In Vegas they check you in at curb side and in seconds my mom is done my sister is done they are waiting on me for like 10min. You never know when some underwear or shoe bomber or female maxipad bomber is going to take my life away. The checks aim to prevent weapons or other contraband being passed from an employee to a passenger before boarding, among other risks. They asked for my phone password and got a forensic copy of it. Theres no way to know when you book whether youll get the dreaded SSSS. However, if youre going to get it, you generally wont be able to load a mobile boarding pass, or print your boarding pass at home. There you just fill out basic details sharing what you think the problem is, and then that should be investigated and hopefully resolved. We generally fly the same itinerary. Fortunately, yes. When will the madness end? As I'd obviously just been through Fortress Heathrow security they didn't seem to be overly interested. 100% incorrect perception. Call TSA Cares 72 hours priorto traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. I also realized quite recently As you mentioned, "SSSS" screening at foreign airports is done at the departure gate. "In support of TSAs overall security strategy, the frequency of gate screening has increased and may occur unannounced at gate areas anytime.". I have had this several times, once when I was flying from Vermont to Virginia! Place items in the stroller pockets or baskets, in a carry-on bag or on the X-ray belt for screening. Pablo, a 12-year-old Chihuahua owned by a TSA officer, played the role of jet-setting pet. Good to know for next time. I had to lift my shirt exposing my belly and back half way up for the lady to check me. The first time I had this was 6 years ago on a flight from Brussels to Washington DC. I was chosen on a flight going to Las Vegas out of Seattle. At JFK the first TSA agent was rude (doesn't cost anything to be friendly), the second one who conducted the physical check was friendly though. I kind of understood why if was flagged, as that was very different from my usual flight pattern. This became a "thing" not too long after 9/11. She said signs at gates inform passengers that screening may occur. Airlines. I said I was going to Vegas, it was gambling money. After about 10 minutes, a TSA Supervisor Had my travel arranged by the US Marshals Service,many years ago. 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. Had to go through a separate security line, with no one in it other than my wife and me. I was flying out of SLC and had a CLEAR Card. Simply put, an SSSS on your boarding pass means that youre getting an extra thorough search when you go through security. Three to six TSA agents set up at the gate. TSA officers will continue the practice of changing gloves after each pat-down. 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. I am not Muslim amd my name doesn't sound "muslim", yet I get picked a lot. I am a Muslim immigrant from the middle east and was given one of those "random checks" at the airport flying back home in the US. Travelers can access all gates from any checkpoint. What is the secondary screening process like? I can't even count how many times I got the SSSS but I was never sent to secondary screening or had any other issue during boarding. Walk through the metal detector carrying your pet or guiding it by leash.Upon exiting, an officer. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. You will be asked to step aside for additional screening, which can take place right at the checkpoint, or privately. Immediately after they scanned my boarding pass at the gate, I was stopped by another airport security person asking if I had been given any bags or bought anything before TSA. TSA, "automated target recognition software detects any metallic and non-metallic threats concealed under clothing by displaying a generic outline of a person on a monitor attached to the advanced imaging technology unit highlighting any areas that may require additional screening." Lately, it has been much less frequent. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32957073-post2009.html. I got SSSS on a trip I took last month with having TSA Pre. Sure enough, I have had several domestic flights since my last SSSS abroad and have not encountered it. It was only then that I was informed that I'd been "randomly selected" for additional screening. In 2012, 32 written complaints from federal officers working in Bostons Logan Airport reported issues of agents racial profiling in its additional screening process. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from your other belongings. I've always wondered if check-in agents can also add SSSS to a pax. Liquids in plastic bags or pouches may not be able to be screened by Bottle Liquid Scanners, and you may be asked to open them (if feasible) for alternate screening such as Explosive Trace Detection and Vapor Analysis for the presence of liquid explosives. And often times, they didnt even check mine. I had to give permission or we were not getting on the plane. Security measures begin long before you arrive at the airport. You are part of the negative media propaganda that you were talking about. 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. The agent will pat down every inch of your body, from your waistline to the area around yourcrotch. Card for turkey. ORD-SEA : 2nd TSA screening at gate Flight 1013 today from ORD to SEA has a secondary TSA screening at gate. But we didn't handle check-in and boarding for vacation charter airline and that situation was a bit different. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. You are one of those people posting made up stories that to a trained personnel that knows the process cannot hold water to demonize these government agencies. A lady laid into me last night about this very issue. If theres a line just to check-in, well, that could take an extra 30 minutes with the family of 12 ahead of you and several strollers in tow. Youre on a gate pass, so youre only eligible for standard screening. 3. I have no idea how common this is globally. Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in excess of 3.4 ounces. Types of Screening. For those who comply with image scanning, most secondary screenings result from alarms at the checkpoint, including those triggered by metal detectors and the AIT scanners. True stories from TSA checkpoints - from a real convicted "terrorist.". Regulations for Crossing the Canadian Border. I was going back to Turkey, I was flying out of Orlando airport. Had (I think) US Marshalls checking a recent flight from the East Coast. They bring a little wheeled cart. The hotel clerk told me that it "happens all the time" and knew what was likely to happen. Security theater indeed. 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. You failed to mention the absolute worst aspect. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. No other airline carrier has this issue. 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. Happy to fly with you out of DCA or IAD sometime. The TSA Rep thought he got one of the top ten My title began with Lady rather than Mrs. All regular procedure. I had a lot of cash with me and of course they opened my bag, then questioned me about the amount of cash. The experience was made worse because our original flight had been canceled due to weather (most of the flights that morning were canceled) and we lost our comfort plus seats and could only get economy bulkhead seats on the next available flight 6 hours later. I immediately get flagged for SSSS. I fly to London several times a year. I rarely get the SSSS on a boarding pass these days. Great, now the TSA is playing Hall Monitor. 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. Your child or infant does not need to be present or traveling with you to bring breast milk, formula and/or related supplies. I was furious! I'm thinking this is also because of the SSSS but apparently they ask everybody leaving that particular country. I dont recall ever having secondary screening on a domestic flight. Anyways, people were nice and delay zero to none. Although not required, to expedite the screening process, it is recommended that formula and breast milk be transported in clear, translucent bottles and not plastic bags or pouches. A global entry ID don't mean much to TSA. I think the Koch brothers should always get secondary screening since they continue to do business with the baby killer-mass murderer Putin!!! The one and only time I got SSSS was 2 years ago leaving TPE to the US. Please prepare to show ID and present your bags to an agent for inspection." We did not know this and only found out when we approached the gate in Houston; we had flown from Laredo, TX. I'll add that to this post, since it's a good thing to clarify. Report unattended items or suspicious activity immediately to airline personnel or Airport Police at 305-876-7373. 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. Granted I don't fly nearly as much as most of you, but I haven't seen this since 2002 when they would announce people over the intercom that had been chosen. In your quest to find an especially great deal for a flight, youll likely come across airlines. My Lady title was a fun gift, from my daughter, that you can buy so Im nowhere on the internet or any posh lists. The US Transport Security Administration (TSA) was formed at this time and has increased security since with several schemes, including The Secure Flight program. Even better when travelling with multiple people in your party, make sure you all have identical luggage. I hate gate screenings, expecially if on a Southwest flight. The way youll want to address this is by applying for a Redress Number. I am very nervous about exposing my body to strangers, and this should have been done in private. New Era Of TSA Crazy: Im Missing 50% Of My Flights Now. Now I dread having to repack my carry on in a hurry again. For a few years, I got selected every single time I flew. Or is this new? 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. I had to empty my bag and she also checked my belly and back for explosives. 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. Location: Marriott or Hilton hot tub with a big drink