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I worked for Frontier Airlines for several years as a Customer Service Agent, and had to park the plane after it landed. One night I had gotten the plane parked, the passengers offloaded, and was walking with the crew back through the terminal. Suddenly, the pilot collapsed and was lying on the floor. Turns out that he had food poising and was reacting badly to it. We got some airport medical people to look at him. Turns out that he as okay the next morning, but it would have been very interesting if that had happened when the plane was still in the air. However, the copilot was fine, so that rule about the pilot and copilot not eating the same thing really does make sense.
It was due to a food poisoning incident on a JAL flight that affected 197 passengers (thankfully both pilots did not eat the affected meals) en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Air_Lines_food_poisoning_incident
I flew frequently between IND and PHX and was selected for the SSSS designation several times. For me, arriving early and being prepared and cooperative with TSA provided and uneventful experience. However, almost every time I was escorted and corralled for additional screening there seemed to always be someone being uncooperative. This rarely turned out in their favor. A few times I saw people escorted away with security and they missed the flight. I can't say I was thrilled to see the designation on my boarding pass, but it never really caused me any problems.
I was just thinking. If you were a real terrorist with intent to blow up or hijack the plane, then surely when you got a boarding card with SSSS on it you would either no-show at the gate or otherwise rapidly dispose of anything untoward before going anywhere near the security checkpoint.
Something I learnt recently. If you are a medical person, in the rare event that you are called upon to help a sick passenger, all airlines are required to carry a life-saving kit containing many things you might need to save a life, like defibrillator, adrenaline, airway etc. Another thing, many years ago if you tried to administer medical help to someone, you ran a risk of being sued for malpractice. Nowadays Good Samaritan laws protect you from that
Since getting an artificial leg I’ve learned to now tell the screeners they will be doing secondary screening. I also roll up my pant leg so it is obvious and I say I’m setting off the metal detector. Being very open about it makes for a pleasant experience.
Barry Sheen, the late 500cc World Champion, used to travel with all his ex rays so the idiots at screening understood why he could set of the metal detector while wearing only his underpants. Travelling with Barry was fun and he pulled more girls on flights than any chap I ever met ...
Great information. I believe the food quality applies generally for cheap airlines such as airlines in the United States. However, if you fly Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, etc., they take their dining experience into an entirely different level. Read more about how their foods are prepared.
I'm retired now and absolutely try to avoid flying if possible. I used to fly a couple of times a year, usually business and sometimes leisure. I was flying out of Louisville, Kentucky when I was told I had been "randomly" chosen for a more thorough search. I told the guy that I wasn't upset, I wasn't complaining but, I had been "randomly" selected the last six times I had flown.
If you have been "randomly" selected consecutive times while flying as a SSSS, you may want to look into apply for a redress number through the Department of Homeland Security.
I had similar. I was flying Bahrain - London - Houston - Dallas - Des Moines - Chicago - London - Bahrain back in 2002. The flight Dallas to Des Moines was cancelled and we were routed Dallas - Atlanta - Des Moines. At every US airport I was pulled out for additional screening. In Chicago when I asked why I was told it was purely random. Trying to explain the probability of getting pulled 5 times randomly was almost impossible or they didn't understand probabilities, couldn't care or were lying. Then I noticed the SSSS on that boarding pass and then saw it was on all of my previous boarding passes (I kept them).
I always tear my boarding cards and discard them once back home. Dont trust hotel room dustbins for that. For thst matter i do the same with luggage tags. They have bar codes with your info. Thanks Megan for the useful info
I used to leave the baggage tags on my luggage when travelling home by bus or train, then I realised that they mark your luggage as worth stealing, potentially!
Great info! I have gotten that SSSS a few times, mostly when flying back to the US (on a USA based airline) from Central America. I'm pretty convinced that this happens because I have a substantial number of visible tattoos which isn't as common in many places I travel. I fly with camera gear, so it's a real pain to have them take everything out of the bag and then try to repack it before they rush me out of the security area. The security person in Belize dropped my laptop the last time and I was pretty annoyed about that. Fortunately it remained intact. The funny thing is that my husband has never gotten the SSSS. We fly together, always first class with priority access and we're Trusted Travelers. So, lest anyone think that flying first class or having the TT card helps to avoid the extra security - it doesn't.
Sometimes they purposely "suspect" you so that when the social justice warriors of the world come for them, they can point to people like you and say, "See? First class, trusted, yet we tagged her." Not slighting you or them. Quite the opposite. It's because of the fked up world that companies have to resort to these tactics.
I received extra screening when I flew from Panama City to Texas about a year ago (on a US carrier). I have no tattoos but I did try to hide a pocketknife in my luggage when I went through the first screening. Funny, when my friend in the States heard about my pocketknife fiasco, he went to his room and came back with 100 or so pocketknives. He said he had a friend in airport security and they just give away all those confiscated knives.
@@orangehoof Oooo....interesting! A few years ago my mom's fiance had a small pocket knife taken away by TSA. The agent threw it in the trash bin. He had been very nice about the whole thing (as my mother had early dementia and reacted badly). I asked if TSA couldn't just keep the knife rather than throwing it away. The agent vehemently objected, saying he'd be fired if kept any confiscated item. I guess it makes sense to have the rule, but clearly it's not always followed.
@@orangehoof I'd left an old broken pocketknife in a bag I used to put my personals in when I go to the lake. I use the same bag for things I don't pack in the suitcase when traveling. I didn't even know it was still in the bag when I went through my home airport for a trip out of country. When I returned through the Houston airport I put my passport into the reader, the light blinked red and the next thing I knew I was in the bowels of the Houston airport escorted there by the TSA. The agent there asked me if I had any tattoo's. I said no I don't and was sent on my way. Before I left I asked him if this was likely to happen again and he said probably. Oh boy. Have to give a little more time to my next connecting flights. Now it makes sense.
It’s not your tattoos. I promise you. These codes are generated from a computer based on information. I’m also TSA precheck, and global entry. And global services on United. In 2017, I remember that I got SSSS on my first 4 of 5 boarding passes in the first 3 months of the year (and I have zero tatts). I ended up writing a nice but nasty letter to homeland security and TSA. I got a redress number and another letter to carry with my passport. Fortunately haven’t gotten any dreaded SSSS yet
Actually, the reason shades have to be open for takeoff and landing goes back to the days of somewhat regular highjackings. Shades open is how the tower can tell there isn't likely a highjacking. If shades are closed, the tower will start the process of getting the right people informed about a possible highjacking.
