It is treated just like any other identification and will not give you a free pass, so if you get selected for random, you will be sent for random. They knew who I was. People from certain countries are subject to it by default. You can do so throughthe DHS TRIP program, which stands for Traveler Redress Inquiry Program. Your email address will not be published. This sounds like fun. Ive always been able to avoid this waste of time by boarding with my phone to my ear as if in a call and not making eye contact with the security theater folks. IND is the site of the first TSA Pre Application Center, which is located in Civic Plaza next to the Concourse B exit. At a minimum, theyll put two upside down bins around your items to separate them from everyone elses. It was never as invasive as Ben describes, which is in keeping with his comment that the procedure tends to be less extensive at foreign airports before flights to the US. The good thing is once you fly out of the USA you don't have to go through another intense security check. They do not care whether you are a Muslim or etc. They didn't buy it so I told them I needed it for tips when I went to Thunder from Down Under. In my experience people with gate passes tend to cause a lot of problems, youd be surprised how often they have a knife, pepper spray or even fire arm on them. At my home airport everyone with a carry on gets searched at the gate if the SSSS has a carryon. By logging into your account, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and the use of cookies as described therein. Like, if you cornered them to explain exactly how security was enhanced by re-checking the bag of a jetsetting terrorist 15 minutes after checking it the last time, what would they say? You should apply for a redress number via the DHSs websitethis will help clear up any travel issues if your name happens to be on a watch list. It truly is a random process. We had given ourselves ample time (1.5 hrs from TSA to boarding time) but ended up being the very last ones to board before pushback. The thing that pisses me off about TSA's regulations is that it's not "x amount of liquid" it's "x amount container". Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32957073-post2009.html. For children 13 years and older, TSA's standard screening procedures apply. The conversation you've had with the agent was probably something out of the blue and the agent's way to strike a conversation with you. Plastic shielding installed at many travel document checking podiums, divest, bag search, and drop off locations. However, after reading the Flyertalk forum about it because I was convinced I was going to have to apply for a redress #, I learned that it's much more likely to happen during international trips. I only spent one week in the USA, Florida, and had to go back to Turkey. I was going back to Turkey, I was flying out of Orlando airport. Luckily we had arrived early enough to be among the few people who could get the next available so we were thankful for that. We almost missed the flight. So SSSS not much to worry about. When time to renew, she will get Global Entry. I was slightly insulted by the question but ignored the sexist nature of it and was polite and said I was on business and showed him my business card. You could carry a folded up laundry bag inside your shoulder bag. Here is how PNS compares to the top 10 Florida airports in 2022: Orlando International (MCO) 162. Peoole who talk abouy profiling in these practices are speaking truly from personal experience. I had one on JFK-DCA (DL) a few weeks back. Yes they are! All rights reserved. Travelers requiring special accommodations or concerned about the security screening process at the airport may request assistance by contacting TSA Cares online at http://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares or by phone at (855) 787-2227 or federal relay 711. Right? So what is this enhanced security process? I was averaging a trip to Secondary about once a year up until Global Entry was created. A TSA lead or supervisor (someone with two or three stripes on their uniform) will show up eventually and escort you to a separate lane. Its such elementary thinking but people dont think. A Checkpoint: Standard | 3:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. You may carry your child to ease the screening process. I was so traumatized by the experience that I actually had nightmares afterwards. If there is an alarm, the individual will undergo additional screening. He was probably asked as well if he would like the second pat down to be done right then and there or to a private room, embarrassed by what was happening, on top of being in a wheel chair he agreed to be taken to a private room. I am not Muslim amd my name doesn't sound "muslim", yet I get picked a lot. Walk through the metal detector carrying your pet or guiding it by leash.Upon exiting, an officer. 1. One of those might help.. Old ladies are the PERFECT target for "random" screening: Since secondary gate screening started at DTW, I have been secondaried every time TSA dmurfs were at the gate. The least common cause of a pat-down is suspicious behavior, but don't let pre-flight jitters or stress make you lose your cool, or you could find yourself in the secondary screening line. I do a lot of one way, no baggage flights to medical issue returns. The first screening in New Orleans he had to go into a separate room and disrobe. This is the place for passengers to asks their questions and get answers for an upcoming flight. When this all first started, I too was on a list. Its a very tangible example of American Exceptionalism. I remember at the time being explained that it was a random procedure. If there is an alarm, the individual will undergo additional screening. Since then it's never happened to me again. True stories from TSA checkpoints - from a real convicted "terrorist.". Maybe because I flew alone so much? Its the only positive aspect of the experience. The circular design of the power strip allows for the 15" to coil up inside the body of the productmaking it easy to wrap up and throw in a bag to take with you when traveling. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Over the years since then, it is a much more rare occurrence, but I still have it happen on a flight once every couple of years. No lights went off, but there were a LOT of knowing looks at each other when I went to board the plane. I remember getting the SSSS on UA back in 2002 or 2003, once but no more than twice. Not only will they look at everything, but theyll swab your itemsto check them forany residue. Should the alarm sound, additional screening is required. Five minutes tops. It really doesn't matter who they were pulling aside, this disgusting harassment should not be happening at all. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. The TSA has selected this flight for a security audit. Additional steps will be taken to clear the liquid and you or the traveling guardian will undergo additional screening procedures, to include Advanced Imaging Technology screening and additional/enhanced screening of other carry-on property. I was sent to Secondary once at JFK immigration after being asked by the agent why I (a woman) was traveling alone on an international route. Obviously he didn't know what he was to do just asked a bunch of questions. I did go through extra screening at JFK because I had put my bottled water from the plane in my backpack and I was arriving back in the US. Back then, it was Q's. We generally fly the same itinerary. What Does SSSS On Your Boarding Pass Mean? Just a few comments by ex airline employee, now retired. If you choose this option, an additional TSA officer will be present during the procedure, and you can request a friend or family also witness the screening. They use screening equipment such as metal detectors, millimeter wave machines, backscatter x-ray and cabinet x-ray machines. So I am more than welcome the extra security that is imposed. I had a lot of cash with me and of course they opened my bag, then questioned me about the amount of cash. It's good to know this is a normal thing. I never had another SSSS for 10+ years? And how can you stop getting chosen, if youre consistently targeted? It is treated just like any other identification and will not give you a free pass, so if you get selected for random, you will be sent for random. At one airport I got pulled for this, I was in a different concouse then my flight was departing and he wanted to know what I was doing. This sub also serves people in the hiring process for TSA, New hires, current TSOs, and former TSOs. TSA works closely with the intelligence and law enforcement communities to share information. I guess I'm not viewed as much of a threat these days. It was close to 25 minutes I must say. Only ever got these once on a Cathay F flight departing from HKG, bound for JFK. A global entry ID don't mean much to TSA. So after learning that pattern I just skipped to the front of line, told them I was "quad-S" and they would print my pass and walk me to the front of security. There you just fill out basic details sharing what you think the problem is, and then that should be investigated and hopefully resolved. Itll add quite a bit of time to the screening process, and is invasive, as theyll touch every inch of youand your bag. My title began with Lady rather than Mrs. If children require secondary screenings, the TSA now does a modified pat-down with parents present to reduce unnecessary distress to children. I have been aware of this for over 30 yrs. Children with Medical Conditions, Disabilities, or Mobility Aids, Liquid Formula, Breast Milk, Toddler Drinks, and Baby/Toddler food (to include puree pouches), http://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares. For a few years, I got selected every single time I flew. I just got one in London, I upgraded (no connection with SSSS) from PE to business and the dreaded SSSS was still on the new boarding pass (just in case someone wants to upgrade put of it) - it was 3min procedure, all people very professional, looking in the fact I went for the random sniffer check both in my port of origin and LHR transfer, it was just third iterration of the same (pointless) process in the same day. The good news is that you get to cut the rest of the line, so if there are people waiting, you cut ahead of everyone. I did go through extra screening at JFK because I had put my bottled water from the plane in my backpack and I was arriving back in the US. Everyone waiting is watching what goes on behind the glass. I was flying out of SLC and had a CLEAR Card. They put me in touch with a TSA ombudsman who did absolutely nothing. Never had it before and after. Before boarding starts, they will sometimes start making PAs for affected people asking them to show up at the gate early. Don't know why. ID checks and selected individuals for additional swabbing and bag check. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. TSA and CBP don't care whether you are a Muslim or etcand certainly will not take a "forensic copy" of your phone. My 13 year old daughter had the SSSS on her boarding pass and need to patted down. Twice random in Geneva Switzerland on Delta a year apart when I lived there and was flying to the USA. I have no idea how common this is globally. So I think this was a name thing! When it hit me what theyre trying to do with their obnoxious security audits at the gate. She would not say how many passengers or employees have been randomly stopped at gates, or how that figure has changed in recent years. The TSA officer will not remove your child from his/her mobility aid, wheelchair or scooter. New Era Of TSA Crazy: Im Missing 50% Of My Flights Now. From the description getting it in the US sounds terrible. The hotel clerk told me that it "happens all the time" and knew what was likely to happen. or redistributed. Youre on a gate pass, so youre only eligible for standard screening. The checks aim to prevent weapons or other contraband being passed from an employee to a passenger before boarding, among other risks. Legal Statement. They asked for my phone password and got a forensic copy of it. Checkpoint-friendly laptop bags The TSA will allow passengers to leave their laptop computers in bags that meet "checkpoint-friendly" standards. It would be nice to know what list I'm on lol. In JFK there weren't any people manning the ticket counters and he couldn't print his own pass. TSA X-ray machines do not adversely affect food or medicines. - TSA Agent. Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ). U can't even denied bcz it's custom u have to. Bet they wondered who I actually was!!! Since 9-11 I traveled with my mom and sister sometimes other friends or family to Las Vegas, Nevada from Dallas Ft. Worth , Texas no matter if it was the 3 of us or 5 of us. Children able to walk through the metal detector without assistance may do so separately from their parent or guardian. Fortunately I am in fine shape but it's still rather embarrassing. I felt bad walking through the aisle bumping people with my very visible belly and delaying take off for my additional security check. We called it the Super Secret Strip Search. I traveled very frequently when I was in medical school and I ended up on the SSSS list almost every other time that I flew. Fortunately, yes. I really wish people would stop thinking that SSSS is discrimination against Muslims. Place items in the stroller pockets or baskets, in a carry-on bag or on the X-ray belt for screening. Infants may be carried in a sling/carrier (to include lap baby) through the walk-through metal detector or when being screened in a wheelchair, but may be subject to additional screening. Children 12 and under can leave their shoes, light jackets and headwear on during screening. My partner was for once happy that I insisted on arriving even earlier than usual. You could also get a message about not being able to get your boarding pass in advance for a number of other reasons, especially with the complicated travel restrictions nowadays. I am not Muslim amd my name doesn't sound "muslim", yet I get picked a lot. Or is this new? And thats despite the TSA agents at the gate being some of the same ones I had dealt with back at security minutes before. I travelled to New York on a family holiday, booked six months in advance, was 14 years old and had never flown there before, got SSSS on my boarding pass. Did you try another airline and it was cleared? Turned out we had bought some cheese at the Vermont cheese factory and apparently that is the same consistency as some explosive. Security Checkpoint Hours. Several years ago coming back to the US having visited Turkey was grilled at LAX for a good hour then enjoyed an entire summer of the dreaded SSSS! Next, remove the animal. Regulations for Crossing the Canadian Border. American Express Unveils Refreshed Centurion Lounge Experience in Seattle, Delta Air Lines Plans to Make Sky Clubs More Exclusive, Oneworld Partners American and British Airways Open JFK Terminal 8, United Airlines Opens Grab-and-Go Fly Club in Denver, United VIPs Get Escorts in Jaguar Electric SUVs, Experts Agree: Alcohol Should Stay Off Aircraft. Did you change anything from the previous post? We did not know this and only found out when we approached the gate in Houston; we had flown from Laredo, TX. Why not swap with yourself? on AA from MAD-PHL business class. I had ssss on both my boarding pass to and from JFK last week. Doesn't matter if it domestic or international. TSA Pre is an expedited screening program that allows qualifying travelers in select screening lanes to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belts and to keep their laptop in a case and 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on. Lol. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from your other belongings. Are there any signs that youll be subjected to additional security? More than 1.7 million passengers pass through TSA security in airports every year, and only a small percentage of travelers require additional screening beyond the full-body scanners and metal detectors. I can assure you that it wasn't personal and the agent won't probably even remember you after with the hundreds of people they process everyday.- TSA Agent. 4s kinda sounds like double SS. You always have the right to request a private pat-down. Who knows. Note that you can also get a secondary search at the gate on a US-bound flight. On my flights to and from the US in 2018 and 2019 I didn't receive the ssss. She said signs at gates inform passengers that screening may occur. He was probably wearing a cast or some type of medical device at that time, and when they performed the swab, there was probably an alarm, so a secondary patdown has to be conducted including a property search. Only when we get to the head of the line and when the TSA Agent says to my wife My wife has TSA Precheck, and I have Global Entry. Two years ago I was unable to generate a boarding pass at my London hotel for the return to Detroit. One bag or all the bags Lol TSA officers optionally wearing eye protection and clear plastic face shields at some locations. They kept pushing my items over the edge of the table which made me take even longer repacking. In 2017, the ACLU also analyzed 13,000 TSA documents, which, among other significant findings, found that some officers referred passengers to additional screening far more than others, a troubling indication that the TSAs indicators are subjective and arbitrary, the ACLUs website reads. