If you’re like most people, TSA lines probably aren’t the highlight of your trip. Perhaps you even enrolled in a program like CLEAR or TSA PreCheck to get through security more efficiently. Unfortunately, those programs won’t be enough to help if you see four specific letters on your boarding pass. They’re a sign that you’ve been selected for additional screening.
What does SSSS mean on your boarding pass?
A TSA officer is about to inspect a suitcase
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The letters we’re talking about are SSSS, which stands for “Secondary Security Screening Selection.” If you see them on your boarding pass, plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to your scheduled departure time to complete the extra screening process, which may include inspecting your carry-on bags, swabbing your electronics, and a pat-down.
What triggers SSSS on a boarding pass?
You’re probably wondering how you get on the SSSS list. According to a report from the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, passengers are usually chosen at random. This means it could happen to you on your next trip, even if you’re enrolled in a program like TSA PreCheck.
The rest of the time, passengers receive the dreaded SSSS designation for various reasons, including passengers on watchlists or with unusual travel patterns. It could even be an unfortunate coincidence, such as having the same or a similar name as someone on the no-fly list.
How do you get SSSS off a boarding pass?
An additional security check at the airport
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Once you complete the extra screening process, SSSS will remain on your boarding pass. The good news is that if you were randomly selected, it’s unlikely to appear again on future boarding passes.
How long does SSSS last?
In most cases, passengers selected randomly will just have to endure the SSSS on their boarding pass for a single trip. If this isn’t the case and you find yourself repeatedly plagued with extra security screenings, you do have recourse.
The DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) helps individuals who are repeatedly denied boarding or delayed on planes, subjected to repeated additional screenings at airports, borders, or delayed or denied entry at U.S. borders.
Once your application is reviewed and approved, you’ll be provided with a redress number to add to future plane tickets. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll live your life without being randomly selected, but it should ensure it doesn’t happen regularly.