When I use to travel regularly for work, I’ve gotten the SSSS a few times and wondered if that’s why I got pulled for secondary inspections. Eventually I figured that out for myself and a few times got preferential treatment cause of it. Instead of the long queues to get screened, I got the much shorter line for screening and priority boarding sometimes too.
Learned some new stuff Megan! Thanks for the info! Makes total sense that there would be a list of co-pilots/pilots that Captains don't want to work with. Sadly we all can't always just get along.
That's not true. Each pilot bids a line which is is for the duration of yhe schedule. Pilots can drop or trade bid lines but in the end they have to fly what they get and who they fly with. Crew scheduling does not change the bidding because a pilot does not want fly with someone. The schedule would be in chaos.
I know someone who was a former pilot. I felt sorry for his crew. I eventually met someone who knew him as well and said people hated working with him.
You always come up with information that I've never heard from anyone else before. I had no idea that our sense of smell and taste is reduced when we're in the airplane. Plus, I have always wondered why they want us to open our window shades. Of course, you have the answer! I'm a big NO on airplane food. I got sick after eating airplane food once and since then I try to always bring my own food. I just don't trust what they're serving.
I had the SSSS code once and it caused me to be pulled aside (and had the full wand / pat down / go through everything I had with me) 3 times on a trip from Pittsburgh to Mexico with 1 stop in Charlotte. It was very annoying. I think I triggered this by being very sleepy when I was at the gate. It was before 6:00 AM and I am very much not a morning person. I always have coffee first thing in the AM but don't do so if I am flying so that I can try to sleep a little on the flight.
Many years ago on a skydiving trip one of our group got mouthy with the check in staff, she wrote SSSS on all our boarding passes, and we did indeed get extra checks.
Never paid attention to codes on my tickets, but had the secondary security check twice in 40 odd years of travel. As for the rear of the plane being the safest, many years ago we joked that smokers would survive crashes ( I was one at the time) as they were always at the "back of the bus" on flights.
I got a funny one for you involving tsa. I flew from Las Vegas to Redding Ca. For my mom’s burial. Redding is a small airport serviced by United. I’m a global traveler been all over from China to Brazil and never had this happen until I was leaving Redding back to Vegas. I arrived early ona Sunday morning to check in and get my boarding pass. The United counter had the automatic check in machines but they didn’t work, you had to check in with the agent. So I checked in and teased him what was the point of having the self check machines if they didn’t work😂. I guess I offended him because when I went through security you know wipe you down and then run it through the little residue machine… I know I didn’t have any but security planted it I had just showered before arriving at the airport plus the United agent was there and gave the tsa agents a look as I went through. They pulled me aside and made me take everything out both my carry on and backpack. Of course they didn’t find anything. The same United agent (its a really small airport) was checking boarding passes as I left the terminal to board. He gave me dirty looks as I walked by. I know he had TSA flag me just to be mean…I laughed as I walked by…
All of your points are both interesting and useful Megan. 🙂 I too did not know about the boarding pass codes. I’ll keep an eye out for SSSS next time. Hopefully no full body cavity searches.
We traveled recently to Miami and got the SSSS on 3 of our boarding passes, that even the person checking us was surprised that 3 persons in one family got the code for extra security check
I have a male friend with a 'do not pair' rule. He won't travel with or stay in the same hotel as a female coworker because he is terrified of being falsely accused of inappropriate behaviour. I agree with him.
@Dan Beech David Lisak's study, published in 2010 in Violence Against Women, classified as demonstrably false 8 out of the 136 (5.9%) reported rapes at an American university over a ten-year period.[32] However, a much larger number of reports (44.9%) were classified by the authors as "Case Did Not Proceed" The UK Ministry of Justice in their Research Series published a report describing the analysis of 1,149 case files of violent crimes recorded April 2008 to March 2009. They noted that 12% of rape allegations fell into a broader definition of false accusations According to Statistics Canada, 19% and 14% of sexual assault allegations were deemed unfounded in 2016 and 2017, respectively. You are objectively wrong. Get your facts straight.
@@danbeech4241 - There are plenty of women against false allegations, which is what is being discussed here. You’re implying those do not happen if ‘you don’t do creepy shit’, which is just ridiculous.
I have had the SSSS appear on my tickets and it is crazy. I am almost 60 grandmother to 12 and have 6 children. They were so nice in The Bahamas. Once she saw my bag and how I labeled everything in a separate bag or container she said omg you are the most organized person. Patted me down and I left. 😂 I understand but gosh!
I also got the SSSS in Bahamas, on way home from my wedding. The woman was so nice & also let me know it was the US demanding the extra security checks, not her country.
Thank you for this information. Now I know why sometimes I go through the "process" even with a "Global Entry Pass" one would think it would not come up SSSS on my boarding pass due to that. I will inquire at the ticket desk next time I see this as to why.
On those occasions when I've flown I've asked for an emergency exit seat. At the very least I confirm where the nearest exit is so I can' find it by feel if I have to. I'm a Man over 6'3" tall and in good health. I know I can get that E exit door open and help people out. It's a bit frustrating to me to see people who are not physically capable of acting in the case of an emergency where they can't do what's needed. This isn't a crack on disability. I've worked with disabled kids most of my adult life. The nicest group of people as a whole you will ever meet. It's pure practicality that in the event of the unthinkable there just isn't time to accommodate anything.
Just returned from an oversea trip 4 days ago - TPE-> NRT->YVR->LAX->PHX. The AA reissued my boarding pass at Vancouver airport and it has the SSSS on the top left corner. I have Global Entry, TSA Pre Check, had Top Security Clearance before I retire, guess non of the above made any difference, the best way to handle it just let them do their job and go thru my stuff, went thru the body check 4 times, swiped carry on bag and personal items to test for illegal residues, empty and checked my bags, even took my cell phone cover off to check if anything hiding in the cover. Took awhile but nothing exciting happen. I also found a note in my checked luggage after I got home that the security opened and checked the bag, but nothing was removed from my bag.
Got the SSSS a few years back travelling from the US back home. Probably on account of us checking in super early; our flight the day before was cancelled due to weather and the lines at security were crazy long, but the next day things were quiet. They were thorough but - unlike regular security staff - they were very polite and very efficient. Full body scan, luggage check, going through my wallet, taking test swabs from luggage and clothing. I refused to unlock my phone for them which was fine. They also found gunpowder residue on my coat, which als also fine when I told them I wore it to the range. They cleared me in short order.
