Latest news with #SSSS
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Travel expert reveals cryptic mark on a boarding pass that could lead to extra TSA checks and airport delays
A travel expert has revealed the meaning behind the 'SSSS' mark on some boarding passes - a code that can lead to extra TSA screening and major airport delays. Chloe Jade Meltzer, 30, who has visited over 156 countries, was flying from Germany to New York when she noticed the four letters on her ticket. It stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection, a designation she says is 'a pain to deal with' and most often applies to flights heading into the U.S. She explained: 'Basically, it means that you've been flagged for extra security checks before you can board your flight. 'This is always related to flying into the U.S., and it's usually for international travel.' Meltzer admitted she receives tickets with quadruple 'S' quite often. She said: 'The first few times you get it, it can feel a bit daunting or scary. Especially if you are someone who is not a U.S. citizen and you are about to fly into the U.S. Metlzer revealed that fliers could get them for many reasons, including inconsistent passports, one-way flights, purchasing a ticket with cash, names matching someone on a watchlist, or completely random. The content creator explained everything that usually happens because of a ticket's 'SSSS' label in a video she posted last April. Meltzer revealed travelers will be pulled aside to the gate before boarding and be taken to 'a little corner'. However, employees usually bring the unlucky ticketholder off to the side. She explained: 'You'll get either a pat down, a detailed search of your luggage, or your hands and your bags will be wiped, and they'll be tested for explosives.' She continued by saying employees could potentially ask questions such as where they're flying to and how long they've stayed at a destination. She claimed the process could make fliers feel 'very targeted' but that all these steps would be going on for other people around them with 'SSSS' on their passes. Meltzer stated: 'I personally don't like this because it takes longer. You can't do this before boarding, they do it exactly at boarding.' While Meltzer has expressed disdain toward the mark, she deals with it, and revealed her one-way flights and passport irregularities might be the reasons why this happens to her often. Multiple TikTok users shared their own experiences as 'SSSS' boarding-pass holders. One wrote: 'I got it when I was 15, didn't even know minors could be selected for it, even the employees at the gate seemed embarrassed and a bit lost.' Another said: 'I had it for all flights for two years after I studied abroad in Istanbul. First time the gate agent didn't do the boarding pass right and caused me to miss my flight and have to.' A third claimed: 'The last time I had it happen flying from Rome to JFK every single person who was being screened was a blonde between the ages of 20-40. Hard to believe it was randomized.' Fliers have the option to apply for a redress number, an identifier issued by the U.S. Department Of Homeland Security (DHS) to individuals who have experienced difficulties during security screenings at airports or other transportation hubs. 'The DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program can provide resolution to travelers with difficulties getting through security and inspection at airport checkpoints, train stations, and when crossing U.S. borders,' the agency shared on its website. This can be applied to domestic and international travelers, and while redress numbers can be used for future bookings, it does not mean the applicant will never see 'SSSS' again. Meltzer admitted that even though she should do this, she's been a 'bit lazy'.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Traveler claims letters on your boarding pass means extra TSA checks
By A travel expert has gone viral after revealing the meaning behind the dreaded 'SSSS' printed on some boarding passes – a code that can lead to extra TSA screening and major airport delays. Chloe Jade Meltzer (pictured), 30, who has visited over 156 countries, was flying from Germany to New York when she noticed the four letters on her ticket. It stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection, a designation she says is 'a pain to deal with' and most often applies to flights heading into the United States. 'Basically, it means that you've been flagged for extra security checks before you can board your flight,' she explained. 'This is always related to flying into the United States, and it's usually for international travel.' Meltzer has traveled to more than 156 countries and admitted she receives tickets with quadruple S' quite often. 'The first few times that you get it it can feel a bit daunting or scary. Especially if you are someone who is not a US citizen and you are about to fly into the United States,' she wrote on TikTok. Metlzer revealed that fliers could get them for many reasons, including inconsistent passports, one-way flights, purchasing a ticket with cash, names matching someone on a watchlist, or completely random. The content creator explained everything that usually happens because of a ticket's 'SSSS' label in a video she posted last April Meltzer revealed travelers will be pulled aside to the gate before boarding and be taken to 'a little corner.' However, employees usually bring the unlucky ticketholder off to the side. 'You'll get either a pat down, a detailed search of your luggage, or your hands and your bags will be wiped, and they'll be tested for explosives,' Meltzer explained. She continued by saying employees could potentially ask questions such as where they're flying to and how long they've stayed at a destination. The TikToker claimed the process could make fliers feel 'very targeted' but that all these steps would be going on for other people around them with 'SSSS' on their passes. 