What the “SSSS” Code on a Boarding Pass Indicates and Why Travelers Sometimes See It

know what to expect.

What Does SSSS Stand For?

SSSS stands for “Secondary Security Screening Selection.” It indicates that a passenger has been selected for additional security checks before boarding.

The designation is associated with U.S. aviation security and can also appear on boarding passes for flights departing another country for the United States.

It does not, by itself, mean that your booking has been canceled or that you are prohibited from flying.

Why Might a Traveler Be

Selected?

There is no publicly available checklist that explains every selection, and the letters alone do not reveal why a particular passenger