You’re a bold one to wear your gunslinger coat to the special security screening. I wonder how much you could ultimately explain away. Flash power residue? TATP? C4? 😄
@@Ben-xe8ps There's nothing wrong with this. A few minutes of additional checking may prevent a terrorist attack, both by discouraging it in some cases to the more-important catching the person planning it. I appreciate any form of appropriate law-enforcement activities (of course done politely and in a professional manner), and have never had problems with them when traveling either in the US or overseas.
@@bobjacobson858 Yes fascism is logically a good way to fight crime, but it still violents our freedom. You dont go through security when going on a bus or train, oh well not yet anyway. Before they didnt have much of security at the airport neither. Airport/airplanes is a big hassle, with checking in baggage, security, lines, waiting at the gate and all the weird rules etc. Bus and train is so much better and easier, also usually more legroom for a cheapier price. Ofc sometimes you are basically forced to take the plane, like long haul.
6/28/24, I got it from HongKong coming home to the USA, I didn’t have issues at Hawaii international entry but when I transfer from Hawaii to SF, using the same ticket then I got asked for extras security check on every little item I carry on even when I got a pre check TSA pass.
I've flown from Paris to Martinique and back with Air Caraïbes. Personally I found that the food was very good and generally I found the cabin staff looked after us very well.
Great info! Talking about the pilots eating different meals reminds me of the movie Airplane and eating the fish... you should totally do a review of that movie and point things out. Like, the best, cheapest way to knock out another passenger...
Avoid pilot pairing list is real. It was in place when I flew as an airline captain for a US carrier. Usually it was available for First officers to list captains they want to avoid flying with due to prior bad experiences. It was not available to Captains to avoid First Officers when I was an airline pilot.
Thanks for the warning about discarding boarding passes (although I've pretty much gone to having boarding passes on my phone). I hadn't realized that the bar codes contained personal data.
Another Great video!!! Regarding the SSSS, it does not seem to be a huge deal but it is time consuming so just be aware. I got SSSS last June (I'm just guessing it was because I traveled to England in May with my wife, then turned around and traveled again in June by myself on a last minute ticket and flying to/from DC airports). Although I went through the separated first class checkin and security in Heathrow due to status, I saw the designation on my ticket and made sure I got to the boarding gate early due to the SSSS and that worked out fine. They called the 8 or so SSSS people up to the gate right before regular boarding and I was the second person to go and empty all of my carry-ons and get swabbed, tested, and asked questions. They started about 5 minutes prior to actual boarding. Then I was still able to board with my group. I think the other 4-5 people who were not at the gate when they actually made the announcement might have had a slightly more time-consuming experience because they still had to then be taken aside when boarding with their group to empty their stuff out. Shoulda been there for that announcement.
I have the same. I normally buy some sandwiches at the airport and they taste the same on the ground and in the air. I think the story about salt and sugar is BS.
I know this is an older video, but I just got stuck with the dreaded SSSS on my flight back to Chicago from Madrid. Didn't pay attention when it was printed and only found out when I was taken to the special room 😅😅😅
I got that SSSS code recently on a trip back from Europe to the US. The thing that made zero sense to me was that it occurred on "the second leg" of the trip. No additional screening for the flight from Hamburg to Frankfurt, but then in Frankfurt getting swabbed down and shoes inspected for the flight to Newark. Hooray, I was allowed to play a bit part actor role in the big drama we call "Security Theater". That makes me feel so much safer ... or not.
@@joinjen3854 they use a little cloth with tweezers and swipe down certain areas of the luggage and sometimes the hands. It then goes into some machine (I believe a spectrometer) to test for explosives.
Nothing on the first leg because the German authorities are not paranoid and take no notice of US generated SSSS codes that don't exist anywhere else in the world for travel on their domestic flights. The US has NO AUTHGORITY to tell the Germans to carry out additional security checks on a passenger travelling on a German domestic flight.
@@Ben-xe8ps there was no SSSS code on the boarding pass for the first leg. And while I could be wrong, I am pretty sure that whoever did the check in Frankfurt, Germany wasn't TSA. On top of that they did this on someone who has Global Entry. This is just security popcorn. A lot of noise and things fluttering around but almost zero nutritional value.
@@janwieck400 Obviously there was no SSSS code on a boarding card for a German domestic flight and equally obviously TSA agents do not work as check-in agents in the EU (Germany) where they have ZERO authority! This is just post-9/11 American paranoia. On the subject of this SSSS and assuming that individuals intending to hijack and/or blow up an aircraft are not complete idiots, putting SSSS on a boarding card to WARN an individual that they are going to be subject to additional screening is just about the best way to achieve nothing. Get SSSS at check-in. promptly leave the airport and no-show at the gate OR else promptly dispose of the gun, explosives or whatever prior to going to the security check.
I have no criminal past, but I travel between the U.S. and Colombia often, because my husband is Colombian, and we are waiting FOREVER to get his spouse visa, and I always see an SSSS on my ticket. I'm also disabled, and have to get to gates in a wheelchair, so I don't know if what's the reason.
Opening the window shades at take off so they can see in was a good fact to uncover and with our sense of taste being diminished in high altitude- now I feel sorry for astronauts. Thanks also for the SSSS info, I was once a victim of that, aha.
Great video as always. I got the SSSS flying out of Phoenix to London so I was thoroughly searched here AND again when I landed; before I was allowed to leave Heathrow. It took so long I expected to miss my flight but they held the plane for me because they called it a “federal random search”, therefore, the airline had to wait for me. They were so thorough that they questioned my sunscreen and I live and boarded the plane in 110 degree heat in Phoenix!
Don't think so. Who at LHR did this 'through searching'. 'Federal random searches' do not occur in the United Kingdom! How were you pulled over for this 'thorough search' at Heathrow? Where? By who? On what pretext? On what authority (security staff search departing passengers for items which are prohibited aboard aircraft, not arriving passengers!)? If however you mean that you were stopped and searched by UK customs for some reason while passing through the Green customs channel after baggage reclaim, this would have nothing to do with the security paranoid US authorities putting SSSS on your boarding card.
@@nancykettles-dudt8296 Thank you for pointing this out. The typo has now been corrected and it now reads 'thorough search'. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention.
