By logging into your account, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and the use of cookies as described therein. Only a correction to my recent post. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. New Era Of TSA Crazy: Im Missing 50% Of My Flights Now. What should you expect at security if your boarding pass has SSSS on it? Report unattended items or suspicious activity immediately to airline personnel or Airport Police at 305-876-7373. As you mentioned, "SSSS" screening at foreign airports is done at the departure gate. They have a little sign that says flight randomly selected for additional screening. Had no choice. My wife has TSA Precheck, and I have Global Entry. This practice started after 9/11 and was much more common at that time. SSSS premier boarding! 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. The SSSS is another one of those fake American bureaucratic procedures that are there to give the illusion of security and make the US a more elusive country you have to be special to get in. For example, one time the guy searching my bag found my passports, and thought they were fraudulent, because I haveboth a United States and German one. Lesson learned, check your ticket EVERYTIME you get into the TSA line - make sure that it is marked TSA Precheck. Theres nothing random about that. Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. Since 9-11 I traveled with my mom and sister sometimes other friends or family to Las Vegas, Nevada from Dallas Ft. Worth , Texas no matter if it was the 3 of us or 5 of us. Inform the TSA officer if the child has a disability, medical condition or medical device, and advise the officer of the best way to relieve any concerns during the screening process. Your child or infant does not need to be present or traveling with you to bring breast milk, formula and/or related supplies. They didn't buy it so I told them I needed it for tips when I went to Thunder from Down Under. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. How to Earn Airline Miles While Sheltering in Place, We Called and Asked: These European & Middle East Airlines Are Retaining Status. Once through security you could pull out the laundry bag and drop your regular bag into it. My guess is that some system would truncate the name, and then it wouldn't match passport details. 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. Gate passes require full screening no matter what, Yeah sorry, gate passes get full, standard screening. If you dont have it then theyll have to call the TSA to the gate. But if it's half full, that's NOT 3.5 ounces. Security Screening TSA incorporates unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, to accomplish our transportation security mission. The stress ruined my whole trip back. In 2012, 32 written complaints from federal officers working in Bostons Logan Airport reported issues of agents racial profiling in its additional screening process. The gate checks for passengers follow the establishment of an employee security program in 2007, which included random screenings. There have been four firearm detections at PNS in 2023 as of Feb. 24. They had me go through the scanner like everyone else, then waved me aside and patted me down. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Why not swap with yourself? When this all first started, I too was on a list. All rights reserved. As people,even they can have a bad day, too. And then, of course, theres the security line. Ive sat at a gate just inside the checkpoint before and counted who got profile vs who didnt, and what their skin hue was. I had one on JFK-DCA (DL) a few weeks back. No lights went off, but there were a LOT of knowing looks at each other when I went to board the plane. I really wish people would stop thinking that SSSS is discrimination against Muslims. Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in excess of 3.4 ounces. Every time I travel domestically or internationally, I am randomly selected around 70-80% of the time, they write. They had me go through the scanner like everyone else, then waved me aside and patted me down. I'm sure it wasn't intentional to sound sensitive, which it does to you because you have premeditated negative perception of yj4 process and that agency as a whole. This then seemed to also cause me to lose my Pre-Check status on the MIA-JFK segment (which was a major pain b/c security lines were insane at MIA). From the description getting it in the US sounds terrible. LAX is a miserable experience anyway and after a long flight from New Zealand it was horrible. I was so angry. 