The TSA Rep thought he got one of the top ten FBI wanted fugitives. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). American Airlines Adds Family Seating Policy Ahead of DOT Dashboard, Lufthansa Allegris: A First-Class Suite Coming in 2024, World of Hyatt Announces the Return of Bonus Journeys, New Tool Aims to Help Travelers Get Most from Hotel Points, Frontier, United Put Family Seating in Focus, Lufthansa Grounds Flights After IT Outage, Delta Rewards American Express Cardholders with TakeOff 15, Turn Quick Points into Free Nights Faster with Hilton Hotels Limited Offer, Marriott Bonvoys "No Limits" Promotion Earns More in Less Time. She suggested I spell out my full middle name instead of an initial. Is that normal? Why not swap with yourself? TSA officers practicing social distancing. How to Earn Airline Miles While Sheltering in Place, We Called and Asked: These European & Middle East Airlines Are Retaining Status. Report: TSA Ending Known Crewmember Program In 2023. You failed to mention the absolute worst aspect. They kept pushing my items over the edge of the table which made me take even longer repacking. I was taken down a hall to a room. I was detained for hours after a day long flight, was asked several personal questions that violated my privacy. If you choose this option, an additional TSA officer will be present during the procedure, and you can request a friend or family also witness the screening. It means you are in for a very long and frustrating day! The fact that they scan your body in three ways seems like a slight overkill to me, but whatever. I just stopped flying with them all together. - TSA Agent. Flying after 2001 is such a hassle. CS three? Had to go through a separate security line, with no one in it other than my wife and me. I was flying out of SLC and had a CLEAR Card. Voting Is Now Open for the 2021 FlyerTalk Awards! On my flights to and from the US in 2018 and 2019 I didn't receive the ssss. And of course it was delayed for 1 hour, though it was caused by the ground crew, not this extra screening. So, the experience your'e telling was with CBP and not with TSA. I already knew I was going to be subjected to a secondary. Flight 1013 today from ORD to SEA has a secondary TSA screening at gate. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. You will be asked to step aside for additional screening, which can take place right at the checkpoint, or privately. My first time flying BA first to DFW from LHR I was chosen and was stopped at the gate. Card for turkey. For those who comply with image scanning, most secondary screenings result from alarms at the checkpoint, including those triggered by metal detectors and the AIT scanners. For security related information, questions or updates, please contact the TSA at 1-866-289-9673, e-mail TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov, on Twitter @askTSA or visit the TSA website. The entire screening process takes anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes, in my experience, depending on how efficient the people screening you are. I've gotten SSSS 3-4 times over the last few years, though only ever on flights to the US, not departing the US. On the plus side, the trouble was all washed away with a glass of lemon mint juice once onboard. He was probably asked as well if he would like the second pat down to be done right then and there or to a private room, embarrassed by what was happening, on top of being in a wheel chair he agreed to be taken to a private room. I have had this several times, once when I was flying from Vermont to Virginia! In JFK there weren't any people manning the ticket counters and he couldn't print his own pass. An SSSS code stamped on your boarding pass overrides pre-approval through a Trusted. Since then it's never happened to me again. Strollers, umbrella-strollers, baby carriers, car and booster seats and backpacks must be screened by X-ray. Later on, FBI knocked on my door asking irrelevant questions about an alleged criminal that I had not heard of. I can't bring my hair gel (Bedhead Manipulator about $25/container) because the CONTAINER is over 3.5oz (the only size they sell it in). Every flight Im on gets one of these random security audits. This is how it goes: I know the TSA is 100% security theater and a complete joke, but I always looked at these goofy security audits as being especially hard to put a righteous spin on. I think it's important to note that it can happen much more on international journeys. Youll know for sure when you print your boarding pass at the airport, and see the SSSS on it. People from certain countries are subject to it by default. I said I was going to Vegas, it was gambling money. Then they let me go. It only happened once and once was enough. Lately, it has been much less frequent. I traveled very frequently when I was in medical school and I ended up on the SSSS list almost every other time that I flew. Please prepare to show ID and present your bags to an agent for inspection.. Then more hesitate hesitate then when I say yes I know I am the Chosen one he says You Know. As you mentioned, "SSSS" screening at foreign airports