What It Means When You See 'SSSS' On Your Boarding Pass

Ah, good old airport security. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who enjoys it, but it's one of those necessary evils of tackling your travel bucket list. Even when you do everything right, you might still look down at your boarding pass and see the dreaded "SSSS" designation. This acronym stands for "Secondary Security Screening Selection," which is a fancy way of saying you'll need to go through a few extra steps beyond the regular security protocols.

The code can appear for anyone. The airport's security system does not discriminate between coach and first-class passengers, nor does it matter if you're enrolled in a Trusted Traveler Program, like Global Entry and TSA Precheck. Some common reasons you might see the "quad" crop up are purchasing a last-minute ticket, booking a direct flight one-way, paying in cash, flying to or from a country flagged by the U.S. State Department, or raising suspicions at the airport. There's also a much more straightforward possibility: You were selected at random as part of the airport's quota. This could be a one-time thing or it could appear on a string of flights. The whole operation is a bit shrouded in mystery, per the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

If you get the SSSS designation, plan for extra time to get through security, somewhere between an extra 15 to 45 minutes. You may be subject to all of the regular security measures plus a few extras, like taking off your shoes and coat, walking through a metal detector, being checked with a wand scanner, getting a full-body pat down, and getting a swab on your hands and feet for traces of explosive materials. Your carry-on and checked luggage will be subject to thorough checks, as well. You'll likely have to power-on your electronics and hand them off to TSA officials.

You may also be asked extra questions about your travels. If it makes you feel more comfortable, you'll be able to request that the extra measures take place in a private room, away from the eyes of other passengers. From there, a TSA agent will fill out some paperwork and stamp your boarding pass, giving you the all-clear. Don't leave without that stamp, as it could create problems when you reach your gate.

If you notice that the SSSS plagues your boarding pass each time you travel, you may be on some kind of watchlist — or someone with a similar name to you is. For example, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains a terrorist watchlist, a database of passengers who can usually fly within the United States but automatically have to go through extra security precautions. TSA also works closely with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, evaluating passengers from low-risk to high-risk as part of its Secure Flight program.

Short of changing your name, you have another option to get out of the SSSS category. Submit your case to the Department of Homeland Security's Traveler Redress Inquiry Program, available to anyone who has been unable to check in online, print a boarding pass at a kiosk, been denied boarding, or is repeatedly tagged for secondary screening. You'll fill out an application online and get a tracking number. If your application is successful, you'll be given a Redress Control Number (RCN) to add to your airline reservations to prevent future delays. The timeline can vary between a few days to up to a year. But the good news is, less than 2% of applicants are on the terrorist watchlist, so you should be able to clear up the mix-up in time for your next romantic getaway.