@@Ben-xe8ps Ben, I was stopped at the gate deplaning in London, was escorted down to pick up my bag, taken to the side and had my luggage searched again before I could leave the airport. It was completely random. I’m squeaky clean with no negative history…just random. Trust me, I was as surprised as you are but the airline agent had warned me that that was a possibility when I land.
@@missitatum8582 I continue to have serious doubts. Where exactly were you 'taken down' to and in what location were you 'taken to the side'? Who exactly were these people? Who did they work for? What reason was given to you for their actions? The only authority with any power to do this on arrival in the UK would be UK Customs who would NOT have proceeded in the manner described and believe me they would NOT have informed some American 'airline agent' in the US of their intentions in order for you to be forewarned if they had reason to suspect you of attempting to import some prohibited item or other into the UK. They also would never have participated in any “federal random searches”. There is no equivalent of your TSA in the UK and the security staff at LHR are airport employees who conduct the requited search of departing passengers at the security checkpoints and have no authority whatsoever to search arriving passengers or act in the manner described in any event.
Most airlines do not offer food and if they do I never pass on a meal especially in a long flight. It’s rare these days you get a meal from the tightwad airlines so I am not passing on a meal.
Thank you for sharing this useful information. Regarding the food at 1:52, yes I usually take them, because I didn't know it contain more added sugar and salt. No wonder, every time I have flown a long-distance flight, I was not only gained miles, but also my weight.
SSSS only seems to be an issue on flights to and within the USA. Had it on my last flight to Philadelphia but it has never appeared on any of my boarding cards within Europe. to Asia or Canada. Could be linked to the American psyche since 9/11 which seems to have made them more paranoid security wise. Airport style security seems to be a lot more common entering many tourist sites over there than it was and it was certainly more noticeable on my last trip. Most staff reasonably polite although TSA still needs to do something about customer care. There is no need for their rudeness when carrying out routine screening. Can usually spot Americans in security lines as even when they are away from home and there is no need, they still automatically take off their shoes.
You are absolutely correct. This SSSS is an American thing connected to their paranoid security and does not exist elsewhere in the world. I laugh at the way they have allowed their precious 'freedoms' that they have been indoctrinated to believe they have and the rest of the English speaking world doesn't to be eroded like this.
I used to work for an insurance company that insured airliners including the DC10 that crashed in Sioux City in 1989. The claims manager did an analysis of the seating chart and discovered that most of those who survived the crash were seated over the wings.
Well there it is…one cannot extrapolate too far….as it depends on the type of crash…( I think my recollection is that…that particular crash occurred on an emergency landing…coming in very hot…(no hydraulics)..and almost had it until a wing clipped the ground…but the body was already down..while the nose dug in and the tail separated.) But who is to say a 747 wouldn’t have had a different crash profile?…etc…etc… That notwithstanding, you would need thousands of incidents from which to draw some specific inferences. So far, each incident stands on its own…with few accurate predictions for future incidents.
Friend of mine is US marshal. He has a special diet and never eat the food that is provided on airplane. On one occasion, the crew reported him to security and in the final destination they escort him out , suspecting him as drog trafficker. Since then, he accept the food, open it, steer it and return it without consuming it. Trying to avoid the confusion.
The last time I ate a meal on an airplane was on Kuwait air from London to Nairobi, they served lamb. I grew up on a ranch with sheep, grew up eating lamb but that was some of the best lamb I've ever eaten!
i enjoy watching your videos and shared a bunch of your tips with my wife. We plan on using many of these tips and tricks on our next flight. Not to mention, you are much prettier than most of the people posting videos on youtube....
I see a lot of the comments about SSSS. I once got this on 4 out of 5 legs of an internal business trip. On the third time I asked the TSA lady (very politely of course) how I could get this. Don't know if it is true, but she said the airline need to fill a quota, and a single guy form overseas is least likely to cause issues. Probably also have less opportunity to be selective about the airlines you pick.
The part you talked about the safest place to sit. You need to watch 74gear. The reason why your window stays open is for the flight attendants to watch outside for anything they need to be worried about
I had a friend who always chose to sit in the back of the plane (like on Southwest when you can choose your own seat). His reasoning was when you see pictures of a crashed plane, the rear and tail seem to always be intact. Apparently there's some truth to this!
Yes, of course there is truth to it but that does not change the fact that your friend is being kind of silly and paranoid. After all, you are literally thousands of times more likely to be in a fatal car crash than you are to be in an airline crash. And this would still be true even if you were a frequent flyer. And yet some of these people who are so worried about flying probably sometimes text while driving, drive while under the influence, or don’t even fasten their seatbelt. Why would you go out of your way to sit in the back of the plane when there are literally hundreds of things out there that are much more likely to kill you than an airplane but which you are not even worried about in the least? And of course, the back of the plane can sometimes be the most uncomfortable part of the plane during turbulence. Although the women in the video misspoke when she said the back of the plane is the most turbulent. It is not that the air is more turbulent back there but rather that the effects of said turbulence are more pronounced at the back of the plane.
I think I was most shocked by the purpose of the light dimming, and I heard that the back is the safest because if there’s a crash the impact in the front does not hit the back
I have had ssss on every single ticket ive ever had until i got global entry. I flew so much out of my home airport, they even stoped saying it was "just random". I pissed someone off somewhere lol
The set-up plot for the comedy movie "Airplane!" from 1980 (which was based on a 1950s movie) was both pilots had "The Fish" and became deathly ill, so a troubled former pilot had to land the plane. It's a long-time, well-known rule in the industry.
Aaaauuugh!! Quad-S! I've been designated "quad-S" a few times over the past few years. I believe it truly stands for "Super Secret Squirrel Shit"! If you find yourself with this designation, and you are not pressed for time - just relax, and let the TSA folks do their jobs, it's great fun - because they actually have to DO something. It grinds everything to a halt. I love it, watching them go through EVERYTHING in my carry on bags.
I used to fly regularly between Ireland and the U.S. with my family. We never ate the airline food, what we did instead was make our own deli sandwiches and bring our own snacks. It was always funny listening to the other passengers say “why didn’t we think of that”?
@@granmabern5283What part of Canada are you in? Just curious because I’ve never had a problem taking water on board if it’s obtained after security (whether store bought or refilled water bottle).
