The dreaded SSSS

[-FlyAuburn-]

Once again I pull my boarding pass out of the self service kiosk and quickly start searching for it. And once again I find myself staring at the dreaded SSSS. It's like when you were a kid and you opened a present on your birthday and see a dinosaur sweater your grandma knitted for you versus that cool toy you had really wanted.

Most of the airline ticket agents are very good about getting it removed from the boarding pass of us NJ pilots, but only if you ask politely and only if they are in a good mood. If they are having a crappy day or just happen to be one of the few that won't do it (even though their colleague did it a couple of weeks back for the same airline) then you are probably screwed. Last tour I was told by a US Scareways ticket agent, "We don't do that anymore, the rules have changed." Yeah right lady, translation: You don't feel like it. At least the gentleman that did the cavity search etc. was a nice guy in a good mood.

Today I had better lucked with Continental. I guess they weren't aware of the "new" rules. You never can tell just based on the look of the ticket agent. This particular lady looked quite militant and pissed off yet in about 1 minute flat she handed me a new boarding pass with no SSSS without any hassle.

Somebody needs to do some politicking somewhere and get us fractional pilots on the "list". I know we are ticketed passengers but I disagree with the previous posts about our uniform and crew ID meaning nothing. It means a lot. It means we have passed stringent background checks and fingerprinting, and are by and large every bit as "security worthy" as any "real" airline crew.

I think the issue is that the general public and the government are slow to realize the changes that have taken place in GA and the size and scale of companies like NJ. We are an airline, and a very large one at that. We have enough to deal with leaving our families and being away for a week at a time. The last thing any of us should have to deal with is having to stand in a glass box with an airline pilot uniform on while the rest of the world walks buy wondering what the hell a pilot is having to "spreadem" for.

Anyway, I know there have been other posts on this subject but that is just my two cents.

 

[Chairman]

We should all be put in the cleared program

 

[ProFracPilot]

FWIW - I haven't seen a SSSS in months, perhaps a couple of years. It seems the only time I've seen this is if I printed my boarding pass without my FF number having been added to the reservation.

 

[NJAPLT]

Two issues with the clear program from what I know:
1. Not that many airports in the system.
2. Cost

I don't know much more about it because my home airport (PDX) doesn't have it. I'm not even sure if you just present the card and go, or if you still get security screened anyway.

Yeah, the SSSS go away as you fly, I still get them on the "oddball" airline that I don't fly on much, like US Air, while I never see them on ones I use regularly. I don't even ask them to take them off, it takes more time that the quick pat down. (Except the time the bomb sniffer went off after they wiped my bag, that took a few minutes more, they never did figure out why it kept going off.)

 

[Geronimo4497]

Does your company put your FF number on the reservation ahead of time or do you do it when you check in?

 

[ProFracPilot]

Does your company put your FF number on the reservation ahead of time or do you do it when you check in?

95% of the time our logistics people get the number onto the reservation. The other 5% I'll add it when I check in. WN seems to be the one standout, not sure why. Our logistics people have all my FF / rewards numbers.

 

[captain dad]

Me too. The SSSS printed in bold type on my pass from the automated mechanical ticket agent's slot.

I proudly went to the security checkpoint and proceeded to get frisked by a man with an 9th grade education and I was treated like a five year old who was caught stealing candy.

Thank God for the TSA. Can you tell it is a government run operation.


It reminds me of really fancy drapes.

Window dressing my friends, window dressing.

Just my opinion, Still happy to be here.

 

[av8tor4239]

I hate the TSA.. it is a total facade

 

[xrated]

Somebody needs to do some politicking somewhere and get us fractional pilots on the "list". I know we are ticketed passengers but I disagree with the previous posts about our uniform and crew ID meaning nothing. It means a lot. It means we have passed stringent background checks and fingerprinting, and are by and large every bit as "security worthy" as any "real" airline crew.

I think the issue is that the general public and the government are slow to realize the changes that have taken place in GA and the size and scale of companies like NJ. We are an airline, and a very large one at that. We have enough to deal with leaving our families and being away for a week at a time. The last thing any of us should have to deal with is having to stand in a glass box with an airline pilot uniform on while the rest of the world walks buy wondering what the hell a pilot is having to "spreadem" for.

