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- Nicknuzzii
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SSSS screening
Please forgive as I know this is not the right place but I am just looking for a quick response, does anyone know if a boarding pass with SSSS will take up extra time at customs too or just at TSA? Got a short connection and the dreaded SSSS boarding pass.
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- davidjohnson6
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Re: SSSS screening
Please take off your clothes, bend over, spread your cheeks, the gel might feel a little cold, and cough please...
We will find whatever you are hiding...
We will find whatever you are hiding...
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- Nicknuzzii
- Posts: 2056
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Re: SSSS screening
davidjohnson6 wrote:Please take off your clothes, bend over, spread your cheeks, the gel might feel a little cold, and cough please...
We will find whatever you are hiding...
Pretty much how it goes lol. Thankfully I have nothing to hide.
Re: SSSS screening
Nicknuzzii wrote:Please forgive as I know this is not the right place but I am just looking for a quick response, does anyone know if a boarding pass with SSSS will take up extra time at customs too or just at TSA? Got a short connection and the dreaded SSSS boarding pass.
Boarding passes are not checked in customs unless maybe if you are pulled aside for secondary screening Then they may want to see when your next flight departs.
Re: SSSS screening
I have a sneaky feeling such data is transmitted as part of APIS data to customs. As a crew member, I had a ticket booked only hours prior from Panama to MIA on AA once, and U.S. Customs in MIA seemed eager to see me.
Re: SSSS screening
SSSS took probably an extra 15-20 minutes for me at SFO. Its all done in the main TSA hall, so no cheek-spreading thankfully.
Re: SSSS screening
Fuling wrote:SSSS took probably an extra 15-20 minutes for me at SFO. Its all done in the main TSA hall, so no cheek-spreading thankfully.
It's less pleasant when you get it on a flight inbound to the US. I got one at LHR that didn't involve cheek-spreading but was more invasive than anything I've ever experienced outside of visiting a prison.
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- Snuffaluffagus
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Re: SSSS screening
I've had SSSS two times. Once in BRU and the other in AMS. Both were on non-rev tickets that I booked a day or two prior to the flights. AMS was very quick and the security personnel friendly. In BRU, also a quick and friendly experience. Bags got searched, it took maybe an extra 1-2 minutes.
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- eta unknown
- Posts: 3249
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Re: SSSS screening
I believe a few airlines generate SSSS for non-revs so as to minimize the inconvenience to revenue pax as there is a SSSS quota to fill. I wouldn't complain too much- the most invasive I got was during a transit stop in Muscat 25 years ago that was overly touchy-feely, Some people have issues about that whereas I couldn't care less.
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- IAHWorldflyer
- Posts: 908
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Re: SSSS screening
I got one back in 2019 on a flight MEX to IAH. At the time I was flying there every 6 weeks or so to visit my b/f. So possibly they thought I could be smuggling something. Anyway, the process was done at the departure gate, and was mainly a pretty thorough search of my luggage, with a small pat down by a female ( I'm male). There was no extra interrogation upon arrival into the US, either at immigration or customs.
Re: SSSS screening
Used to be that there were certain indicators that triggered the SSS screening/ For example if you purchased your ticket with cash or you purchased your ticket very last minute. I believe this is no longer the case, but could be wrong. When I experienced it flying LHR-SFO there was no added search at theUS Customs end. I was processed like any other passenger. The extra scrutiny security check was done at the gate after my BP was scanned.
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- A333MSPtoAMS
- Posts: 371
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Re: SSSS screening
eta unknown wrote:I believe a few airlines generate SSSS for non-revs so as to minimize the inconvenience to revenue pax as there is a SSSS quota to fill. I wouldn't complain too much- the most invasive I got was during a transit stop in Muscat 25 years ago that was overly touchy-feely, Some people have issues about that whereas I couldn't care less.
Since sometimes it's the only action i get, i often welcome it. In fact, when I get lonely i often go to the airport and ask to skip the body scanners!
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- Nicknuzzii
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Re: SSSS screening
planenutz wrote:Used to be that there were certain indicators that triggered the SSS screening/ For example if you purchased your ticket with cash or you purchased your ticket very last minute. I believe this is no longer the case, but could be wrong. When I experienced it flying LHR-SFO there was no added search at theUS Customs end. I was processed like any other passenger. The extra scrutiny security check was done at the gate after my BP was scanned.
I think it’s somewhat random and also based on you still. For me, or a lot of us on this website, it is most likely because we know and research so much about aviation.
Re: SSSS screening
I just flew yesterday on LH and my FRA-ORD boarding pass had the SSSS code printed out. I was pulled aside at FRA security checkpoint (was in transit) and the guy wasn't too shy checking things way too close for comfort. I mean, I kinda kept my pants on (i.e., his hands were 2-3 inches inside my inner side of jeans), but I looked very nervously into that box of gloves sitting there. I'm not joking when I say he got way too close on several passes. No idea if he expected a kiss, haha, but he rubbed me between my waist and knees like no one else before has.
Once I was at that super long (zoo) line at the entry point to terminal Z, where they check your COVID-19 forms, they took my passport in a somewhat dramatic fashion like I stole a friggin' aircraft engine. An agent escorted me to a separate section of the terminal (close to Z58) and I could already foresee a lubed up experience, but luckily they only took swabs off of my electronic devices, checked my sneakers one more time (they still didn't stink) and that was it. My wife was ready to kill me with jokes so she was kinda let down when I emerged after 3-4 minutes.
And I don't have a slightest clue why I was picked. Well, I called LH's customer service way too many times as they have royally pissed me off multiple times, but I doubt they are that sophisticated.
Once I was at that super long (zoo) line at the entry point to terminal Z, where they check your COVID-19 forms, they took my passport in a somewhat dramatic fashion like I stole a friggin' aircraft engine. An agent escorted me to a separate section of the terminal (close to Z58) and I could already foresee a lubed up experience, but luckily they only took swabs off of my electronic devices, checked my sneakers one more time (they still didn't stink) and that was it. My wife was ready to kill me with jokes so she was kinda let down when I emerged after 3-4 minutes.
And I don't have a slightest clue why I was picked. Well, I called LH's customer service way too many times as they have royally pissed me off multiple times, but I doubt they are that sophisticated.
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