It is not only for Captains, but First Officers also inform scheduling, crewing regarding possible colleagues who are hard to work with in the flight deck
In 2006, I had a ticket to fly Northwest non-stop from Detroit to Norfolk on a military deployment to an overseas location. I was in desert camouflage uniform and showed my USAF ID and military orders (which said I was traveling from Selfridge Air National Guard Base) to the ticket agent. She gave me a boarding pass but didn't say anything about the "SSSS." I proceeded to the security area and was directed to remove my boots. I mean, seriously, because I have a one-way ticket? What really made me question this SSSS designation is that my wife, sister-in-law, and her son were given passes to clear security without the SSSS designation, so they could see me off at the gate. I'm not complaining about having to go through additional security, while they didn't. I'm questioning the logic of the decision. If I had a roundtrip ticket, would my boarding pass still have the SSSS? In addition, Northwest left one of my bags behind in Detroit, and it didn't arrive until the next day. I had to spend the night at the Norfolk Naval air terminal, instead of taking my scheduled deployment flight. Because the next flight wasn't due to leave until after midnight of the third day, I ended up spending the day in a motel and departed for the terminal around 9 p.m. on day two. The same thing happened to a guy I met on the Northwest flight. Considering these three occurrences were tied to the same non-stop flight, I can see why Northwest is no more. In 1984, I was on a Northwest flight from SFO to Tokyo. We had overseas clearance to depart, when it was realized that the fuel gauge was not working properly. A dipstick was used to check how much fuel was (or was not) in the tanks. We were down 8,000 pounds (1,200 gallons), which means we could have ended up in the Pacific Ocean. Fortunately, that amount of fuel was put in the tanks, but we had to wait for a second overseas clearance. It took about two hours for fueling and new clearance. All I can say is "good riddance" to Northwest Airlines.
When buying ticket avoid airports with expensive ground transportation. For example, I bought round trip ticket to Milan for 55 euros, but airport train there is 20 euros. Instead of Milan, I could have traveled to more exciting destination for 75 euros, where airport is close the city.
I got 4S's pretty much every time I flew back from multiple Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries from '03-'10. Pretty obvious...set a travel pattern to and from a bunch of places that don't like America, and it gets noticed.
I wonder why the middle back seat is safest?! My first thought was maybe the studies where injured passengers had been seated on various flights that had accidents… but neglected to account for seats (such as middle back) being empty more often…? 🤔🤷🏼♀️
When traveling first time to the US from Germany I got SSSS on my boarding pass. It was quite okay but really don’t know why did I get it and if I looked suspicious.
That the QR code on boarding passes is connected to a database with protected information should be stated on the boarding pass so people know to take proper care of the paper passes. It's irresponsible of the airlines to not do such.
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Many pilots are now will break down during a flight, not because of the food but of the vaxxxi nation.
I worked for Frontier Airlines for several years as a Customer Service Agent, and had to park the plane after it landed. One night I had gotten the plane parked, the passengers offloaded, and was walking with the crew back through the terminal. Suddenly, the pilot collapsed and was lying on the floor. Turns out that he had food poising and was reacting badly to it. We got some airport medical people to look at him. Turns out that he as okay the next morning, but it would have been very interesting if that had happened when the plane was still in the air. However, the copilot was fine, so that rule about the pilot and copilot not eating the same thing really does make sense.
Thank you
It was due to a food poisoning incident on a JAL flight that affected 197 passengers (thankfully both pilots did not eat the affected meals) en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Air_Lines_food_poisoning_incident
“What did we have for dinner tonight?”
“Well we had a choice-steak, fish.”
“Yes, yes…I remember now…I had the lasagna.”
@Lee Hawkins Thanks for the memories and the laughs. That's still hands-down the funniest movie of all time. And don't call me Shirley. :)
@Ben Wilton Just read the linked article. It was interesting, and well written. Thanks for posting it!
I flew frequently between IND and PHX and was selected for the SSSS designation several times. For me, arriving early and being prepared and cooperative with TSA provided and uneventful experience. However, almost every time I was escorted and corralled for additional screening there seemed to always be someone being uncooperative. This rarely turned out in their favor. A few times I saw people escorted away with security and they missed the flight. I can't say I was thrilled to see the designation on my boarding pass, but it never really caused me any problems.
I was just thinking. If you were a real terrorist with intent to blow up or hijack the plane, then surely when you got a boarding card with SSSS on it you would either no-show at the gate or otherwise rapidly dispose of anything untoward before going anywhere near the security checkpoint.
Something I learnt recently. If you are a medical person, in the rare event that you are called upon to help a sick passenger, all airlines are required to carry a life-saving kit containing many things you might need to save a life, like defibrillator, adrenaline, airway etc.
Another thing, many years ago if you tried to administer medical help to someone, you ran a risk of being sued for malpractice. Nowadays Good Samaritan laws protect you from that
Since getting an artificial leg I’ve learned to now tell the screeners they will be doing secondary screening. I also roll up my pant leg so it is obvious and I say I’m setting off the metal detector. Being very open about it makes for a pleasant experience.
Barry Sheen, the late 500cc World Champion, used to travel with all his ex rays so the idiots at screening understood why he could set of the metal detector while wearing only his underpants.
Travelling with Barry was fun and he pulled more girls on flights than any chap I ever met ...
Great information. I believe the food quality applies generally for cheap airlines such as airlines in the United States. However, if you fly Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, etc., they take their dining experience into an entirely different level. Read more about how their foods are prepared.
Thanks for the info! I totally agree! Great to have you on the channel, Shah 😊
Such a helpful channel with credible information. Thanks a lot, Megan!
I'm retired now and absolutely try to avoid flying if possible. I used to fly a couple of times a year, usually business and sometimes leisure. I was flying out of Louisville, Kentucky when I was told I had been "randomly" chosen for a more thorough search. I told the guy that I wasn't upset, I wasn't complaining but, I had been "randomly" selected the last six times I had flown.
If you have been "randomly" selected consecutive times while flying as a SSSS, you may want to look into apply for a redress number through the Department of Homeland Security.
That's a lot of times.
@@vickiesmith3021 Don't think they liked me!
@@09dave1952 very upsetting as well.
