The fearsome four-letter combination of « SSSS » stands for “Secondary Security Screening Selection.” It is a standard part of the Transportation Security Administration’s random and layered security measures. Based on cross-checks, you can be marked for an additional screening if you are on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or No-Fly List.

To filter passengers between high-risk and low-risk, the TSA uses your name, date of birth, and gender, which is linked to your itinerary when you book a flight. This is known as the Secure Flight program. In some cases, passengers are randomly selected for enhanced screening, while in other cases, travelers may be flagged because of information from different agencies in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

While there is no published list of criteria, people can also get flagged because of their travel history or an unusual itinerary, such as flying on a one-way ticket, flying with various airlines on one trip, or using multiple passports. One of the main reasons that happens is because their name is very similar to or the same as someone on the No Fly List.

If TSA notices something unclear or suspicious during the bag-scanning procedure, in the body scanner or metal detector, or if they notice suspicious behavior, they may require additional screening for passengers. Both public safety and the prevention of drug smuggling are the goals of this action. The TSA randomly chooses travelers for additional screenings and employs both visible and invisible security measures.

Although airline crews use the Known Crewmember program (KCM) to speed up security, SSSS isn’t mentioned much on the KCM website. Participants in KCM are not permitted to use KCM access points if their boarding pass displays SSSS. To expedite and save time through security programs, travelers can sign up for trusted traveler programs like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Anecdotes From Troubled Travelers

In unofficial surveys, as Natalie B. Compton of the The Washington Post reports, many people with “SSSS” have had varied experiences from one and done to others who get it regularly on certain routes. Some people are flagged for years at a time, then it stops.

It’s not a huge deal most of the time. It simply implies you’re receiving a secondary screening; it doesn’t mean they will mess with you or lock you in a room for hours. When TSA requests further passenger screening, they’re not required to explain why.

Papers Please! reported a case in 2009 when a traveler recorded an interaction with TSA where they were detained in a back room due to traveling with cash in a box that was unclear in the scanner. The current SSSS protocols have evolved significantly since that time, but it is a good example of a scenario that could land you in extra security processing. After the incident, TSA made the following statement:

“Movements of large amounts of cash through the checkpoint may be investigated by law enforcement authorities if criminal activity is suspected. As a general rule, passengers are required to cooperate with the screening process. Cooperation may involve answering questions about their property, including why they are carrying a large sum of cash. A passenger who refuses to answer questions may be referred to appropriate authorities for further inquiry.”

What To Do If Selected

If it happens to you all the time and your background doesn’t warrant the extra screenings, you should apply for the Travel Redress program. This program can sort out issues with travel-related screenings or inspections. Once approved, you’ll input a travel redress number into your reservation (like you would your PreCheck membership or airline loyalty program number).

You can refuse the SSSS screening, but you may not be allowed to board your flight. Instead, the best thing you can do is to remain calm and cooperate with the TSA agents. The TSA said most enhanced search scenarios will take about 10 minutes. It’s a good reason to get to the airport with plenty of time to spare, just in case.

The Points Guy reported in May 2022 that covered the SSSS process with anecdotes from fliers who experienced it. To remove yourself from TSA’s « Selectee List » for regular SSSS screening, you can apply for a DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP).

Upon approval, you will be given a redress control number, which you can provide to TSA officers at an airport or utilize on airline websites. Some have claimed that applying for a redress control number has prevented their frequent SSSS problems. A lot of data entry is usually required for the TRIP procedure, and it could take months to get an answer.

Redress And The No-Fly List

DHS TRIP is a single point of contact for individuals seeking resolution for difficulties they experienced during their travel screening. This includes watch list issues, screening problems at ports of entry, and situations where travelers believe they have been unfairly or incorrectly delayed, denied boarding, or identified for additional screening at airports. The agencies within DHS TRIP include:

The No-Fly List is a subset of the database of known or suspected terrorists included in the US Terrorist Screening Database, sometimes called the terrorist watchlist. The FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center is in charge of maintaining this database. It is used by the TSA through its Secure Flight program to enforce the No-Fly List.

TSA By The Numbers

Staffed with more than 50,000 transportation security officers and 600 aviation transportation security inspectors, the TSA protects almost 440 federalized airports. It screens more than 2 million passengers every day and more than 750 million annually, with almost half of its officers having five years or more of experience as counterterrorism professionals.

The agency inspects 5.5 million carry-on items and 1.4 million checked items daily for explosives and other prohibited items. Check out the timeline of TSA’s evolution from the very beginning with the attack on the Twin Towers in New York City.

The TSA oversees more than 23,000 domestic flights and almost 2,600 international flights daily. Officers find about 4,432 firearms at airport checkpoints, and there are almost 950 sophisticated imaging machines with privacy-protecting software at airports nationwide. The TSA also conducts over 29,000 assessments annually to enhance transportation security officers’ practical training.

Bottom Line

The TSA detains travelers suspected of committing federal or criminal offenses, such as felonies and violations of federal law. The agency targets unknown and high-risk passengers using an intelligence-driven strategy. The delay of a secondary screening could be a nuisance for some or a seriously stressful event for others.

The TSA has considerable discretion in its procedures when it comes to ensuring the safety of air travel across the US. However, the TSA is subject to both the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, with the Fourth protecting against arbitrary searches and seizures and the Fifth protecting against self-incrimination.

If you find yourself with the bad luck of pulling an SSSS, try to cooperate with the TSA agents as they follow the procedures to get you cleared and on your way to the open skies!