SSSS stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection, a code that can print on your boarding pass when the TSA's Secure Flight system selects you for additional screening. Your airline does not make that choice, and TSA does not publish its selection criteria. If you get SSSS, expect enhanced screening at the security checkpoint or, on some routes, at the gate.
Key takeaways
- SSSS means the TSA’s Secure Flight system selected you for enhanced screening. Your airline does not decide it.
- The TSA does not publish its criteria, and selection includes a random element, so even TSA PreCheck members can get SSSS.
- A common sign is that online or mobile check-in is blocked, and you must get your boarding pass from an agent.
- Expect a more thorough bag and body screening, and know that you can request a private screening.
- Rule of thumb: arrive early and stay organized. If it keeps happening, apply for a redress number.
What does SSSS mean, and why do you get it?
SSSS is a flag, not a mistake. The TSA’s Secure Flight system, not your airline or a gate agent, selects passengers for enhanced screening. Secure Flight covers flights to, from, within and over the United States, so SSSS can appear on domestic and international itineraries.
The TSA does not publish its selection criteria. Secure Flight combines risk-based analysis with a random element, and a random selection can apply to a single flight. Being selected does not mean you did anything wrong. Situations that sometimes correlate with selection include:
- Last-minute or one-way international tickets
- Irregular booking or payment patterns
- Certain destinations or routes
- A name similar to that of someone on a government watch list
What happens when you get SSSS?
You will usually find out before you reach the airport. Online or mobile check-in may be blocked, and you will be told to see an agent to get your boarding pass. Once it is issued, the letters SSSS appear on the pass.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| At check-in | Online or mobile check-in may be blocked. An agent issues your boarding pass with SSSS printed on it. |
| At security | You are typically sent through a standard lane instead of TSA PreCheck. Expect your carry-on to be opened and inspected, swabbed for traces of explosives, subjected to advanced imaging and often a pat-down. |
| At the gate | On some routes, including some international departures, the extra screening happens right before boarding. |
You can request a private screening with a companion of your choice present. If you have a question or complaint, you can ask for a TSA supervisor, though that adds time. SSSS does not mean you will have trouble boarding, but the added screening takes extra time.
How do you prepare, and what if it keeps happening?
You cannot remove SSSS from a boarding pass once you have been selected, so focus on making the process smooth:
- Arrive earlier than usual. The extra screening takes time, and how much varies by airport and checkpoint.
- Charge your devices and keep them easy to reach in case you are asked to power them on.
- Pack neatly. Separate dense items, powders and cords so officers can inspect your bag quickly.
- Stay patient and cooperative. Officers are following procedure, and staying organized speeds things along.
- Ask for a private screening if you would prefer one.
If you are selected trip after trip, apply to the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). If DHS issues you a Redress Control Number, add it to your airline reservations to help prevent misidentification. DHS cannot guarantee that it will end extra screening, because some security measures operate outside the redress process.