'I personally don't like this because it takes longer. You can't do this before boarding, they do it exactly at boarding,' she stated. While Meltzer has expressed disdain toward 'SSSS,' she deals with it, and revealed her one-way flights and passport irregularities might be the reasons why this happens to her often. Multiple TikTok users shared their own memorable experiences as 'SSSS' boarding pass holders. 'I got it when I was 15, didn't even know minors could be selected for it, even the employees at the gate seemed embarrassed and a bit lost,' a commenter wrote. 'I had it for all flights for two years after I studied abroad in Istanbul. First time the gate agent didn't do the boarding pass right and caused me to miss my flight and have to,' another traveler responded. 'The last time I had it happen flying from Rome to JFK every single person who was being screened was a blonde between the ages of 20-40. Hard to believe it was randomized,' a flier claimed. Fliers have the option to apply for a redress number, an identifier issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to individuals who have experienced difficulties during security screenings at airports or other transportation hubs. 'The DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program can provide resolution to travelers with difficulties getting through security and inspection at airport checkpoints, train stations, and when crossing U.S. borders,' the agency shared on its website . This can be applied to domestic and international travelers, and while redress numbers can be used for future bookings, it does not mean the applicant will never see 'SSSS' again.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Warning as traveler claims four letters on your boarding pass means extra TSA checks
A travel expert has gone viral after revealing the meaning behind the dreaded 'SSSS' printed on some boarding passes — a code that can lead to extra TSA screening and major airport delays. Chloe Jade Meltzer, 30, who has visited over 156 countries, was flying from Germany to New York when she noticed the four letters on her ticket. It stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection, a designation she says is 'a pain to deal with' and most often applies to flights heading into the United States. 'Basically, it means that you've been flagged for extra security checks before you can board your flight,' she explained. 'This is always related to flying into the United States, and it's usually for international travel.' Meltzer has traveled to more than 156 countries and admitted she receives tickets with quadruple S' quite often. 'The first few times that you get it it can feel a bit daunting or scary. Especially if you are someone who is not a US citizen and you are about to fly into the United States,' she wrote on TikTok. Metlzer revealed that fliers could get them for many reasons, including inconsistent passports, one-way flights, purchasing a ticket with cash, names matching someone on a watchlist, or completely random. Meltzer has been to over 156 countries, and recently had 'SSSS' on her boarding pass when flying to New York from Germany The content creator explained everything that usually happens because of a ticket's 'SSSS' label in a video she posted last April. Meltzer revealed travelers will be pulled aside to the gate before boarding and be taken to 'a little corner.' However, employees usually bring the unlucky ticketholder off to the side. 'You'll get either a pat down, a detailed search of your luggage, or your hands and your bags will be wiped, and they'll be tested for explosives,' Meltzer explained. She continued by saying employees could potentially ask questions such as where they're flying to and how long they've stayed at a destination. The TikToker claimed the process could make fliers feel 'very targeted' but that all these steps would be going on for other people around them with 'SSSS' on their passes. 'I personally don't like this because it takes longer. You can't do this before boarding, they do it exactly at boarding,' she stated. While Meltzer has expressed disdain toward 'SSSS,' she deals with it, and revealed her one-way flights and passport irregularities might be the reasons why this happens to her often. Multiple TikTok users shared their own memorable experiences as 'SSSS' boarding pass holders. 'I got it when I was 15, didn't even know minors could be selected for it, even the employees at the gate seemed embarrassed and a bit lost,' a commenter wrote. 'I had it for all flights for two years after I studied abroad in Istanbul. First time the gate agent didn't do the boarding pass right and caused me to miss my flight and have to,' another traveler responded. 'The last time I had it happen flying from Rome to JFK every single person who was being screened was a blonde between the ages of 20-40. Hard to believe it was randomized,' a flier claimed. Fliers have the option to apply for a redress number, an identifier issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to individuals who have experienced difficulties during security screenings at airports or other transportation hubs. 'The DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program can provide resolution to travelers with difficulties getting through security and inspection at airport checkpoints, train stations, and when crossing U.S. borders,' the agency shared on its website. This can be applied to domestic and international travelers, and while redress numbers can be used for future bookings, it does not mean the applicant will never see 'SSSS' again. Meltzer admitted that even though she should do this, she's been a 'bit lazy.' Airline travel has become more complicated for travelers over the past year, partially because of the controversial Real ID requirement for travel. The new ID resulted in DMVs nationwide being flooded with travelers looking to get one before the May deadline.
