SSSS on Your Boarding Pass, Now What?

If you’ve ever tried to check in for a flight online and been told you need to see an agent at the airport, there’s a chance you’ve been flagged for additional security screening. When you finally get your printed boarding pass and see four letters: SSSS printed on it, you’ll know for certain: you’re about to have a very different airport experience.

SSSS stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection, and it means the Department of Homeland Security has flagged you for enhanced security measures.

Here’s what makes this particularly frustrating: those four letters completely override any privileges you have through TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Even if you’ve paid for expedited screening and have been approved as a trusted traveler, SSSS means you’re going through the full additional screening process.

Different Screening Process, Different Timing

The screening can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour, and airlines won’t hold your flight or provide a refund if you miss it due to security delays. This is why understanding what triggers SSSS selection—and how to handle it—matters for every traveler, especially those with specific concerns about the process.

It’s important to note that SSSS (Secondary Security Screening Selection) is determined before you even get to the airport. It’s assigned by the Department of Homeland Security’s algorithms when you book or check in for your flight. That’s why you can’t check in online, and you have to get your boarding pass from an agent—the SSSS is already printed on it before you arrive at security.

The ‘good’ thing about this situation, if there’s anything good about it, is that you have at least some advance warning so that you can get to the airport early.

Alternatively, TSA agent-initiated additional screening is a completely different situation that happens at the security checkpoint based on what agents observe, like nervous behavior, random selection at the checkpoint, or something is flagged during the X-ray screening.

Nervous behavior in the security line can work against you – even if you’re just nervous about making your flight!

If you’re acting anxious, avoiding eye contact with agents, or seem overly nervous, a cautious (or excessively cautious) security agent might flag you. This creates a frustrating catch-22 for anxious flyers or those with medical conditions that cause tremors or sweating.

Why You Might Get Flagged: 6 Common Reasons

According to TSA data, SSSS selection happens for six main reasons, and some might surprise you:

• Random selection is actually the most common cause. The TSA uses unpredictable security measures as part of their layered approach. You could be the most routine traveler and still get randomly selected—it’s simply bad luck.
• Unusual booking patterns can trigger algorithms. Booking one-way tickets, paying with cash for flights, or making last-minute changes to your itinerary can flag you as potentially suspicious because these patterns fall outside normal travel behavior.
• Name matching issues occur when your name is similar to someone on a watch list. This is completely out of your control and happens more often than you’d think, even to innocent travelers.
• Travel history can play a role. If you’ve visited countries considered higher risk, have a temporary passport, or travel internationally very frequently, you’re more likely to be selected. Even having stamps from a mixture of higher risk and lower risk countries in your passport can increase your chances.

What might get you flagged for additional security screening while in the security line:

Simple daily habits can cause you to be flagged. If you filled your car with gas, or painted your nails, or rubbed medicated lotions on your hands soon before picking up your suitcase, the residue of those products could be transferred to the suitcase. Depending on the material, it can sometimes result in a security flag.

What to Expect During SSSS Screening

If you get selected, here’s exactly what the process looks like so you can stay calm and get through it efficiently.

First, you’ll go through a metal detector, followed by a manual pat-down where an agent of the same gender will check for anything the detector might have missed. For travelers over 50, especially those with joint replacements, pacemakers, or other medical devices, inform the agent immediately—they’re trained to accommodate medical situations.

Next comes the most time-consuming part: the bag inspection. Agents will remove every single item from your carry-on and personal item, examining each thing individually. They may test items for explosive residue. This is where organized packing pays off. Having everything in labeled packing cubes or clear bags speeds up the process and maintains some privacy.

Agents may also swab some of your belongings, and/or your hands, the bottom of your shoes, for explosive residue. 

Finally, there’s usually a brief interview with standard questions: Where are you headed and why? How long is your trip? Did you pack your own bags? Have you been around any explosive devices or chemicals? What’s your occupation? Are you taking any medication?

Just answer these as simply as possible without adding any additional, unnecessary detail. Be calm and speak clearly.

Situations That Can Trip Up Travelers Over 50

Several common situations can complicate SSSS screening for mature travelers:

• Medications and medical devices: Carry a list of your medications and any letters from your doctor about medical devices (insulin pumps, nebulizers, CPAP machines). These items will be thoroughly inspected and may trigger additional questions.
• Hand creams and lotions: Common substances like hand creams containing glycerin can give false positive results on swab tests. If you use medicated creams or ointments, be prepared to explain them.
• Mobility aids: Canes, walkers, and wheelchairs will be thoroughly inspected. If you use a wheelchair, you may be asked to stand or transfer to a different chair during screening.
• Hearing aids and medical implants: Inform agents before screening begins about any implants, pacemakers, or hearing devices that might set off detectors or that you can’t remove.
• Multiple prescriptions: Traveling with several prescription bottles is normal for many travelers, but be prepared for agents to examine each one and potentially ask questions about them.

How to Reduce Your Chances and Make the Process Smoother

While you can’t completely eliminate the possibility of being selected for additional screening, you can reduce the likelihood and make the process easier.

Sign up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. While these don’t guarantee you won’t get SSSS, having a background check on file does reduce your chances of random selection.

Book round-trip flights when possible and use a credit card instead of cash. Normal booking patterns make it less likely for the system to flag you.

Pack smart. Keep your medications clearly organized in plastic zippered bags with the original labels on and doctor’s notes, if needed.

Always arrive at the airport with extra time—at least two hours for domestic flights, three for international. Having that buffer means you won’t be stressed and rushing, which can actually make you look suspicious to security agents.

Most importantly, stay calm and be polite if you do get selected. Getting angry will only make the process take longer and could escalate the situation unnecessarily. Remember: SSSS can happen to anyone, and most of the time it’s just random selection or something completely harmless that triggered the flag.

Pro tip: If you get SSSS more than once, apply for the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). This program gives you a unique redress control number that you include when booking flights, which helps TSA verify your identity and can reduce false matches.

The Bottom Line – SSSS selection is stressful, but it’s manageable when you know what to expect. Arrive early, pack strategically, stay calm, and remember that the screening is temporary—your trip is waiting on the other side.