An Aussie traveller has shared her surprise after spotting a mysterious code on her boarding pass.
Ruby, was preparing to fly from Brisbane International Airport to the United States when she noticed the four letters ‘SSSS’ printed on her ticket.
Posting to social media, Ruby, who now lives full-time in Chicago, said it was ‘the four letters no traveller wants to see on their boarding pass’.
The code stands for ‘Secondary Security Screening Selection’, enforced by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that flags certain passengers for additional checks before boarding.
Travellers marked with SSSS should brace for a more intense screening process than usual.
These enhanced checks can involve luggage being fully searched, including swabs for explosives and narcotics, and electronics being switched on and inspected.
Some passengers have even reported having their feet swabbed or being taken aside for a private screening.
TSA agents may also ask detailed questions about the passenger’s travel plans, destination, and who packed their bags.
There’s no set timeframe for how long the SSSS process takes, but it can significantly delay boarding.
As a result, anyone flying to or from the US is advised to arrive early, just in case they are selected.
‘I’ve travelled to over 30 countries so am aware of the stigma around it,’ Ruby told Yahoo News.
Her boarding pass had the SSSS printed before she even made it past airport security.
‘They didn’t check my paperwork or say anything, which was surprising,’ she said.
It wasn’t until she arrived at the gate that the extra screening kicked in.
‘After I scanned my boarding pass, they said, “go over there”, and had me hand over my passport, which they reviewed,’ Ruby recalled.
‘I put all of my stuff out on the table and they swabbed everything, my bag, laptop, hands, and even my stomach. I’ve never had that before.’
The SSSS printed on Ruby’s boarding pass flagged her for extra security screening
After landing in the US, Ruby said border agents grilled her further before ultimately allowing her to continue on her way.
The ‘Secondary Security Screening Selection’ process was introduced after the September 11 attacks in 2001, as part of strict security reforms under then-President George W. Bush.
The TSA has never disclosed exactly how or why passengers are chosen, with the criteria remaining a tightly held secret.
In response to Ruby’s video, dozens of fellow travellers chimed in with their own SSSS experiences.
‘Happens to me EVERY time, they say it’s random, but I know it’s not,’ one person wrote.
Another added, ‘I got the Super Special Security Screening in Lisbon. It wasn’t bad — they just unpacked my carry-on and searched every square inch of everything.’
‘It’s a huge inconvenience,’ someone else commented, ‘BUT way less scary knowing what it is beforehand. I had no idea when I got the SSSS in Barcelona flying home.’
The SSSS rules were introduced after the September 11 attacks
Another jetsetter, a US citizen was left scratching her head after spotting the cryptic code on her boyfriend’s ticket during a recent airport run.
She found herself separated from her partner after they passed through security, before she captured the moment he was cleared after undergoing further questioning at passport control.
Sharing her experience to social media, the American content creator detailed ‘On flights to/from the US, you can get ‘randomly’ selected to undergo a much higher level of security.
‘For my partner, this meant separating all of his things from mine, pulling absolutely everything out of his bag, swabbing everything, and then making sure that his laptop turned on (so that they could inspect it).’