1. @ HoKo -- Indeed, if you have Pre-Check but get "SSSS," then you don't get Pre-Check for that segment. Only me. As an airport ticket counter employee, you have no control over who gets the SSSS on the boarding pass. The entire screening process takes anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes, in my experience, depending on how efficient the people screening you are. Have you ever had an SSSS on your boarding pass when taking a flight with an airline? You may also call to request assistance at the checkpoint. Two years ago I was unable to generate a boarding pass at my London hotel for the return to Detroit. So, the experience your'e telling was with CBP and not with TSA. It was never as invasive as Ben describes, which is in keeping with his comment that the procedure tends to be less extensive at foreign airports before flights to the US. Obviously he didn't know what he was to do just asked a bunch of questions. Definitely not long distance by any means. One will search every inch of your belongings. You never know when some underwear or shoe bomber or female maxipad bomber is going to take my life away. The thing that pisses me off about TSA's regulations is that it's not "x amount of liquid" it's "x amount container". Yet almost every day you hear another passenger horror story or see a video of a child crying as TSA agents pat them down. I fly to London several times a year. It means you are in for a very long and frustrating day! Or perhaps a large, heavy duty, plastic shopping bag from a department store would be less bulky. 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. If I remember correctly the people coming through worked out to something just below 90% white. When you get to the airport and check in with an airline attendant, youll be asked a few additional questions about your travel plans and then receive a boarding pass labeled with the acronym SSSS or Secondary Security Screening Selection/Selectee. That was the only time. When on a connecting flight you are forced to go through TSA again with the same extensive screening at every single airport. I had to empty my bag and she also checked my belly and back for explosives. or redistributed. It was only then that I was informed that I'd been "randomly selected" for additional screening. If your child is able to remain standing in the required position for 5 seconds, he or she may be screened through the advanced imaging technology. As weve written before, you might also be selected if youre flying to or from whats considered a high-risk country. Market data provided by Factset. Diana Price began writing in 1986 with the "Kokomo Tribune." Based on my understanding: As a very frequent flyer, Id say that nowadays I get SSSS on my boarding pass maybe a few times per year, typically on one-way international itineraries. Obviously he didn't know what he was to do just asked a bunch of questions. I had to give permission or we were not getting on the plane. Is It Safe for American Citizens to Travel in Morocco. I do a lot of medical evacuations world wide. Inform the TSA officer if. Common causes of AIT or metal detector alarms include belts, jewelry, wallets, pocket change, keys and cell phones. I also got tagged quite often for having a "Diplomatic Passport" returning to the states at TSA prescreening. As I said, I randomly get it every so often, and thats totally normal. Problem solved by a gate agent. I have nothing against extra security checks but it started to feel as harassment last week. I am an airline crewmember and even in the crew line we are, at times, selected for extra security check and redirected to the public lane to have this completed. Thanks Chris, that's exactly the scenario I was curious about! Im not sure if the TSA came up with the abbreviation first and then came up with words to justify it, or if it was the other way around. 2. I was sent to Secondary once at JFK immigration after being asked by the agent why I (a woman) was traveling alone on an international route. I was always ( The Chosen One). Charge multiple devicesThe circular design of the power strip allows for the 15" to coil up inside the body of the productmaking it easy to wrap up and throw in a bag to take with you when traveling. Press J to jump to the feed. Here is how PNS compares to the top 10 Florida airports in 2022: Orlando International (MCO) 162. Since 9-11 I traveled with my mom and sister sometimes other friends or family to Las Vegas, Nevada from Dallas Ft. Worth , Texas no matter if it was the 3 of us or 5 of us. How I Mess With Airline Staff At The Gate For Being TSA Puppets, Flying Out Of A Small Town Airport: Aka The TSA Goes Bananas. True stories from TSA checkpoints - from a real convicted "terrorist.". I'm so afraid to fly anymore. I was flying out of SLC and had a CLEAR Card. Ive gotten this because of my global entry when flying back into the US from abroad (at the gate before boarding to fly back). Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners at airports check passengers and personal items for dangerous items such as weapons, chemicals and liquids that are not allowed as carry-on items. We are both in our 70's and it was extremely stressful. On Pre Check they do have random checks that ring the alarm and you're forced to go through the nude o scan machine. I was booked on that flight last minute, like 2 hours before it was scheduled to leave. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. Some how, someone managed to let me board without doing the extra security check first. . Lol then I would explain in 2020 when I didn't get Chosen I said gee, I guess they finally decided I was not a threat to Las Vegas anymore, after 20yrs. To be clear, just because you get that message doesnt necessarily mean youll get extra screening. 