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Why you never want to see SSSS on your boarding pass before a flight
ONE traveller has revealed a code on boarding passes that you will want to avoid at all costs. Chloe Jade Meltzer, 30, has shared that some boarding passes have an 'SSSS' code on that actually mean you have been selected for additional security checks. 4 4 Chloe has been travelling the world since 2015, racking up a total of 162 countries visited. Out of the hundreds of times she has travelled, she is lucky enough to only have had 'SSSS' on her boarding pass six times. The four letters stand for 'secondary security screening selection' and mean that a passenger has been flagged for an additional security check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) before boarding their flight. In practice, this means that the selected passenger will have to have more pat-downs, hand swabs and thorough luggage checks before boarding their flight. Chloe said one of the most common signs a traveller will have 'SSSS' appear on their boarding pass, is if they don't get it handed to them immediately. The New York-based travel blogger said: "I have gotten 'SSSS' on my boarding pass periodically over the years. "When I get one, I will just try get the checks out of the way and head straight to the boarding gate to be screened again by airline staff. "Usually, how long it takes depends on how fast you get to the boarding gate, how your bags are packed and how fast they are at searching." She added that if you are one of the unfortunate ones who gets flagged, then you will be pulled aside at the gate before you board your flight. You will then most likely be given a pat down or a detailed search of your luggage. Some passengers might even be tested for explosives. Chloe added: "You also might be asked a few extra question like where you're going and how long you're staying there. "It can feel very targeted but usually this will be going on for a few other people as well or sometimes half the plane. "I personally don't like this because it takes longer, you can't do this before boarding, they do it exactly at boarding." There are many reasons why a traveller may get the code on their boarding pass, but Chloe shared that one reason is because of the countries you may have travelled to. Some countries are flagged and indicate potential issues or alerts, for example, if you only purchased a one-way ticket. The blogger added that it is important to not panic when you get the code on your boarding pass though, as it is issued randomly. 4 "They say it is randomly selected, sometimes it's because you have travelled to certain countries that are flagged, or because you bought a one-way ticket," she shared. "Sometimes you might be on a watch list because you name is similar to one that they have flagged, or you have two different passports, you have passport irregularities. "If you get the dreaded 'SSSS' don't worry, it doesn't mean you're in trouble because it is random. "Just deal with it, be ready to board early and get it done." There is also a major change for travellers as boarding passes and check-in to be scrapped in new airport rules. Plus, the little-known discounts your boarding pass can get you on holiday which save you hundreds of pounds. 4
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Daily Mail
The secret code on a boarding pass you NEVER want to see while travelling to the United States
An Aussie traveller has shared her surprise after spotting a mysterious code on her boarding pass. Ruby, was preparing to fly from Brisbane International Airport to the United States when she noticed the four letters 'SSSS' printed on her ticket. Posting to social media, Ruby, who now lives full-time in Chicago, said it was 'the four letters no traveller wants to see on their boarding pass'. The code stands for 'Secondary Security Screening Selection', enforced by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that flags certain passengers for additional checks before boarding. Travellers marked with SSSS should brace for a more intense screening process than usual. These enhanced checks can involve luggage being fully searched, including swabs for explosives and narcotics, and electronics being switched on and inspected. Some passengers have even reported having their feet swabbed or being taken aside for a private screening. TSA agents may also ask detailed questions about the passenger's travel plans, destination, and who packed their bags. There's no set timeframe for how long the SSSS process takes, but it can significantly delay boarding. As a result, anyone flying to or from the US is advised to arrive early, just in case they are selected. 'I've travelled to over 30 countries so am aware of the stigma around it,' Ruby told Yahoo News. Her boarding pass had the SSSS printed before she even made it past airport security. 'They didn't check my paperwork or say anything, which was surprising,' she said. It wasn't until she arrived at the gate that the extra screening kicked in. 'After I scanned my boarding pass, they said, "go over there", and had me hand over my passport, which they reviewed,' Ruby recalled. 'I put all of my stuff out on the table and they swabbed everything, my bag, laptop, hands, and even my stomach. I've never had that before.' The SSSS printed on Ruby's boarding pass flagged her for extra security screening After landing in the US, Ruby said border agents grilled her further before ultimately allowing her to continue on her way. The 'Secondary Security Screening Selection' process was introduced after the September 11 attacks in 2001, as part of strict security reforms under then-President George W. Bush. The TSA has never disclosed exactly how or why passengers are chosen, with the criteria remaining a tightly held secret. In response to Ruby's video, dozens of fellow travellers chimed in with their own SSSS experiences. 'Happens to me EVERY time, they say it's random, but I know it's not,' one person wrote. Another added, 'I got the Super Special Security Screening in Lisbon. It wasn't bad — they just unpacked my carry-on and searched every square inch of everything.' 'It's a huge inconvenience,' someone else commented, 'BUT way less scary knowing what it is beforehand. I had no idea when I got the SSSS in Barcelona flying home.' Another jetsetter, a US citizen was left scratching her head after spotting the cryptic code on her boyfriend's ticket during a recent airport run. She found herself separated from her partner after they passed through security, before she captured the moment he was cleared after undergoing further questioning at passport control. Sharing her experience to social media, the American content creator detailed 'On flights to/from the US, you can get 'randomly' selected to undergo a much higher level of security. 'For my partner, this meant separating all of his things from mine, pulling absolutely everything out of his bag, swabbing everything, and then making sure that his laptop turned on (so that they could inspect it).'
