Understanding the Significance of “SSSS” on Your Boarding Pass

Ah, the infamous SSSS.

When your boarding pass unexpectedly displays SSSS for the first time, you might feel puzzled or even hope you've hit the jackpot. Sadly, those letters signify something entirely different.

What Does SSSS Mean?

SSSS stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection, indicating that you've been selected for extra scrutiny by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). These screenings may include pat-downs, additional baggage checks, explosive swabs, and more—expect to spend around 15 to 45 extra minutes at airport security.

Why did I receive SSSS on my boarding pass? Is it truly random?

Yes and no. As explained by TSA spokesman Michael McCarthy, SSSS shows up on a passenger’s boarding pass when they’ve been chosen by the agency’s Secure Flight system for enhanced security screening. Secure Flight is a risk-based passenger prescreening initiative designed to enhance security by identifying both low- and high-risk travelers before they arrive at the airport. This is achieved by comparing passengers’ names against trusted traveler lists and watchlists.
To safeguard privacy, the Secure Flight program gathers only the essential personal information—full name, date of birth, and gender—required for effective matching. It also ensures that individuals on the Terrorist Watchlist, No-Fly List, and the CDC's “Do Not Board” list are prevented from boarding any aircraft.
However, being chosen for extra screening does not imply that you are a high-risk passenger or that you are on any list—passengers can be selected randomly as well. “TSA routinely incorporates random and unpredictable measures into its procedures, which may lead to a passenger receiving an SSSS designation for a single flight,” McCarthy noted in an email. In fact, the SSSS designation can apply to any traveler at any time, even those enrolled in U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler Programs, like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Additionally, just because you receive the designation once doesn’t mean you’ll get it for future flights.
The system designates its SSSS “winners” instantly, but those four letters will lead to a longer interaction with TSA agents, so be ready for a more thorough, albeit manageable, screening process.

How can I remove SSSS from my boarding pass? Is it a permanent designation?

Unfortunately, you cannot remove SSSS from your boarding pass. At least not for this flight (if you were randomly selected), since you’ve already been chosen for additional screening. Changing your flight won’t help either—you’ll remain on the list until you complete the screening process.

And no, if you were randomly selected, SSSS on your boarding pass isn’t a permanent status. It’s likely it won’t appear on your next booking, and there’s a good chance you may never be selected for additional screening again. Often, it’s just the luck of the draw.

Reporting by Rosalie Tinelli and Bailey Berg.