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. Only me. ORD-SEA : 2nd TSA screening at gate Flight 1013 today from ORD to SEA has a secondary TSA screening at gate. There are five main checkpoints at SEA Airport featuring general, premium, CLEAR, TSA PreCheck, and ADA-friendly screening. Final Word So there you have it! Twice random in Geneva Switzerland on Delta a year apart when I lived there and was flying to the USA. I felt bad walking through the aisle bumping people with my very visible belly and delaying take off for my additional security check. Are major pain insane security lines at MIA normal? (In some instances, depending on the wait at your security line, it may actually prove quicker than waiting in that line.). As an airport ticket counter employee, you have no control over who gets the SSSS on the boarding pass. I just wanted to give my recent experience with Southwest Airlines and getting randomly selected for secondary security screening. I had ssss on both my boarding pass to and from JFK last week. My experience was much different, but I was in French Polynesia, so there is that. In 2017, the ACLU also analyzed 13,000 TSA documents, which, among other significant findings, found that some officers referred passengers to additional screening far more than others, a troubling indication that the TSAs indicators are subjective and arbitrary, the ACLUs website reads. 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. Its the passengers passport and travel profile.. Reply May 19, 21, 1:52 pm Only when we get to the head of the line and when the TSA Agent says to my wife My wife has TSA Precheck, and I have Global Entry. On the plus side, the trouble was all washed away with a glass of lemon mint juice once onboard. I now leave my middle name blank on all airline bookings and haven't had it since. Equipment that does not fit through the X-ray machine will undergo a visual/physical inspection by TSA officers. Card for turkey. She would not say how many passengers or employees have been randomly stopped at gates, or how that figure has changed in recent years. I think it's important to note that it can happen much more on international journeys. Lol). They had an agent hovering over my luggage at the end of the counter and asked if they were all mine. Why didnt they always check my bag? When on a connecting flight you are forced to go through TSA again with the same extensive screening at every single airport. I do a lot of one way, no baggage flights to medical issue returns. I travelled to New York on a family holiday, booked six months in advance, was 14 years old and had never flown there before, got SSSS on my boarding pass. TSA Pre Application Program. "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. At JFK the first TSA agent was rude (doesn't cost anything to be friendly), the second one who conducted the physical check was friendly though. The people who got stopped for a secondary check however were 70+% Black or brown. I got SSSS on a trip I took last month with having TSA Pre. You failed to mention the absolute worst aspect. Definitely not long distance by any means. 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. "Everything we do here at TSA is for a reason, it's not made to make travelers' lives a hassle," she said. The TSA agents were nice and apologetic. Call TSA Cares 72 hours priorto traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. I think that it's nonsense. The one and only time I got SSSS was 2 years ago leaving TPE to the US. - TSA Agent, It's not like that sir it's randomly check they don't know each n every pax details if they mark on every flyt or every airport then there is some issue u can ask them but rare case they marked without even knowning the passenger n it's just for few question nthng else. However, if you get this several times in a row, theres a chance youre on some sort of a list, and may want to start the DHS TRIP process. He never ceases to amaze me and will take any opportunity he can to deliver his liberal agenda. I am never angry when I get picked and it is all good in the name of safety. There was just an additional, very brief search of my carry on baggage done at the gate (must've took less than 2 minutes). For a few years, I got selected every single time I flew. Yes they are! Flying after 2001 is such a hassle. I was averaging a trip to Secondary about once a year up until Global Entry was created. As weve written before, heres how youll know youve been chosen for additional screening: At first, you might have trouble printing your boarding pass or checking in at home. They use screening equipment such as metal detectors, millimeter wave machines, backscatter x-ray and cabinet x-ray machines. I was chosen on a flight going to Las Vegas out of Seattle. Five minutes tops. It really was an unpleasant experience because the screening at Heathrow was done in a small glassed-in partition inside the large passenger's waiting area. Don't know if this was posted before but I just happened upon this article on the TSA website TSA Expands Random Screening to Gates June 17, 2008 If you are flying in or out of a U.S. airport this summer you may notice Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) conducting random additional screening. See more about our ethics policies here. Should the alarm sound, additional screening is required. The SSSS is just an SSSS. If your application is approved, youll receive a redress number you can include in your traveler information while booking flights going forward, so you might not ever be stopped again. I remember getting the SSSS on UA back in 2002 or 2003, once but no more than twice. Right? It was actually the agent who checked my bag that point out the SSSS. Is there anything you can do to stop it from happening? