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PLEASE NOTE: The Reality TV World Message Boards are filled with desperate
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"anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?"
Molaholic 9015 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Playboy Centerfold"
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08-11-08, 11:37 AM (EST)
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"anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
I don't want to talk about the games, but I was in SF for part of the weekend and had an 'interesting' experience flying.On both my outbound and return flights I was 'randomly selected' to get the extra pat-down search and carry-on inspection. I did learn that if your boarding pass has a SSSSS in the corner -- you've been flagged. My friend was also selected on both legs (our seats were booked together via Orbitz in June, paid with my credit card). One of the screeners told my friend that he was selected beacause the TSA flags single males - but I don't think marital status is asked when booking your flight. My thought was that both legs were completed within 32 hours (departed at 11 am on Saturday, return at 6 pm on Sunday) and we had no checked bags (it's possible that the 'SSSSS' marked boarding passes were printed after we told the agent we had no bags to check). Any expects (or insiders) out there that can enlighten? I'm flying again in 10 days (but it will be over 7 days and I will have checked bags.) 
SharTribe’s Springtime SigShoppe © MMVIII
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iatovttotx78 2645 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Survivor-themed Cruise Spokesperson"
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08-11-08, 11:48 AM (EST)
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1. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
I would also like insight into this "random selection" because where I'm sitting it doesn't feel random. Since 2001, I've been randomly selected to be searched every time I've flown. The searches have varied in comprehensiveness. Some times it's been a simple pat down and a quick peek in my bags, other times I've been escorted to a different parts of the airport and searched more extensively. I usually buy tickets directly from the airline and at least a month in advance.
Surfkitten summer sig shop 2008
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Molaholic 9015 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Playboy Centerfold"
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08-11-08, 12:48 PM (EST)
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7. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
LAST EDITED ON 08-11-08 AT 12:51 PM (EST)Were you wearing any Dodger gear?
That in itself should earn a patdown. Maybe even a strip search and a body cavity check.
Go Twins! My answer is simple:
SharTribe’s Springtime SigShoppe © MMVIII
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frodis 4442 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Jerry Springer Show Guest"
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08-11-08, 12:03 PM (EST)
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3. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
Ah, the dreaded SSSS. Yup, you got tagged.There are no posted hard and fast rules for when a person gets SSSSed. The TSA has to protect its secrets and keep the terrorists on their toes and all. But some collective knowledge and experience among frequent travelers seems to point to a few things whic seem to trigger the SSSS: - Not a frequent flyer
- Traveing alone
- last-minute purchase
- history of no-shows or changing flights
- one-way ticket
- ticket purchased by someone other than the traveler
- certain destinations or certain city pairs
- late check in
- no baggage to check
- passenger's appearance or anxiety level
- common name
- other secret reasons
- just plain random - have to meet a quota Sometimes you can fit all of the above categories and not get the SSSS and sometimes you can fit none of the above and still get the SSSS. If you can print your boarding pass online you usually don't get the SSSS. If you do, get it reprinted at the airport - it might go away. I'd guess you got hit because of the combo that someone else purchased your ticket, no bags. I've only been SSSSed once, and it was when I was flying one-way from DC to Chicago on a ticked purchased that day, on an airline I usually don't fly. 
Surfkitten summer sig shop 2008
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qwertypie 9776 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Playboy Centerfold"
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08-11-08, 12:24 PM (EST)
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4. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
So with more and more airlines jumping on the "we'll charge you for every checked bag" you would assume that would trigger more SSSSSs
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Molaholic 9015 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Playboy Centerfold"
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08-11-08, 12:46 PM (EST)
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6. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
I agree that the no checked bags and fast turn around could be worthy of being flagged, sometimes.FWIW - we flew JetBlue and tried the kiosk at the terminals to get our boarding passes, only to the "opps! I can't process your request" notification (both times). We were there for check-in at least 90 min before the flight. My flights later this month are two one-ways, so that may get me. (Outbound LA - Baltimore, return is Newark - LA. Both have layovers in Atlanta). BTW, I purchased my own ticket, my friend's was purchased at the same time, same booking (same thing as a family flying together, right?)