Anyway, I know there have been other posts on this subject but that is just my two cents.

Not trying to start a pi$$ing match, I used to fly for a fractional (Kind of) am currently flying for a major, and hope to be flying for a frac in the somewhat near future.

First off, offer it to one company, others are going to want similar treatment. What about the defence contract workers who travel weekly/monthly who have high level security clearances? Law enforcement folks who travel on non-job related business? Military personnel?

The other point, gotta pay to play. Seems like corporate flt depts, charter co's, and fractionals squak when the airlines want them to pitch in for user fees/aka, ATC, taxes and security fees. You want the perks...shell out the cash.

$.02

 

[Rubber Ducky]

insanity SSSS

I airlined to EWR without the cavity search. After landing in EWR before I'm even off the plane I get a new brief with airline rework. I go to the first GATE agent I see and get a new boarding pass. Guess what... SSSS. But I dont catch it until on the shuttle from terminal A to C (still on the secure side of TSA). I go to a CSR and they say airline is airline and tsa is tsa. I had to go back to security! I figure they are just going to sign the thing... They start giving me the cavity search while they are confused about how I came from the secure side of the terminal. WTF

 

[Ultra Grump]

Yeah, the SSSS go away as you fly, I still get them on the "oddball" airline that I don't fly on much, like US Air, while I never see them on ones I use regularly. I don't even ask them to take them off, it takes more time that the quick pat down. (Except the time the bomb sniffer went off after they wiped my bag, that took a few minutes more, they never did figure out why it kept going off.)

I got the double whammy recently - coming back from company recurrent, travel had me on US Air. Got the SSSS and the pleasure of CMH TSA all at once. Very nice.

The best reason to fight for getting in CASS so we can use the crew lanes is simply to see the CMH TSA's faces when they can't harass us for having a 4-oz tube of toothpaste. Priceless!

 

[batsky2000]

I wear my uniform no matter where I travel, even if I travel on vacation, I wear that thing, and every time I have had the SSSS, the ticket agent would remove it, or the tsa guy would wave me without the search, I know it sucks to wear the uniform, but I hate the hassles of security even more, so I just fly in uniform all of the time.

 

[NCherches]

I wear my uniform no matter where I travel, even if I travel on vacation, I wear that thing, and every time I have had the SSSS, the ticket agent would remove it, or the tsa guy would wave me without the search, I know it sucks to wear the uniform, but I hate the hassles of security even more, so I just fly in uniform all of the time.

You know you wear it cause the chick's dig it... I on the other hand would rather be raped in flip-flops!

 

[Dr Pepper]

About Clear - In Denver, the clear line is next to the badged employee line. They funnel to the same agent with the stamp. I have yet to see someone use that lane though.

USAir is the worst about SSSS. I use my United number when I am on scareways, so I may never see it go away. Most agents are quick about the bag search, a few like the grab and tickle.

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

Somebody needs to do some politicking somewhere

I hate to go Michael Jackson on you, but how about looking at The Man in The Mirror.

 

[Flex-ible]

USAir is the worst about SSSS. I use my United number when I am on scareways, so I may never see it go away.

My expereince is well. The cooperative frequent flyer programs help build up the miles - but when you use the "wrong" frequent flyer number you get the SSSS.

 

[CX880]

I don't worry about SSSS since I'm on the airline side but If I'm jumpseating at random airports with historically shady TSA agents I just go through security in uniform and pull a superman into civilian clothes right after passing through.

 

[gutshotdraw]

I hate the TSA.. it is a total facade

When I get the SSSS and I'm traveling in uniform because I'm flying on the other end, I just stand there, smile, and shake my head as the TSA doofus rumages through my bag, runs a patch through the bomb sniffer, pats me down, and punches the ticket with the secret hole punch of the day. The look on other passenger's faces is classic.

I know it's a total waste of time but I love the TSA. Job security baby, job security. Our folks will stop traveling completely before they'll go back for the double bend-over from the Thousands Standing Around.

 

[johnsgra]

Book the ticket with the appropriate company ff # and then after through security have a gate agent change it for you. I always book usair with my usair # and then have them change it for me to a united number on the flip side.

 

[RightTraffic]

Avoid Kiosk

If you do not want to get Ss , go see a ticket agent because they can wave it if you are a crewmember with ID in uniform. But sometimes the lines are so long to see one, it will take just as long.

 

[Geronimo4497]

It has been my experience that if you are not 121, most ticket agents will not remove the SSSS. USairways in BOS will, but that seems to be the extent of it.

 

[Crobar]

I think it just depends on how well the lady likes you, or how good of mood she's in that day, some times you win sometimes you lose. I always statr with "my you look pretty", if theres not a chick working I skip it and accept the ssssssss'sss

 

[nomore]

Ssss

Show the SSSS ticket to the first line of TSA defense and they move you to a speedy line. Not everywhere but often enough, and the TSA person when they see my I.D. usually give a perfunctory pat down and off I go. At least when I had a job they did.

 

[bailout]

Im confused.. Do you guys actually show your boarding pass in the security lines? Never do, never had a problem. Yes even in DEN.

 

[Flex-ible]

Im confused.. Do you guys actually show your boarding pass in the security lines? Never do, never had a problem. Yes even in DEN.

A ticket agent suggested I try that once. Didn't work. I wound up getting stopped by the gate agent who said I could not get on because I didn't have the "secret stamp" from TSA. They called TSA - to the GATE - and did the secondary screening right there. Totally ridiculous!!

 

[414Flyer]

Oh god, this reminds me of when I was trying to jumpseat in uniform at MKE. I had gotten listed at the ticket counter and the boarding pass she printed up for me, has SSSS on it.

So I get in line (not sure if there was even a flight crew line then) and before the x-ray, they put me into this penalty box off to the side until they can actually search me. I sat there, and sat there. They just said they did not have time to get to me yet, and I told them I am just about to miss the flight I am listed on.

They TSA agent either did not care or did not understand what I am talking about. I told them I have now missed the flight I was listed for, and I need to go back and try and get listed. They told me I could not leave, until one of them could escort me back down, or until I was searched. So I missed my flight, and now I had to wait to leave the box, they had no one available to clear me through, and no one available to escort me back down.

Finally, a supervisor is around and I tell them what happened, and at least they let me leave their little SSSS penalty box so i can go back down and look for a flight again.

In hindsight, I could have probably not gotten listed at the ticket counter and gone right through security line, but was my first time to jumpseat again post 9/11 (this was 2005) and thought I needed something like a boarding pass or ticket to get through the security lines, when the ID probably would have been fine.

It was just still maddening to be stuck in their SSSS jail while I miss a flight, and then I cant get out of that jail to get listed onto another flight.

 

[tankerswede]

A ticket agent suggested I try that once. Didn't work. I wound up getting stopped by the gate agent who said I could not get on because I didn't have the "secret stamp" from TSA. They called TSA - to the GATE - and did the secondary screening right there. Totally ridiculous!!

I got the SSSS out of DEN, didn't show my pass, went through the crew line, and when I got to the gate they gave me a new boarding pass with no SSSS on it. In retrospect, they could probably have sent me back through security or had TSA come to the gate but in a moment of weakness they chose to be cool about it.

It seems that the FF# is helpful in keeping the SSSS off of the ticket, but in my case only if the company has made the reservation with the FF# included. For some reason, there are a few airlines where the company can't attach the FF# to the reservation. I have gone to the airline website and attached my number to the record locator but the Great TSA Threat Analysis Computer sees through such shallow trickery. Still got the SSSS.

 

[dash_trash]

Flying out of LIT one evening and couldn't print the boarding ticket at the hotel, so I know what was coming and traveld in uniform. Well, the TSA dude must either take a lot of pride in his job or be very new, because he spent 25-30 minutes on the pat down and bag check. He took every single item out of my suit case and my computer bag. He used a min. of 20 wipes ... camera, computer, mp3, etc. ... all cables for said devices ... shoes and a couple of new ones for me ... actually took my electric razon out and swiped it and the cord in addition to my contact saline solution bottle, and toothpaste. All while standing there in uniform.

Finished repacking my stuff about 10 minutes prior to departure.

Absolutely the worst experience ever.

 

[nomore]

Dash he wanted a date!

That fellow in AR was trying to seduce you Dash. You're such a handsome devil!

 

[dash_trash]

Well ... I did hear bango's playing in the background!