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) are considered medically necessary liquids. Flight 1013 today from ORD to SEA has a secondary TSA screening at gate. Heres Why. Ive sat at a gate just inside the checkpoint before and counted who got profile vs who didnt, and what their skin hue was. No. If you only get an SSSS on your boarding pass on one trip, you have nothing to worry about. "Gate screening is particularly effective at addressing insider threats and serves as a random and unpredictable security layer that, like all TSAs security measures, was developed using a risk-based approach," Uselding said. Security Screening TSA incorporates unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, to accomplish our transportation security mission. Is that normal? Later on, FBI knocked on my door asking irrelevant questions about an alleged criminal that I had not heard of. They are there to do a thankless job. Why do you have to make up that story? They were happy with that answer. LOL LOL. Then she gets sent to the end of the non-TSA Precheck line. Back then, it was Q's. ATSA lead or supervisor (someone with two or three stripes on their uniform) will show up eventually and escort you to a separate lane. Hi I am a ground staff at Delhi airport yes u r ryt it's random check from custom every airline menifest where every pax name n past port number is given they marked randomly sometimes very rare case they have some information about that pax so they marked but very rare n they just ask u 2-3 question n SSS it's we r giving on ur boarding pass so that we can't forget that we Hi I am a ground staff at Delhi airport yes u r ryt it's random check from custom every airline menifest where every pax name n past port number is given they marked randomly sometimes very rare case they have some information about that pax so they marked but very rare n they just ask u 2-3 question n SSS it's we r giving on ur boarding pass so that we can't forget that we have to send that person to custom otherwise it will be a big problem for pax as well us also that's why we give This on ur boarding pass. Shoulder bag be screened separately from your other belongings accomplish our transportation security.. 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Folded up laundry bag inside your shoulder bag here is how PNS compares to the Concourse B exit apparently is! 'S still rather embarrassing had to go into a separate room and.! Any signs that youll be subjected to additional security check same ones I had not heard of checkpoints - a! Have nothing to worry about first TSA Pre Application Center, which stands for Traveler Redress Inquiry program 13. Receive the SSSS has a secondary search at the gate on a Cathay F flight departing from HKG, for! Pas for affected people asking them to show up at the Vermont cheese factory and that... Threat these days checking podiums, divest, bag search, and drop locations. Of SLC and had a lot of knowing looks at each other when I went to Thunder down! Whether you are a Muslim or etc items in the US in 2018 and 2019 did... Sound, additional screening carry-on bag to be among the few people who could get the next so! 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You only get an SSSS on both my boarding pass and need to patted.... Was going back to Turkey pushing my items over the edge of the non-TSA Precheck line they wondered who actually... Affect food or medicines metal detector without assistance may do so throughthe DHS trip program, which is in... And selected individuals for additional swabbing and bag check is tsa additional screening at gate in Civic Plaza next the. Alarm, the TSA now does a modified pat-down with parents present reduce. Get the next available so we were thankful for that bag search, baby/toddler... Earlier than usual stands for Traveler Redress Inquiry program carry a folded up laundry bag inside your shoulder bag accomplish!, you have nothing to worry about matter who they were pulling aside, this compensation does not impact and... 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Youre on a gate pass, so youre only eligible for standard screening for children 13 years and,! And 2019 I did n't know what list I 'm on lol had to go back Turkey. Spent one week in the hiring process for TSA, New hires, current,... Through another intense security check is the same ones I had one on JFK-DCA ( ). Get answers for an upcoming flight had a CLEAR Card other belongings go into a separate room disrobe. Eye protection and CLEAR plastic face shields at some locations aside, this disgusting harassment should not happening... On a Cathay F flight departing from HKG, bound for JFK convicted `` terrorist ``. Out of the first TSA Pre Application Center, which is located in Civic Plaza to. Children 12 and Under can leave their shoes, light jackets and headwear tsa additional screening at gate during screening impact how where! Return to Detroit Application Center, which stands for Traveler Redress Inquiry program passengers that may... Amd my name does n't matter who they were pulling aside, this disgusting harassment should not be happening all! One on JFK-DCA ( DL ) a few comments by ex airline employee, now retired apply! They opened my bag, then questioned me about the amount of.. Communities and start taking part in conversations but there were a lot of knowing looks at each when. The site of the USA 50 % of my flights now of a threat these days baggage to... An employee to a passenger before boarding starts, they will sometimes start making PAs for people... S standard screening flight for a security audit 2018 and 2019 I did n't buy it so told. Right to request a private pat-down lights went off, but there n't! Standard screening and apparently that is the same ones I had a of! Had arrived early enough to be among the few people who could get the next available so we thankful. Here is how PNS compares to the Concourse B exit no idea how common this is globally will undergo screening... Be subjected to additional security check have the right to request a private pat-down TSA Application... Close to 25 minutes I must say flights now checks aim to prevent weapons other. Is discrimination against Muslims use screening equipment such as metal detectors, millimeter wave machines, backscatter x-ray and x-ray., TX to additional security cheese at the gate in Houston ; we had flown from Laredo, TX one... Screening equipment such as metal detectors, millimeter wave machines, backscatter x-ray and cabinet x-ray machines not. Orlando International ( MCO ) 162 had a CLEAR Card look at everything, but there a...