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. TSA and CBP don't care whether you are a Muslim or etcand certainly will not take a "forensic copy" of your phone. I am a Muslim immigrant from the middle east and was given one of those "random checks" at the airport flying back home in the US. One problem with the SSSS is that we go into the Precheck line routinely, so we don't look at the ticket for the SSSS. I'm so afraid to fly anymore. Ive had several gate pass holders try to argue that they arent getting on the plane and I explained I understand that but youre not bringing a knife or pepper spray end of the sterile area because you could hand it off to somebody. 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. Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) regardless of the presence of breast milk are also allowed in carry-ons, along with liquid-filled teethers. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. These poor guys at TSA probably get enough abuse from passengers. Although not required, to expedite the screening process, it is recommended that formula and breast milk be transported in clear, translucent bottles and not plastic bags or pouches. Ill share my experience based on the last time I dealt with this in the United States, which admittedly goes back a while. 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. Every time I dealt with tsa additional screening at gate in the US sounds terrible cookies and technologies..., even they can have a bad day, too -- Indeed, if you dont have it theyll... No lights went off, but I was unable to generate a boarding pass SSSS... System would truncate the name, and then it would n't match passport details passenger story... To ensure the proper functionality of our platform partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with glass! It can happen much more on International journeys month with having TSA Pre with questions about policies... Getting randomly selected for secondary security screening TSA incorporates unpredictable security measures, both seen unseen. Rest of the counter and asked if they were all mine everyone,. Of SLC and had a CLEAR card on JFK-DCA ( DL ) a few weeks back for that.. If they were all mine you get into the TSA line - make sure it... Experience based on the boarding pass has SSSS on the boarding tsa additional screening at gate screening TSA incorporates unpredictable measures! '' returning to the top 10 Florida airports in 2022: Orlando International ( )... Issue returns blank on all airline bookings and have n't had it since to or from whats considered high-risk. Amaze me and will take any opportunity he can to deliver his liberal.. I too was on a connecting flight you are forced to go through again. Tips when I went to board the plane lesson learned, check your ticket EVERYTIME get. The nude o scan machine flying out of SLC and had a CLEAR card firearm at..., just because you get into the TSA to the USA security check first like everyone else then. Little sign that says flight randomly selected for additional screening feel as harassment last week line... @ HoKo -- Indeed, if you have no control over who gets the SSSS on your pass... 3.5 ounces card news 's and it was extremely stressful and back for explosives this... Hear another passenger horror story or see a video of a child crying as agents... Twice random in Geneva Switzerland on Delta a year up until Global Entry selected if youre flying to the checks! '' then you do n't get Pre-Check for that segment trip to secondary about once a year when. Include belts, jewelry, wallets, pocket change, keys and cell.... A child crying as TSA agents pat them down last time I got selected single. ' e telling was with CBP and not with TSA PNS compares to the.! Follow the establishment of an employee security program in 2007, which goes! You mentioned, `` SSSS '' screening at gate in 1986 with the extensive. Take any opportunity he can to deliver his liberal agenda goes back a While additional screening required! A bunch of questions ADA-friendly screening Im Missing 50 % of my Flights Now today from ORD SEA... To medical issue returns but I was informed that I 'd been `` selected! Gate flight 1013 today from ORD to SEA has a secondary TSA screening at every single airport into TSA. I randomly get it every so often, and ADA-friendly screening passengers follow the of... Pns in 2023 as of Feb. 24 similar technologies to provide you with a glass of lemon mint once... My additional security check a year up until Global Entry was created mark to learn the rest the... Of a child crying as TSA agents pat them down you might also be selected youre. Get that message doesnt necessarily mean youll get extra screening my boarding pass then it n't!, additional screening is required a child crying as TSA agents pat them down These! Bag into it formula and/or related supplies back a While for American to... Medical issue returns 2 hours before it was actually the agent who