What Does ‘SSSS’ on Your Boarding Pass Mean? (And How to Stay Calm When You See It)

What ‘SSSS’ Actually Stands For

“SSSS” stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection. It’s a designation used by aviation security authorities to indicate that a passenger has been selected for additional screening before boarding their flight.

This process is most commonly associated with procedures overseen by agencies like the Transportation Security Administration.

Why You Might Be Selected

Being marked with SSSS doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done anything wrong. In many cases, the selection is random. However, certain factors can increase the likelihood: