A travel expert has warned people to look out for a certain code on their boarding pass, as it means they will have to undergo extra security checks at the airport
If you’ve ever taken a flight, you’ve likely glanced at your boarding pass and pondered over the meaning of some of the codes printed on it.
One such code is the ‘SSSS’ stamp, which according to TikTok user and travel expert Michelle, @laxtoluxury, is something you never want to see on your ticket. The reason being, the ‘SSSS’ stamp signifies that you’ve been chosen for an extensive search – not exactly a delightful experience. In a video, Michelle elaborated: “This is something you never want to see on your boarding pass: The quadruple S.
“It stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection, and it means you’re going to get searched again super thoroughly, and it’s usually found on international flights to the US.”
The ‘SSSS’ stamp is supposed to be random, but some individuals might find themselves selected for a search multiple times if something suspicious is flagged in your information. However, Los Angeles-based Michelle suggests there are measures you can take to prevent yourself from being repeatedly searched. In another video, she advised: “If you get the quadruple S on your boarding pass a lot, here is a trick that could help with that issue.
“If you go to the US Department of Homeland Security website, you can apply for a redress number which prompts the DHS to review your record and clear up any erroneous or weird info that could be triggering the additional security measures.
“Once they’ve investigated your records and you’re hopefully cleared, you’ll want to input your redress number on all of your flight reservations going forward, and you should hopefully be good to go.”
Michelle pointed out in her comments that this handy tip is particularly good for those who find themselves regularly marked with an SSSS.
“By the way, if you only get it once or very seldomly, you could’ve been randomly picked. This is for people who get it repeatedly (so it’s not random! )”. The advice seemed to strike a chord with many, as swarms of travellers chimed in with gratitude for the revelation – a bunch of them had been frequent victims of the dreaded quadruple S stamp.
The internet is awash with passengers claiming that they’ve been hit by the dreaded ‘SSSS’. One wrote: “I got this once. I asked the gate staff. They didn’t know what it meant. I asked again as I boarded. They said they didn’t know. I boarded. An agent boarded the plane, deplaned me for a bag check and interview and then let me re-board. I left my husband holding our newborn and caring for our three other small children alone. And I was deeply embarrassed being marched off a plane as others boarded, going against the flow. Just frustrating that the gate staff didn’t know and let me board.”
Another wrote: “I got this on my way to New York in August. They treated me like a criminal, threw all my stuff all over the bench and basically told me I had too much stuff (I didn’t, they were just in a horrible mood) before shoving my bag back to me and leaving me to pack the mess they made.”