is done at the departure gate. When done properly, the secondary screening should not require a private setting. So this is nothing new. This became a "thing" not too long after 9/11. You may carry your child to ease the screening process. And how can you stop getting chosen, if youre consistently targeted? It really doesn't matter who they were pulling aside, this disgusting harassment should not be happening at all. Because it was faster. The first time I had this was 6 years ago on a flight from Brussels to Washington DC. You could also get a message about not being able to get your boarding pass in advance for a number of other reasons, especially with the complicated travel restrictions nowadays. This sounds like fun. I think the Koch brothers should always get secondary screening since they continue to do business with the baby killer-mass murderer Putin!!! Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues - DTW TSA additional gate screenings.. - make me feel SO SAFE. Future experiment: Travel with someone, switch bags, and watch the TSA lose their minds. "In support of TSAs overall security strategy, the frequency of gate screening has increased and may occur unannounced at gate areas anytime.". Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. We finally went to a first class counter when a person showed up. The TSA officer will not remove your child from his/her mobility aid, wheelchair or scooter. We called it the Super Secret Strip Search. I got ssss few days ago in Punta Cana, didnt know what it mean, but only what happened was to take off my shoes. "Gate screening is particularly effective at addressing insider threats and serves as a random and unpredictable security layer that, like all TSAs security measures, was developed using a risk-based approach," Uselding said. I think that it's nonsense. Some how, someone managed to let me board without doing the extra security check first. Theyll also ask you to power on your electronics. I was recently flying MBJ-MIA-JFK and got SSSS on the MBJ-MIA segment. Its the only positive aspect of the experience. Leave it to our resident troll UA-NYC to make another inappropriate and totally unrelated (to the topic) comment. Five minutes tops. I did go through extra screening at JFK because I had put my bottled water from the plane in my backpack and I was arriving back in the US. Gate screening - which can involve anything from identification checks to hand-wand metal detectors - was implemented after Sept. 11 as an additional layer of security. They bring a little wheeled cart. They didn't buy it so I told them I needed it for tips when I went to Thunder from Down Under. Why didnt they always check my bag? I tried to get off said list. I also realized quite recently that Helsinki airport has certain departure gates in the non-Schengen area that are preferred for US-bound flights because they have a dedicated security screening booth, for privacy. I had one on JFK-DCA (DL) a few weeks back. But if it's half full, that's NOT 3.5 ounces. How a regular jetsetter (me) became a jetsetter-terrorist. When it hit me what theyre trying to do with their obnoxious security audits at the gate. He was probably wearing a cast or some type of medical device at that time, and when they performed the swab, there was probably an alarm, so a secondary patdown has to be conducted including a property search. He was tearing through my carry-on, while he had me sit and watch. We had given ourselves ample time (1.5 hrs from TSA to boarding time) but ended up being the very last ones to board before pushback. I really wish people would stop thinking that SSSS is discrimination against Muslims. The gate checks for passengers follow the establishment of an employee security program in 2007, which included random screenings. I did go through extra screening at JFK because I had put my bottled water from the plane in my backpack and I was arriving back in the US. Flying out of Montreal the screener was rude, making fun of his western accent. They had me go through the scanner like everyone else, then waved me aside and patted me down. Additional steps will be taken to clear the liquid and you or the traveling guardian will undergo additional screening procedures, to include Advanced Imaging Technology screening and additional/enhanced screening of other carry-on property. make me feel SO SAFE. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. However, in 2017I was getting additional screening every single time I flew. I got SSSS on a trip I took last month with having TSA Pre. We did not know this and only found out when we approached the gate in Houston; we had flown from Laredo, TX. If there is an alarm, the individual will undergo additional screening. None of the answers here should be considered an official response from TSA. Obviously he didn't know what he was to do just asked a bunch of questions. Right? The TSA has selected this flight for a security audit. Had pre-check and GE, but whenever I couldn't check in for my flight I knew in advance I caught another SSSS. Please file a complaint with TSA, your airline, and your elected representatives. Which