, many are naive to frequent flyer programs, or fly tickets on different carriers. Both of these factors play into SSSS. Add expired IDs, metal replacements, and less familiarity, and you have the very sad scene of these folks being groped for this foolishness.