Attention, travelers! If you see the code SSSS on your boarding pass, you should prepare for inspection. What does that mean?

Airport security is one of the reasons the United States stands out in the global aviation landscape. In 2024 alone , airport security in the United States screened more than 904 million people entering and leaving the country.

For the vast majority, the baggage check process goes smoothly. However, only a small percentage of travelers have a code on their boarding pass that causes fear and confusion: SSSS.

Although it may seem harmless, having this code on your boarding pass can disrupt your itineraries and your experience at the airport. Having these letters can lead to anything from additional screening to extensive questioning. These screenings will require more time and greater discomfort.

Therefore, knowing what these letters mean can prevent problems with airport baggage checks, avoiding awkward and stressful moments for travelers.

The Secondary Security Screening Selection (SSSS), issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is a signal for baggage screening officers to conduct additional checks on some passengers boarding flights.

These controls can include many forms: manual inspections of carry-on luggage, analysis of each electronic device, detection of explosive residue in luggage, and even physical inspections of the person, according to the specialized media Travel+ Leisure.

They are carried out on domestic and international flights entering or leaving the country. Depending on the situation, the checks can last from a few minutes to half an hour.

For some, it is annoying and intrusive. However, it must be said that this process is part of the security strategies implemented by the United States government to protect its air borders and ensure the stability and well-being of its travelers.

According to a US Senate report published in 2023, most cases with this code are assigned randomly, the aforementioned outlet notes.

Although it should also be noted that they may appear in cases where the person boarding a specific flight has their name on watch lists or has travel routines that may be unusual for authorities.

The TSA (which regulates air traffic in the United States) explains on its website that the measure is implemented as a security filter. To ensure its effectiveness, airports collaborate with intelligence and security agencies, which begin their work even before passengers arrive at the airport.

The work doesn't end there; it continues after passengers have boarded their flight.

If a passenger consistently displays the letters on their boarding pass, they can file a request with the Department of Homeland Security's Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP).

If the review is approved after submitting the request, the program allows the number of times this code appears on the boarding pass to decrease.

This is done through a number, which the user receives to include when making future ticket reservations. This number serves as the passenger's identification, reducing the chances of receiving requests for additional checks.

It is explained that the program is designed for people who have been denied boarding or who frequently undergo additional security checks.

If this request is approved, it does not guarantee that the reviews will be removed, but it may reduce the frequency with which they are made.

In addition to the code already specified, airport security agents may require a baggage or physical search if they detect any unusual behavior . Irregularities in the body scan or objects of dubious origin found in luggage may trigger these searches.

It must be said that these situations do not occur frequently, but agents are trained to detect any type of threat to the nation.

Not all information on the procedure protocols is available to the public.

However, Travel+Leisure recommends that passengers who want to avoid unexpected delays register for programs such as TSA PreCheck or Global Entry , which allow passengers who have already had their background checked and who have no legal debts to expedite baggage checks.

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