I had similar. I was flying Bahrain - London - Houston - Dallas - Des Moines - Chicago - London - Bahrain back in 2002. The flight Dallas to Des Moines was cancelled and we were routed Dallas - Atlanta - Des Moines. At every US airport I was pulled out for additional screening. In Chicago when I asked why I was told it was purely random. Trying to explain the probability of getting pulled 5 times randomly was almost impossible or they didn't understand probabilities, couldn't care or were lying. Then I noticed the SSSS on that boarding pass and then saw it was on all of my previous boarding passes (I kept them).
I always tear my boarding cards and discard them once back home. Dont trust hotel room dustbins for that. For thst matter i do the same with luggage tags. They have bar codes with your info. Thanks Megan for the useful info
I used to leave the baggage tags on my luggage when travelling home by bus or train, then I realised that they mark your luggage as worth stealing, potentially!
Great info! I have gotten that SSSS a few times, mostly when flying back to the US (on a USA based airline) from Central America. I'm pretty convinced that this happens because I have a substantial number of visible tattoos which isn't as common in many places I travel. I fly with camera gear, so it's a real pain to have them take everything out of the bag and then try to repack it before they rush me out of the security area. The security person in Belize dropped my laptop the last time and I was pretty annoyed about that. Fortunately it remained intact. The funny thing is that my husband has never gotten the SSSS. We fly together, always first class with priority access and we're Trusted Travelers. So, lest anyone think that flying first class or having the TT card helps to avoid the extra security - it doesn't.
Sometimes they purposely "suspect" you so that when the social justice warriors of the world come for them, they can point to people like you and say, "See? First class, trusted, yet we tagged her."
Not slighting you or them. Quite the opposite. It's because of the fked up world that companies have to resort to these tactics.
I received extra screening when I flew from Panama City to Texas about a year ago (on a US carrier). I have no tattoos but I did try to hide a pocketknife in my luggage when I went through the first screening. Funny, when my friend in the States heard about my pocketknife fiasco, he went to his room and came back with 100 or so pocketknives. He said he had a friend in airport security and they just give away all those confiscated knives.
@@orangehoof Oooo....interesting! A few years ago my mom's fiance had a small pocket knife taken away by TSA. The agent threw it in the trash bin. He had been very nice about the whole thing (as my mother had early dementia and reacted badly). I asked if TSA couldn't just keep the knife rather than throwing it away. The agent vehemently objected, saying he'd be fired if kept any confiscated item. I guess it makes sense to have the rule, but clearly it's not always followed.
@@orangehoof I'd left an old broken pocketknife in a bag I used to put my personals in when I go to the lake. I use the same bag for things I don't pack in the suitcase when traveling. I didn't even know it was still in the bag when I went through my home airport for a trip out of country. When I returned through the Houston airport I put my passport into the reader, the light blinked red and the next thing I knew I was in the bowels of the Houston airport escorted there by the TSA. The agent there asked me if I had any tattoo's. I said no I don't and was sent on my way. Before I left I asked him if this was likely to happen again and he said probably. Oh boy. Have to give a little more time to my next connecting flights. Now it makes sense.
It’s not your tattoos. I promise you. These codes are generated from a computer based on information. I’m also TSA precheck, and global entry. And global services on United. In 2017, I remember that I got SSSS on my first 4 of 5 boarding passes in the first 3 months of the year (and I have zero tatts). I ended up writing a nice but nasty letter to homeland security and TSA. I got a redress number and another letter to carry with my passport. Fortunately haven’t gotten any dreaded SSSS yet
Actually, the reason shades have to be open for takeoff and landing goes back to the days of somewhat regular highjackings. Shades open is how the tower can tell there isn't likely a highjacking. If shades are closed, the tower will start the process of getting the right people informed about a possible highjacking.
When I use to travel regularly for work, I’ve gotten the SSSS a few times and wondered if that’s why I got pulled for secondary inspections. Eventually I figured that out for myself and a few times got preferential treatment cause of it. Instead of the long queues to get screened, I got the much shorter line for screening and priority boarding sometimes too.
I had the dreaded SSSS on my boarding pass last week. The additional screening literally took 3 minutes and was not a big deal.
Learned some new stuff Megan! Thanks for the info! Makes total sense that there would be a list of co-pilots/pilots that Captains don't want to work with. Sadly we all can't always just get along.
That's not true. Each pilot bids a line which is is for the duration of yhe schedule. Pilots can drop or trade bid lines but in the end they have to fly what they get and who they fly with. Crew scheduling does not change the bidding because a pilot does not want fly with someone. The schedule would be in chaos.
I know someone who was a former pilot. I felt sorry for his crew. I eventually met someone who knew him as well and said people hated working with him.
Excellent delivery and diction!
Had no idea about the boarding pass barcode, or any of the other useful tips. This was such a helpful episode, thank you!
You always come up with information that I've never heard from anyone else before. I had no idea that our sense of smell and taste is reduced when we're in the airplane.
Plus, I have always wondered why they want us to open our window shades. Of course, you have the answer!
I'm a big NO on airplane food. I got sick after eating airplane food once and since then I try to always bring my own food. I just don't trust what they're serving.
It also helps cabin crew see lights on the plane, motors and everything else on the outside.
I had the SSSS code once and it caused me to be pulled aside (and had the full wand / pat down / go through everything I had with me) 3 times on a trip from Pittsburgh to Mexico with 1 stop in Charlotte. It was very annoying. I think I triggered this by being very sleepy when I was at the gate. It was before 6:00 AM and I am very much not a morning person. I always have coffee first thing in the AM but don't do so if I am flying so that I can try to sleep a little on the flight.
Many years ago on a skydiving trip one of our group got mouthy with the check in staff, she wrote SSSS on all our boarding passes, and we did indeed get extra checks.
Never paid attention to codes on my tickets, but had the secondary security check twice in 40 odd years of travel. As for the rear of the plane being the safest, many years ago we joked that smokers would survive crashes ( I was one at the time) as they were always at the "back of the bus" on flights.
This nonsense didn't start until 2001 so that is why you never got it in the first 20 years of travel!
YES!!! I wish the Do Not Pair system was in place at my job
Great info!! Thanks for sharing ..
You are so welcome!