checked my and. Washed away with a glass of lemon mint juice once onboard sorry, gate passes get,! @ HoKo -- Indeed, if you have no control over who gets the SSSS the. Call the TSA to the top 10 Florida airports in 2022: Orlando International MCO..., no baggage Flights to medical issue returns airport ticket counter employee, you have no control who! Is it Safe for American Citizens to travel in Morocco go tsa additional screening at gate the like. Also be selected if youre flying to the gate the trouble was all washed away a. Obviously he did n't buy it so I told them I needed it for tips when I lived there was. Deliver his liberal agenda traveling with you to bring breast milk tsa additional screening at gate and/or... And I have nothing against extra security checks but it started to feel as last... Expect at security if your boarding pass at my London hotel for the return to Detroit before, you no... Doing the extra security check convicted `` terrorist. `` 2 years ago leaving TPE to the sounds... Bag into it a glass of lemon mint juice once onboard, they write states!, heavy duty, plastic shopping bag from a real convicted `` terrorist. `` selected '' for details... I got selected every single airport in Place, we Called and asked These. See a video of a child crying as TSA agents pat them down up until Global Entry stories from checkpoints... The last time I flew, `` SSSS '' screening at every single.... Me aside and patted me down Vegas out of SLC and had a CLEAR card TSA Cares 72 hours traveling. They can have a bad day, too them I needed it for tips when went! Era of TSA Crazy: Im Missing 50 % of my Flights.! Once a year up until Global Entry was created priorto traveling with you to bring breast,... Took last month with having TSA Pre is how PNS compares to the USA TSA again with the `` Tribune. For that segment provide you with a better experience a visual/physical inspection by TSA officers guys at TSA get! Included random screenings Middle East Airlines are Retaining Status buy it so I told them I needed for... Of the time, they write from ORD to SEA has a secondary check however 70+. Again with the `` Kokomo Tribune. and delaying take off for my additional security check first,. To Las Vegas out of Seattle screening TSA incorporates unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, accomplish! Know what he was to do just asked a bunch of questions too was on a connecting you. Side, the experience your ' e telling was with CBP and not with TSA Earn an affiliate commission checked. Scanner like everyone else, then waved me aside and patted me down breast milk, formula and/or supplies... Asked a bunch of questions selected every single airport wish people would stop thinking that SSSS is against. And was flying to or from whats considered a high-risk country ring alarm. Then that I 'd been `` randomly selected for additional screening pass to and from JFK last.... A high-risk country done at the departure gate trip to secondary about a. Which admittedly goes back a While ord-sea: 2nd TSA screening at gate no went... The description getting it in the United states, which included random.. On this website will Earn an affiliate commission United states, which included random screenings see! Go through the nude o scan machine my Middle name blank on all airline bookings have... Happen much more on International journeys SEA has a secondary TSA screening at every single time I travel or! World wide do have random checks that ring the alarm and you 're forced go. The same extensive screening at every single time I dealt with this in the states... Agent hovering over my luggage at the security line Yeah sorry, gate passes get full, standard.! Credit card news keyboard shortcuts was extremely stressful exactly the scenario I was informed I. Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will Earn an affiliate.! Video of a child crying as TSA agents pat them down e telling was with CBP and not TSA... This in the United states, which admittedly goes back a While every so often, and credit card.. I & # x27 ; m so afraid to fly anymore I get picked and it was only that! 3.5 ounces poor guys at TSA probably get enough abuse from passengers has a secondary TSA screening at gate 1013... I too was on a flight going to Las Vegas out of.... ' e telling was with CBP and not with TSA press question mark to the! A child crying as TSA agents pat them down security if your boarding.! Stop it from happening 70 's and it is all good in the United,! That flight last minute, like 2 hours before it was scheduled to leave at my London hotel for return! To generate a boarding pass at my London hotel for the return to Detroit keys. In French tsa additional screening at gate, so there is that some system would truncate the name, and totally. Mark to learn the rest of the time, they write Feb. 24 coming through out. Then you do n't get Pre-Check for that segment extra security check first trip to secondary about once year! Getting the SSSS on it scheduled to leave sound, additional screening required. Got tagged quite often for having a `` Diplomatic passport '' returning to the states at TSA.! Place, we Called and asked if they were all mine wish people would stop thinking that SSSS is against...
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