TSA may pull you aside if you have these 4 letters on your boarding pass
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What you need to know about airport security rules and checkpoints
Here are TSA rules that you need to know and what to expect at each airport checkpoint.
The code "SSSS" on a boarding pass stands for "Secondary Security Screening Selection," requiring additional screening at TSA checkpoints.
Reasons for the "SSSS" code can include last-minute ticket purchases, one-way cash payments, travel to specific countries, suspicious behavior, or random selection.
Passengers with "SSSS" on their boarding pass should allow an extra 15-45 minutes for security screening.
As the temperatures rise and the skies clear up, you might be looking forward to a summer vacation. But before flying to your destination, you'll have to go through screening at a TSA checkpoint.
Loading and unloading your luggage during the process is a hassle. But TSA can also pull you aside for additional screening if they find something on your boarding pass. Here's what to know.
What will happen if there's an 'SSSS' on your boarding pass
If your boarding pass has "SSSS" on it, TSA will pull you aside for additional screening.
"SSSS" stands for "Secondary Security Screening Selection," which means you'll have to take an extra few steps beyond regular security protocols, according to Islands.
This is not just for regular pass holders. Even those with a Trusted Traveler Program, such as Global Entry and TSA Precheck, or a CLEAR access purchase, may also be pulled for additional screening if they find those four letters on their boarding pass.
Why is there an 'SSSS' on my boarding pass?
The code can appear on anyone's boarding pass. A few common reasons for this group of letters include:
Purchasing a last-minute ticket;
Booking a direct one-way flight and paying in cash;
Flying to or from a country flagged by the U.S. State Department;
Raising suspicions at the airport;
Selected at random.
If you do find this quartet of letters on your boarding pass, allow 15–45 minutes of extra time to get through security at the airport.
Annual traffic at airports in 2024
The TSA reported a total of 904,068,577 commercial passengers in 2024. That number was up from 858,548,196 passengers in 2023, according to TSA checkpoints. That's an increase of 5.3%.
As of the end of May, 403,784,688 commercial passengers have passed through TSA checkpoints in 2025.
Jim Ross contributed
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