I got a funny one for you involving tsa. I flew from Las Vegas to Redding Ca. For my mom’s burial. Redding is a small airport serviced by United. I’m a global traveler been all over from China to Brazil and never had this happen until I was leaving Redding back to Vegas. I arrived early ona Sunday morning to check in and get my boarding pass. The United counter had the automatic check in machines but they didn’t work, you had to check in with the agent. So I checked in and teased him what was the point of having the self check machines if they didn’t work😂. I guess I offended him because when I went through security you know wipe you down and then run it through the little residue machine… I know I didn’t have any but security planted it I had just showered before arriving at the airport plus the United agent was there and gave the tsa agents a look as I went through. They pulled me aside and made me take everything out both my carry on and backpack. Of course they didn’t find anything. The same United agent (its a really small airport) was checking boarding passes as I left the terminal to board. He gave me dirty looks as I walked by. I know he had TSA flag me just to be mean…I laughed as I walked by…
All of your points are both interesting and useful Megan. 🙂 I too did not know about the boarding pass codes. I’ll keep an eye out for SSSS next time. Hopefully no full body cavity searches.
We traveled recently to Miami and got the SSSS on 3 of our boarding passes, that even the person checking us was surprised that 3 persons in one family got the code for extra security check
I have a male friend with a 'do not pair' rule. He won't travel with or stay in the same hotel as a female coworker because he is terrified of being falsely accused of inappropriate behaviour. I agree with him.
@@danbeech4241 "doing creepy shit' is not a prerequisite to a rape charge.
@Dan Beech David Lisak's study, published in 2010 in Violence Against Women, classified as demonstrably false 8 out of the 136 (5.9%) reported rapes at an American university over a ten-year period.[32] However, a much larger number of reports (44.9%) were classified by the authors as "Case Did Not Proceed"
The UK Ministry of Justice in their Research Series published a report describing the analysis of 1,149 case files of violent crimes recorded April 2008 to March 2009. They noted that 12% of rape allegations fell into a broader definition of false accusations
According to Statistics Canada, 19% and 14% of sexual assault allegations were deemed unfounded in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
You are objectively wrong. Get your facts straight.
@@danbeech4241 - There are lots of anti-feminist women. Not like a dope like you can understand that.
@@danbeech4241 - There are plenty of women against false allegations, which is what is being discussed here. You’re implying those do not happen if ‘you don’t do creepy shit’, which is just ridiculous.
@@danbeech4241 - But it happens, while you say that it doesn’t. Actually, it’s not that rare according to some studies.
I have had the SSSS appear on my tickets and it is crazy. I am almost 60 grandmother to 12 and have 6 children. They were so nice in The Bahamas. Once she saw my bag and how I labeled everything in a separate bag or container she said omg you are the most organized person. Patted me down and I left. 😂 I understand but gosh!
terrorists come in all ages. there is no discrimination when it comes to selectees. young and old get picked
I also got the SSSS in Bahamas, on way home from my wedding. The woman was so nice & also let me know it was the US demanding the extra security checks, not her country.
May I respectfully ask if either of you ladies were strip searched?
That the back is the safest makes most sense. I never heard of a plane backing into a mountain!
😅
another great information lispy. keep up the good work.
Thank you for this information. Now I know why sometimes I go through the "process" even with a "Global Entry Pass" one would think it would not come up SSSS on my boarding pass due to that. I will inquire at the ticket desk next time I see this as to why.
5:38 Yes, it is very important to have the crew who get along since many lives depend on them collaborating.
On those occasions when I've flown I've asked for an emergency exit seat. At the very least I confirm where the nearest exit is so I can' find it by feel if I have to. I'm a Man over 6'3" tall and in good health. I know I can get that E exit door open and help people out. It's a bit frustrating to me to see people who are not physically capable of acting in the case of an emergency where they can't do what's needed. This isn't a crack on disability. I've worked with disabled kids most of my adult life. The nicest group of people as a whole you will ever meet. It's pure practicality that in the event of the unthinkable there just isn't time to accommodate anything.
This is an eye opener, thank you for the information.
Just returned from an oversea trip 4 days ago - TPE-> NRT->YVR->LAX->PHX. The AA reissued my boarding pass at Vancouver airport and it has the SSSS on the top left corner. I have Global Entry, TSA Pre Check, had Top Security Clearance before I retire, guess non of the above made any difference, the best way to handle it just let them do their job and go thru my stuff, went thru the body check 4 times, swiped carry on bag and personal items to test for illegal residues, empty and checked my bags, even took my cell phone cover off to check if anything hiding in the cover. Took awhile but nothing exciting happen. I also found a note in my checked luggage after I got home that the security opened and checked the bag, but nothing was removed from my bag.
Got the SSSS a few years back travelling from the US back home. Probably on account of us checking in super early; our flight the day before was cancelled due to weather and the lines at security were crazy long, but the next day things were quiet.
They were thorough but - unlike regular security staff - they were very polite and very efficient. Full body scan, luggage check, going through my wallet, taking test swabs from luggage and clothing. I refused to unlock my phone for them which was fine. They also found gunpowder residue on my coat, which als also fine when I told them I wore it to the range. They cleared me in short order.
Talk about paranoia in the so-called land of the free!
You’re a bold one to wear your gunslinger coat to the special security screening. I wonder how much you could ultimately explain away. Flash power residue? TATP? C4? 😄
@@BuddyLee23 C4, yeah no I use that for gardening. We have a heck of a mole problem...
@@Ben-xe8ps There's nothing wrong with this. A few minutes of additional checking may prevent a terrorist attack, both by discouraging it in some cases to the more-important catching the person planning it. I appreciate any form of appropriate law-enforcement activities (of course done politely and in a professional manner), and have never had problems with them when traveling either in the US or overseas.
@@bobjacobson858 Yes fascism is logically a good way to fight crime, but it still violents our freedom.
You dont go through security when going on a bus or train, oh well not yet anyway. Before they didnt have much of security at the airport neither. Airport/airplanes is a big hassle, with checking in baggage, security, lines, waiting at the gate and all the weird rules etc. Bus and train is so much better and easier, also usually more legroom for a cheapier price. Ofc sometimes you are basically forced to take the plane, like long haul.
6/28/24, I got it from HongKong coming home to the USA, I didn’t have issues at Hawaii international entry but when I transfer from Hawaii to SF, using the same ticket then I got asked for extras security check on every little item I carry on even when I got a pre check TSA pass.
I've flown from Paris to Martinique and back with Air Caraïbes. Personally I found that the food was very good and generally I found the cabin staff looked after us very well.
French airline food was the best by far in in my experience (ages ago)
Great info!
Talking about the pilots eating different meals reminds me of the movie Airplane and eating the fish... you should totally do a review of that movie and point things out. Like, the best, cheapest way to knock out another passenger...
