What Does SSSS Mean on a Boarding Pass? What to Expect
SSSS stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection. It marks a boarding pass for additional security screening by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on flights to, from or within the United States. It does not mean you are accused of anything: the selection can come from watch-list matching or from other criteria TSA does not publish.
What happens when I get SSSS?
You may be unable to check in online or at a kiosk, and be asked to check in with an airline agent, who prints the pass. At the checkpoint you are generally screened more thoroughly than other passengers. Reports from travelers describe a search of bags, swab tests, a pat-down, and being asked to power on electronics. The exact procedure is decided by the TSA at the airport.
- TSA PreCheck is usually not available for that trip.
- The extra screening can add time. Arrive earlier than you normally would.
- You can ask to be screened in private.
- Keep your boarding pass with you: it is needed to board.
Other countries run their own security programs. SSSS is a US designation, so you will not see it on flights that have nothing to do with the US.
Why did it happen to me?
The US program that vets passengers is called Secure Flight. Airlines send passenger data to TSA, and TSA tells the airline to do one of three things: let the person through normally, mark them for additional screening at the checkpoint, or deny boarding. That is how a pass ends up with SSSS.
The reasons are not always about you. Matching is by name and other details, so a person with a similar name to someone on a list can be selected. Press reports say selection can also be random. TSA does not publish its full criteria, so any list of triggers on the internet is guesswork. Do not assume you did something wrong.
Why does SSSS repeat on every trip?
If the cause is a name match, it is tied to your name and other details, so it can recur on later flights. Random selection can happen to anyone, but repeats can point to matching.
What is DHS TRIP and a redress number?
The Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) is a single point of contact for travelers who have had trouble during screening, including those who were repeatedly referred to secondary screening. The application is online at dhs.gov. When you submit it, you receive a unique seven-digit redress control number. You can use it to check your inquiry's status and, once the inquiry is complete, enter it when you book airline tickets.
A redress number is not a guarantee. According to a DHS privacy assessment of Secure Flight, only travelers who are not matches to watch-list records are added to the cleared list, and only passengers whose redress number matches that list are cleared automatically. DHS TRIP gives no processing time, so apply well before your next trip.
What else should I know before flying?
- Enter your name exactly as on your passport when booking. A mismatch can cause extra checks.
- Add your redress number, if you have one, to each booking or airline profile.
- Allow extra time at the airport.
- Stay calm and polite: the agents apply a procedure, and it ends once you are cleared.
Where do SSSS and other boarding pass codes appear?
SSSS is printed on the pass by the airline. For what the other codes mean, see SEQ on a boarding pass, what is a PNR and boarding pass codes decoded.
How to do it with FlightLog
FlightLog is a flight diary for iPhone, iPad and Android. If you scan a boarding pass, it reads the barcode and the printed text to create the flight with its route, date and seat. Passes and tickets (passenger name, booking reference) stay on your phone and are never synced to the server. See how to scan a boarding pass. Every feature is free with your 10 most recent flights active, and Premium unlocks the complete history.
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