Some people really dread finding SSSS on their boarding pass. They feel like they have some contagious disease, and security will examine them under a microscope. Well, you will indeed be singled out, but I didn’t find it too arduous when I became the proud owner of a boarding pass with SSSS printed on it.
What is SSSS?
SSSS stands for Secondary Security Screen Selection. It applies to flights to and from the USA and applies to a select few. Before a flight, the airlines notify the US security forces which passengers are flying, and those that the security force considers a potential threat are given the code of SSSS. Those passengers with an SSSS status are then given a more thorough security check.
Who gets the SSSS code?
As it is a security issue, precisely what gets you an SSSS status is not revealed, but presumably, the issues that make every country’s border force a bit more suspicious get you the special status. This could be paying for your ticket in cash, having someone else pay for it, booking a one-way ticket, or having visited a red-flag country in the past.
So why did I get an SSSS status? Apparently, they randomly select a few people on each flight to receive this special treatment. This means anyone can get SSSS on their ticket.
What will happen?
You will not know until you try to check in online and find out you aren’t able to. You will be told to check in at the desk. It won’t be until you check in at the desk that it will be confirmed you have been issued an SSSS status. Your boarding card will have SSSS printed on it often the bottom right. However, mine was the top right, and the staff drew a circle around it.
What happened next seems to vary a lot. I was leaving the UK to go to the USA. The difference to my journey from the UK airport, apart from being unable to check in online, was being called to the departure desk to show my passport. This took less than a minute.
Leaving the UK with an SSSS status was no problem at all. I was far more stressed because our teenage daughter had damaged her ankle, and special assistance had whisked her away in a wheelchair, and she didn’t return until moments before we boarded.
In the USA
I was concerned that I would be delayed in the States when we only had a few hours of stopover. As it turned out, I did not need to worry; the only difference in the security check was that they did a quick swab of my belongings, which only took a few seconds. When we later landed in California, there were no extra security checks. My experience with SSSS showed very minimal difference from normal procedures.
I wonder if I found things so easy because I didn’t fit the typical profile. I was a mum with her husband and teenage kids. I was clearly concerned about how long the procedure would be at the stopover. However, the border force officer was friendly and told me not to worry; it wouldn’t take long. I certainly wasn’t treated suspiciously.
My biggest issue with the whole journey was not being able to check in online, but I still got to sit with my family, so it wasn’t a problem.
Other people’s experience
Other people have reported delays and considerable inconvenience when they receive an SSSS status. If you are flying from the USA with an SSS status, there are more reports of problems.
Some people are made to take all their belongings out of their bags, and everything is looked at in detail. Multiple swabs are taken from their belongings and also under their feet. They might also get a pat-down or body scan. They are sometimes taken to a private room for extra security checks. People have even missed their flights because the checks took so long.
If you had planned to avoid the check-in desk as you were going to check in online, it can be frustrating to discover that you now have to join a long queue.
What you should do
If you can’t check in online, arrive early at the airport. Allow time for a long queue at the check-in desk and a more thorough security check.
Be extra careful with your packing. Ensure anything that might be classed as liquid is in the liquid bag and under the allowed limit. When I realised I couldn’t check in online, I found out one of the reasons could be an SSSS status. Consequently, I asked my husband to put my cheese dipper in his liquid bag. They are under the liquid legal limit, but when we travel as a family, one of us gets a cheese dipper taken away because it doesn’t have the amount printed on the tub. At the same time, the rest of us are allowed to take it.
If possible, take less with you in your carry-on or personal items. This will take less time for your security check. If you are travelling as a family, you could get other family members to carry an extra bag through security. However, don’t take nothing, as that would look suspicious.
Keep getting SSSS on your boarding pass
A few people repeatedly get an SSSS status every time they fly. This can be annoying and shows that you weren’t just chosen randomly. Maybe the fact that you once went to a red-flag country will continuously give you an SSSS status. Cuba is considered a red flag in America. Maybe someone with the same name as you is on a watchlist.
Whatever the reason, you won’t find out. It concerns security, and Americans are very tight-lipped about security matters.
How you might remove the SSSS status.
If you travel frequently to the USA and having an SSSS status is a problem, contact the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). They will examine your case and determine whether the SSSS status is necessary.
Some people suggest applying for Global Entry, which fast-tracks you on entry to the USA. The countries that can apply are limited. It seems to work for some people; however, you can still get an SSSS status even if you have global entry.
You won’t be able to remove the SSSS quickly, and there is no point in postponing your flight and rebooking, as you will most likely still get an SSSS status.
Summary
If you get an SSSS status, there is no need to feel like you are being picked on or have done something wrong. Most people are selected randomly.
Be thankful the security are taking their job seriously and making your journey safe. If you are a foreigner, they probably wouldn’t have granted you an ESAT if they were seriously suspicious of you.
Allow extra time at the airport, especially if you are flying from the States.
Above all, relax; a few minutes delay isn’t worth stressing about. For most people, SSSS isn’t a big deal.
Have a pleasant flight.
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