Travel 101 Part 2: Airline boarding pass & important information for travelers bound to the USA

Every traveller would know what a boarding pass is, but not many are aware of some of the codes indicated in it, particularly the "SSSS."

Sample of manual boarding pass issued at the airport check in counter. Photo taken at Jeju International Airport.

What is a boarding pass?

A boarding pass is a kind of document provided by airline companies to passengers at the check-in. It serves as a proof that the passenger is granted permission to board the plane for his/her flight. This document contains all the necessary information including the passenger name, flight number, airport, departure schedule, origin and destination, boarding time, and so on. By scanning the bar code or QR code, the airline or airport personnel can have a quick access to the Passenger Name Record (PNR) in their system.

See the meaning of the codes on this infographics

Do you see SSSS in your boarding pass?

The SSSS stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection. This code applies only to passengers traveling to the United States of America (USA). If this appears in your boarding pass, it means that you will be subject to a thorough examination or additional screening by the security. The policy was initiated by the Transport Security Administration (TSA) after the 9/11 terror attack. 

Sample of electronic boarding pass issued from online check in. Photo taken at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan. 

How does someone end up being tagged with SSSS?

Although neither TSA nor airline companies have revealed the exact selection process, some of the factors that likely influence their decision include:

•     having one-way ticket reservation;
•     paying tickets in cash;
•     bearing a similar name to individuals in the watch list; or
•     through random selection

Again, the SSSS code shows up only in the boarding pass of select travelers bound for the USA.

I hope this simple information has helped you. And just a reminder, DO NOT post all the information of your boarding pass online especially on your social media accounts. Remember, that small piece of paper holds valuable information about your flight. With only a single scan of your boarding pass' barcode or QR code, a malicious person can change or cancel your flight. 

Stay tuned for more travel tips and information! 

* * *

Travel 101 Part 1: Taiwan extends visa-free entry program for Filipinos until 2020

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Travel 101