FLYERS are being warned never to bin their boarding pass as a hidden four-letter airport code could lead to unexpected delays and travel chaos.
Experts say ditching the document too soon could see your luggage go walkies or even spark security mayhem.
The four letters no traveller wants to see on their boarding pass has been revealed[/caption]
It can lead to delays, pat-downs and extra bag checks[/caption]
Jet-setters heading off on their hols this summer might think their boarding pass is just a golden ticket to the skies – but there’s a lot more lurking on that little slip than just your seat number and gate.
Hidden among the letters and numbers are secret codes that tell airport staff everything from your booking details to your boarding priority – and even how much you paid for your ticket.
But there’s one dreaded code that no flyer wants to spot: SSSS.
What does SSSS mean?
It stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection – and if it’s printed on your pass, expect additional questions, pat-downs and extra bag checks before you even get near the plane.
Some passengers might even be tested for explosives.
It is randomly selected, but some countries are flagged and indicate potential issues or alerts, for example, if you only purchased a one-way ticket.
A New York-based travel blogger, Chloe Jade Meltzer, said: “I have gotten ‘SSSS’ on my boarding pass periodically over the years.
“When I get one, I will just try get the checks out of the way and head straight to the boarding gate to be screened again by airline staff.
“Usually, how long it takes depends on how fast you get to the boarding gate, how your bags are packed and how fast they are at searching.”
The 30-year-old added: “You also might be asked a few extra question like where you’re going and how long you’re staying there.
“It can feel very targeted but usually this will be going on for a few other people as well or sometimes half the plane.
“I personally don’t like this because it takes longer, you can’t do this before boarding, they do it exactly at boarding.”
When to throw away your boarding pass?
Top travel gurus and security whizzes are urging holidaymakers to hang on to their paper boarding passes – even after they’ve touched down.
That’s because the humble ticket holds a treasure trove of personal info – and in the wrong hands, it could lead to scams, hacked accounts and stolen identities.
The Sun’s Online Editor reveals what happens after getting boarding pass SSSS
THE Sun’s Stewart Jackson shared how he was once caught out by ‘SSSS’ code on a flight to New York.
“I tried to check-in online the night before, but the website kept throwing up an error message.
“I didn’t think much of it at the time and knew I’d be OK to check-in at the airport.”
But when he got to the check-in desk at the airport, his boarding pass was stamped with the letters ‘SSSS’.
“She took me out of the queue to a desk to check my details.
“After she’d punched in my passport number she said ‘Oh!’ and my heart started pounding when she did that. I was convinced there was a problem and I wouldn’t be allowed to fly…
“The employee saw the panic in my eyes and explained the reason for the error when checking in was that I’d already been pre-selected for extra screening.
“She assured me this was nothing to worry about and was purely random. It would be a search at the London end of the journey before boarding and not in New York as I’d initially feared.”
“I went to the gate when my boarding group was called and when they saw my boarding card, I was directed to an area behind a screen where someone else was also being searched.
“My hand luggage was searched, my hands and pockets were swabbed – they didn’t tell me what for. I was then asked to take off my shoes so they could check inside.
“This all happened in the waiting area before we actually boarded, so it didn’t delay me getting on the plane.”
Experts from the likes of Condé Nast Traveler and cyber sleuth Brian Krebs say crooks can scan the codes on dumped passes to dig up booking details, frequent flyer numbers and even access airline accounts.
So think twice before snapping and sharing it on social media – or worse, chucking it in the bin.
The advice? Shred it, or stick to digital.
Safer, smarter, and scam-proof.