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frodis 4442 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Jerry Springer Show Guest"
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08-11-08, 01:12 PM (EST)
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10. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
Sorry, I mixed up who bought the ticket. They check the name on the ticket vs. the name on the purchasing cc so it's only family flying together if the last name is the same.I guess the online checkin now does the same thing as your kiosk did ("oops, sorry, see an agent!") nowadays. Too many people with Liquid Paper and a photocopier were removing their own SSSS. Not being a frequent flyer on that airline seems to be a biggie for getting the SSSS along with the one-way/no bags flags. There are also more nebulous reasons that people have speculated, such as if you've been on the same flight more than once with someone on the "no-fly" list (whether you knew it or not) or if you are seated in the same row/area as someone on the "no-fly" list (whether you know them or not.) Stuff that is possible, but there isn't a way to know if it is true. Sometimes it is something you can control, sometimes not. It can happen if you get rebooked due to weather, since the airline's systems sees that as a last-minute cash purchase. When I used to travel a lot I was a regular on a frequent flyer site, which is where I've picked up all of this speculation. Basically, if they want to SSSS you, don't take it too personally, just pack your tiny travel-sized tube of KY and enjoy the special "attention."  You usually get to hop to the front of the line so it's not all bad.
Surfkitten summer sig shop 2008
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Snidget 44369 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Playboy Centerfold"
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08-11-08, 12:49 PM (EST)
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8. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
I've been lucky so far.A friend of mine got pulled every leg of a long trip with many stops to Southern Asia. We aren't sure why she of all the people she was traveling with got targeted for a pat down at every airport.
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foonermints 14531 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Playboy Centerfold"
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08-11-08, 02:03 PM (EST)
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11. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
Now, why would I do that? 
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mysticwolf 10692 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Playboy Centerfold"
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08-11-08, 02:25 PM (EST)
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12. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
LAST EDITED ON 08-11-08 AT 02:36 PM (EST)*snort* All I know is that once you're flagged for one segment you're flagged for them all. At this point you've all seen pictures of John. Fair, blue eyes, typical Irish complexion, infectious grin. About as far from what folks complain TSA is "profiling" for in terrorist looks as can be imagined. For some reason he got "chosen" on almost every trip we made post-9/11. For, example: On our Tenerife trip we had segments from Toledo to Detroit, Detroit to Philadelphia, Philadelphia to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to London, London to Madrid, and Madrid to the Canaries. Going, and coming back, he got stopped, wanded, patted down, and had his carry on's searched at every single boarding - no matter how close the flights. It was quite ludicrous and, I must say, he continued to be angry about it until the day he died. Seemed to us that it's a very inefficient way of "protecting" us, but that's the TSA. If nothing else it proved that they certainly weren't engaged in racial profiling. Of course, it also proved that they aren't engaged in any actual "protection", either. FTR: Some of the security peeps (particularly those outside the U.S.) thought it was pretty hilarious when they realized how often he'd already been searched. ETA: On none of these flights, this vacation or others, did he meet any of the "known" criteria posted above, unless it was the name. But, strange as it may seem, his name is actually quite common and I don't believe any of his relatives ever encountered this degree of constant selection, if they've ever been selected at all. 
Smokeysmom's comfort
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kingfish 20752 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Playboy Centerfold"
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08-11-08, 03:40 PM (EST)
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14. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
He wouldn't have gone thru a TSA check on the Amsterdam to London, or London to Madrid, or Madrid to the Canaries legs, right? Even if y'all were on an American carrier?
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cahaya 19891 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Playboy Centerfold"
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08-11-08, 03:14 PM (EST)
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13. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
Found an interesting travel blog that said this:How do you know if you have been "selected" for secondary screening? In the lower right corner of your boarding pass you will see four letters "SSSS," which stands for "Secondary Security Screening Selection." Contrary to popular belief, passengers who receive SSSS selection are not chosen by the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA), they are actually selected by the airlines they are flying on. Fly the unfriendly skies.
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dragonflies 8051 desperate attention whore postings
DAW Level: "Playboy Centerfold"
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08-11-08, 04:13 PM (EST)
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15. "RE: anyone with insite to our friends at TSA?" |
Next time make sure you aren't carrying any large stuffed animals. We got randomly selected every time the kids brought a stuffed animal that didn't fit in a bag. One time they even wanted the kids to keep going through security while DH got pulled one way and I got pulled another way. I put my foot down (kids were both under 10) and said no way, they had to stay by one of us. TSA picked me, but they had to stand at the end of the area I was being checked in. Within sight, but not close enough to touch.
It begins 8-8-08
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