SSSS on QF boarding pass (extra security screening)

[hugowood]

I was flying MEL-LAX last Sunday 29/11 on QF93 and noticed "SSSS" printed a few times on my boarding pass but thought nothing much of it. (photo attached)

I get to the gate and when I handed my boarding pass and passport I got taken aside to a separate area where my bag contents were fully inspected and given a pat down as well.

Not a huge inconvenience but I was on the upper deck in economy which meant once I got there there wasn't any space in the overhead lockers... thank god for the side bins next to the window!

I had a return ticket on the same booking, booked months in advance, was flying with bags, etc; nothing which I would expect to set off any alarm

How do they select who gets this SSSS extra screening and I would love to hear you guys' experience with it as well.

EDIT: Also, how many people on average get selected per flight? No one else was waiting but surely I couldn't have been the only one on the entire a380?

Thanks!

 

[N860CR]

It can theoretically be random... But usually something triggers it. You don't have the same name as a recently identified terrorist suspect? You've answered the one way ticket, short notice etc questions so it's a little harder to identify. For a while (rewinding years), staff were doing It to customers who had pissed them off (although that seems less common now... Probably for good reason!) See if it happens on the way home.

 

[hugowood]

It can theoretically be random... But usually something triggers it. You don't have the same name as a recently identified terrorist suspect? You've answered the one way ticket, short notice etc questions so it's a little harder to identify. For a while (rewinding years), staff were doing It to customers who had pissed them off (although that seems less common now... Probably for good reason!) See if it happens on the way home.

Ahh, thats interesting that staff had the ability to put it on passengers tickets! I joined the connecting QF11 onto JFK, which DIDNT have any special markings on it nor was I subjected to further screening.

I'll be flying back in mid-jan so it will be interesting to see if I am selected on QF94.

 

[Buzzard]

First time I've heard of the SSSS thing.
The things you learn on AFF.

 

[Comoman]

First time I've heard of the SSSS thing.
The things you learn on AFF.

I had a SSSS flying from HKG-LAX on CX in J. Cathay was very apologetic about it and said it was random. The stupid thing is I was given the boarding pass with SSSS on in Perth so if I had nefarious intent I obviously would have changed my mind/not flown!

 

[RooFlyer]

A bit of a 'black box' as to who and why. I'm not aware that agents can control it ( would sort of defeat the purpose). Happened to me a couple if times in the past, but not for a few years now. I suspect ones flying history builds into the algorithm as to whether one is selected or not.

Just one of the many things to bug one on flights to LOFAP. Price of doing business.

 

[mole]

I've had it happen once departing from Miami, Florida. Wasn't much of big deal for me, quick check of my bag etc which actually resulted in me getting through security very quickly. Only annoying thing was my husband didn't have it so I had to wait ages for him to come through regular security.

 

[simcat]

Yeah, I am unsure what triggers this too. A bunch of trips I did as part of a group of people to the US in the early 2000's and we all (4 of us) had SSSS on our boarding passes pretty much every trip. We were all using Aus gov't passports with appropriate visa's etc. Very odd and there was no specific factor that we could determine to have caused it. Been back a few times post about 2004 and never had it again, in fact I thought they had phased it (the use of SSSS per se, not targeted screening) out but obviously not.

 

[N860CR]

A bit of a 'black box' as to who and why. I'm not aware that agents can control it ( would sort of defeat the purpose). Happened to me a couple if times in the past, but not for a few years now. I suspect ones flying history builds into the algorithm as to whether one is selected or not.

Just one of the many things to bug one on flights to LOFAP. Price of doing business.

They can't control it (i.e. Decide who gets it), but they can add it onto a boarding pass. I've known times where it was written on by hand... As I said, this was back in the early 2000s when it all started. Hopefully it's administered a little better now (although I wouldn't be surprised if it hasn't changed at all)

 

[kermatu]

My only knowledge of it is from a former colleague who had it. Reason given to her one time was that it was automatic and probably reflected the fact she did some travel and work in Israel in her late teens or early twenties, but while she was out of Australia and living and working in the US - so she was flagged.

I assumed you had the SSSS for life but clearly not.

 

[Sdtravel]

Here is an article i read about it recently
Boarding pass ‘SSSS’ code: The one thing you never want to see

Another from ausbt
What does 'SSSS' on your boarding pass mean? - Australian Business Traveller

There is also a twitter feed with stories but i believe the advise of many is to give up and don't travel

 

[Fiches Mouser]

The Points Guy recently published some pieces about getting the 'SSSS' curse which lasted for quite a while. Seemed to come about after visiting Turkey.

My New Travel Hell: The TSA SSSScarlet Letter
The SSSSaga is Finally Over!

 

[drron]

We were travelling frequently to the US from 2001-2007.the first was a month after 9/11.We would get SSSS on most of our BPs.I remember once at LGA I got patted down getting into the checkin area,got SSSS on BP so extra search at security and then pulled aside at the gate for an extra search.
Lasted about 3 years but now get Pre-check on BP just as frequently as the SSSS in those years.I like to think that is the TSA's way of apologising.

 

[2infinity]

I believe it is a USA only thing. Don't think you get it for anywhere else in the world. Pretty sure it came about because of 9/11, but not totally sure.

I travelled to USA in 2005 BNE - LVS (Las Vegas) with JAL. On my domestic flight with AA LVS to LAX, my group got hit with the SSSS. Had no idea it was even on the BP till security directed us to a different security line. When we arrived at the airport like 2 hours before the flight. Our first experience with kerbside checkin. epic fail. The airport was busy. After 30mi wait, 2 in our party could check in but 2 couldn't. no explanation why, just told to go into terminal to check in. Another 30min wait. No problem checking in. When asked why 2 in our group couldn't check in kerbside, was given a shoulder shrug and dunno. The lady also looked at her watch and said 'oh gee, not sure if you'll make your flight'. I looked at my watch....still an hour before flight. Thought to myself "wtf is she talking about?". So headed to the departure gates and wholly guacamole the line up for security was huge, but it seemed to be moving reasonably steadily. Then security personal checked our BP and said 'You've been selected for extra security". OH!!!!. not one of us but all 4 of us. If it's random, I fail to see how all 4 in our group of 4 got selected. I suspect the check-in lady did it, but will never be able to prove it. Boy didn't that line move slow. Through the Perspex barrier I could see all the other passengers come and go through standard security, while my life ground to a halt. When we finally got to the front of the line, we were being herded one at a time through a full body scanner machine. Even puffed little jets of air on us to dislodge any GSR or drug residue I assume. But it wasn't over yet. 1 in my party had medications on his person (with accompanying doctors letters) but still took 10 more minutes for security to probe him. Anyway, our hour leeway had completely evaporated. We ran to the gate only to find our flight had departed 10 minutes prior. This is in the days of no passenger on board, no checked in bag to remain on board......can you guess.....our bags stayed on board and made the flight without us. Our names were NOT called over the PA system. Well if they were, it was not audible in the (extra) security line. Had to make alternate arrangements to get to LAX, even sneaked through to another terminal to get the new flight with a different airline. If only security knew. hehe.

Took another 2 domestic flights plus return flight to OZ during that trip, but never encountered SSSS again.

Have been back to USA twice since and again haven't encountered it. All TSA are grumpy F'ers though.

 

[kermatu]

Most concerning in your story 2infinity is the fact that passengers flagged as requiring extra screening had their luggage travel without them with no problem!

 

[simcat]

My only knowledge of it is from a former colleague who had it. Reason given to her one time was that it was automatic and probably reflected the fact she did some travel and work in Israel in her late teens or early twenties, but while she was out of Australia and living and working in the US - so she was flagged.

I assumed you had the SSSS for life but clearly not.

Interesting about Israel, as whenever I got SSSS I had been travelling to Israel within the previous few months / weeks. Perhaps simply a 'middle east' connection?

 

[jb747]

This might be relevant to the original poster....http://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/10/whats-in-a-boarding-pass-barcode-a-lot/

 

[burmans]

I suspect ones flying history builds into the algorithm as to whether one is selected or not.

Indeed, have seen reports on FT that some destinations lead to a high likelihood of selection.

 

[andye]

Off topic, but I read somewhere you ought to conceal the barcodes on photos of boarding passes as well as personal details.

Edit: it was similar but not quite the same as jb747's article

 

[sjd]

We travelled through the US in 2003 on a round the world ticket with lost of US domestic flights. Had the dreaded SSSS on every single one of them. Took forever to get through check in and security each time. Not fun.