Way is Luxury Hotel Pricing Going in 2023? One bag or all the bags Lol Market data provided by Factset. Often times the airline doesn't even choose to banned that person even though they're well within their rights to do so. My guess is that some system would truncate the name, and then it wouldn't match passport details. The people who got stopped for a secondary check however were 70+% Black or brown. Children with Medical Conditions, Disabilities, or Mobility Aids, Liquid Formula, Breast Milk, Toddler Drinks, and Baby/Toddler food (to include puree pouches), http://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares. I used to get SSSS every single time when re-entering US. Legal Statement. The immigration secondary screening was very extensive, a 30 minute interrogation. Travelers requiring special accommodations or concerned about the security screening process at the airport may request assistance by contacting TSA Cares online at http://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares or by phone at (855) 787-2227 or federal relay 711. You do every possible to get a low boarding number, I check in 24 hours to the minunte still only get A27 board group. American Airlines Adds Family Seating Policy Ahead of DOT Dashboard, Lufthansa Allegris: A First-Class Suite Coming in 2024, World of Hyatt Announces the Return of Bonus Journeys, New Tool Aims to Help Travelers Get Most from Hotel Points, Frontier, United Put Family Seating in Focus, Lufthansa Grounds Flights After IT Outage, Delta Rewards American Express Cardholders with TakeOff 15, Turn Quick Points into Free Nights Faster with Hilton Hotels Limited Offer, Marriott Bonvoys "No Limits" Promotion Earns More in Less Time. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Pretty sure it actually stands for Super Special Scrotum Scrubbing. I questioned them because I didn't know anything about it. - TSA Agent. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. Then she gets sent to the end of the non-TSA Precheck line. By logging into your account, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and the use of cookies as described therein. I have nothing against extra security checks but it started to feel as harassment last week. Then they let me go. True stories from TSA checkpoints - from a real convicted "terrorist.". I never had another SSSS for 10+ years? They did detailed search of hand luggage, carried out by agent who was one of my patients! As a TSA agent told me years ago--"looks like you're going to be our ssssssssspecial friend today!" What then might influence whether youre chosen for enhanced screening? Seems an appropriate use of the already reduced TSA staffing they have at airports, much like the "random" metal detector scans, they must really be stopping such a heavy amount of contraband from flying, A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines. What Does SSSS On Your Boarding Pass Mean? I am very nervous about exposing my body to strangers, and this should have been done in private. I got several of these when I was a "LEO" (Law Enforcement Officer) after going around TSA at the airport to fly armed. They were happy with that answer. LOL LOL. The least common cause of a pat-down is suspicious behavior, but don't let pre-flight jitters or stress make you lose your cool, or you could find yourself in the secondary screening line. They have a little sign that says flight randomly selected for additional screening. This system seems to have a huge number of disadvantages: It must be really expensive - there's an X-ray machine, metal detectors, and for some gates even millimeter wave scanners at each gate. You could carry a folded up laundry bag inside your shoulder bag. I think it was triggered because the airline cancelled all my flights and I had to reschedule all flights (their fault), I was also traveling alone (my friends had chosen other airlines) and in 2018/2019 I traveled with my mother. Liquids and gels must be in individual containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less and placed inside one clear, quart-size, plastic, zip-top bag (such . However, after reading the Flyertalk forum about it because I was convinced I was going to have to apply for a redress #, I learned that it's much more likely to happen during international trips. The most recent time I was chosen, my son was two and a half, so he had to watch because he didn't want to leave my side. I was detained for hours after a day long flight, was asked several personal questions that violated my privacy. You failed to mention the absolute worst aspect. Definitely not long distance by any means. Personal items include a purse, briefcase, laptop or backpack. You are part of the negative media propaganda that you were talking about. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. But we didn't handle check-in and boarding for vacation charter airline and that situation was a bit different. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. First step: Place the carrier on the belt that leads to the scanner. It was a real pain, but the redress process worked. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. If you dont have it then theyll have to call the TSA to the gate. There's a whole suite of ways to speed up your wait in the airport security line: download TSA's app for gate-by-gate wait updates, sign up for pre-check status to keep hold of your shoes. Pablo, a 12-year-old Chihuahua owned by a TSA officer, played the role of jet-setting pet. I kind of understood why if was flagged, as that was very different from my usual flight pattern. They had an agent hovering over my luggage at the end of the counter and asked if they were all mine. Its the passengers passport and travel profile.. I've learned that if you reprint your domestic boarding pass at a kiosk (such as at MIA in your case) after the international flight, it will usually have pre-check on it, as the SSSS was really just for the international segment. I can't even count how many times I got the SSSS but I was never sent to secondary screening or had any other issue during boarding. It took me a very long time to get everything to fit again. However, they didn't know I also had a 1-year residency ID. I don't connect through MIA too often, but pretty much every time I do it is an unpleasant experience. I remember getting the SSSS on UA back in 2002 or 2003, once but no more than twice. All rights reserved. He didnt understand the concept of dual citizenship. I know exactly why I was selected. Until I had a flight back to US on LOT, which does not accept redress or KTN number. Im just out for good blog material at this point. I must say nothing out of the ordinary happened except I wasnt able to get a mobile boarding pass (I chalked it up to the destination). Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. I hate gate screenings, expecially if on a Southwest flight. Every time I travel domestically or internationally, I am randomly selected around 70-80% of the time, they write. There are five main checkpoints at SEA Airport featuring general, premium, CLEAR, TSA PreCheck, and ADA-friendly screening. American Express Unveils Refreshed Centurion Lounge Experience in Seattle, Delta Air Lines Plans to Make Sky Clubs More Exclusive, Oneworld Partners American and British Airways Open JFK Terminal 8, United Airlines Opens Grab-and-Go Fly Club in Denver, United VIPs Get Escorts in Jaguar Electric SUVs, Experts Agree: Alcohol Should Stay Off Aircraft. A global entry ID don't mean much to TSA. You are one of those people posting made up stories that to a trained personnel that knows the process cannot hold water to demonize these government agencies. Anyways, people were nice and delay zero to none. In my experience people with gate passes tend to cause a lot of problems, youd be surprised how often they have a knife, pepper spray or even fire arm on them. So after learning that pattern I just skipped to the front of line, told them I was "quad-S" and they would print my pass and walk me to the front of security. I find that the screening process there typically isnt quite as invasive or time consuming. To ensure your security, all travelers are required to undergo screening. Next, remove the animal. Make your screening experience as smooth as possible and become familiar with the process. My girlfriend is on the dreaded list. Wait Times Who gets chosen, and why? Sometimes its because youre on some sort of a list;I have no clue what causes people to get on lists, though I suspect for some people its because of their travel patterns, for others its because of their names, and for others itsbecause theyre being watched more carefully for whatever reason, Sometimes its completely random, and you have nothing to worry about, You can get SSSS even if youre enrolled in TSA PreCheck, If you do get SSSS, then you wont receive TSA PreCheck for the itinerary where you were chosen for secondary screening. Several years ago coming back to the US having visited Turkey was grilled at LAX for a good hour then enjoyed an entire summer of the dreaded SSSS! Security Screening TSA incorporates unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, to accomplish our transportation security mission. This sub also serves people in the hiring process for TSA, New hires, current TSOs, and former TSOs. It's the Transportation Security Administration's way of flagging airline passengers for "enhanced" screening. Face value. Once traveling with a colleague who didnt have Global Entry, attempting to exit through Customs at JFK, I was selected for search but when they looked at my receipt, they sent me through and selected my colleague who was behind me in the line. They use screening equipment such as metal detectors, millimeter wave machines, backscatter x-ray and cabinet x-ray machines. I was sent to Secondary and searched none the less. Well, well preface this by stating the obvious: The TSA isnt forthcoming about its selection process. Getting A SSSS on your boarding pass is irrelevant since you have gone through all the initial screening and ready to board the plane.It make no sensep. Equipment that does not fit through the X-ray machine will undergo a visual/physical inspection by TSA officers. Location: Marriott or Hilton hot tub with a big drink