Thank you for sharing your advice.
Avoid pilot pairing list is real. It was in place when I flew as an airline captain for a US carrier. Usually it was available for First officers to list captains they want to avoid flying with due to prior bad experiences. It was not available to Captains to avoid First Officers when I was an airline pilot.
Wow this was so informative ❤thank you
Thanks for the warning about discarding boarding passes (although I've pretty much gone to having boarding passes on my phone). I hadn't realized that the bar codes contained personal data.
They don't.
Another Great video!!! Regarding the SSSS, it does not seem to be a huge deal but it is time consuming so just be aware. I got SSSS last June (I'm just guessing it was because I traveled to England in May with my wife, then turned around and traveled again in June by myself on a last minute ticket and flying to/from DC airports). Although I went through the separated first class checkin and security in Heathrow due to status, I saw the designation on my ticket and made sure I got to the boarding gate early due to the SSSS and that worked out fine.
They called the 8 or so SSSS people up to the gate right before regular boarding and I was the second person to go and empty all of my carry-ons and get swabbed, tested, and asked questions. They started about 5 minutes prior to actual boarding. Then I was still able to board with my group. I think the other 4-5 people who were not at the gate when they actually made the announcement might have had a slightly more time-consuming experience because they still had to then be taken aside when boarding with their group to empty their stuff out. Shoulda been there for that announcement.
Stabbed and tested FOR WHAT????!!+
@@joinjen3854 heaven knows. Some paranoid American thing. Fly in the land of the free and get swab tested!
Thanks for the latest in travel information. I am going to use phone boarding passes from now on so my boarding pass won't be dug out of the trash.
Why does the food I bring and eat on the plane taste the same? So interesting. Thank you for the great information!
I have the same. I normally buy some sandwiches at the airport and they taste the same on the ground and in the air. I think the story about salt and sugar is BS.
@@rw80 I was wondering about this, too! I fly a lot, and I bring food FROM HOME and it tastes the same on the plane. 😂
Very intreresting topic thank you megan
Arirplane meals are a rarity travelling where I do ( within Europe) so I don’t usually eat on a plane but if I am served food, I definitely do eat it.
I do the same!
Absolutely fantastic 😍 thank you!!!!
I know this is an older video, but I just got stuck with the dreaded SSSS on my flight back to Chicago from Madrid. Didn't pay attention when it was printed and only found out when I was taken to the special room 😅😅😅
I got that SSSS code recently on a trip back from Europe to the US. The thing that made zero sense to me was that it occurred on "the second leg" of the trip. No additional screening for the flight from Hamburg to Frankfurt, but then in Frankfurt getting swabbed down and shoes inspected for the flight to Newark.
Hooray, I was allowed to play a bit part actor role in the big drama we call "Security Theater". That makes me feel so much safer ... or not.
Explain " getting swabbed down"? Like a cov I'd test or something?
@@joinjen3854 they use a little cloth with tweezers and swipe down certain areas of the luggage and sometimes the hands. It then goes into some machine (I believe a spectrometer) to test for explosives.
Nothing on the first leg because the German authorities are not paranoid and take no notice of US generated SSSS codes that don't exist anywhere else in the world for travel on their domestic flights. The US has NO AUTHGORITY to tell the Germans to carry out additional security checks on a passenger travelling on a German domestic flight.
@@Ben-xe8ps there was no SSSS code on the boarding pass for the first leg. And while I could be wrong, I am pretty sure that whoever did the check in Frankfurt, Germany wasn't TSA. On top of that they did this on someone who has Global Entry.
This is just security popcorn. A lot of noise and things fluttering around but almost zero nutritional value.
@@janwieck400 Obviously there was no SSSS code on a boarding card for a German domestic flight and equally obviously TSA agents do not work as check-in agents in the EU (Germany) where they have ZERO authority!
This is just post-9/11 American paranoia.
On the subject of this SSSS and assuming that individuals intending to hijack and/or blow up an aircraft are not complete idiots, putting SSSS on a boarding card to WARN an individual that they are going to be subject to additional screening is just about the best way to achieve nothing. Get SSSS at check-in. promptly leave the airport and no-show at the gate OR else promptly dispose of the gun, explosives or whatever prior to going to the security check.
I have no criminal past, but I travel between the U.S. and Colombia often, because my husband is Colombian, and we are waiting FOREVER to get his spouse visa, and I always see an SSSS on my ticket. I'm also disabled, and have to get to gates in a wheelchair, so I don't know if what's the reason.
Very interesting information. I learned a couple of new things. Thanks for all the Information. Happy travels
Opening the window shades at take off so they can see in was a good fact to uncover and with our sense of taste being diminished in high altitude- now I feel sorry for astronauts. Thanks also for the SSSS info, I was once a victim of that, aha.
Great video as always. I got the SSSS flying out of Phoenix to London so I was thoroughly searched here AND again when I landed; before I was allowed to leave Heathrow. It took so long I expected to miss my flight but they held the plane for me because they called it a “federal random search”, therefore, the airline had to wait for me. They were so thorough that they questioned my sunscreen and I live and boarded the plane in 110 degree heat in Phoenix!
Don't think so. Who at LHR did this 'through searching'. 'Federal random searches' do not occur in the United Kingdom! How were you pulled over for this 'thorough search' at Heathrow? Where? By who? On what pretext? On what authority (security staff search departing passengers for items which are prohibited aboard aircraft, not arriving passengers!)? If however you mean that you were stopped and searched by UK customs for some reason while passing through the Green customs channel after baggage reclaim, this would have nothing to do with the security paranoid US authorities putting SSSS on your boarding card.
@@Ben-xe8ps What is a "Through search"? Never heard of one.
@@nancykettles-dudt8296 Thank you for pointing this out. The typo has now been corrected and it now reads 'thorough search'. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention.
@@Ben-xe8ps Ben, I was stopped at the gate deplaning in London, was escorted down to pick up my bag, taken to the side and had my luggage searched again before I could leave the airport. It was completely random. I’m squeaky clean with no negative history…just random. Trust me, I was as surprised as you are but the airline agent had warned me that that was a possibility when I land.
@@missitatum8582 I continue to have serious doubts. Where exactly were you 'taken down' to and in what location were you 'taken to the side'? Who exactly were these people? Who did they work for? What reason was given to you for their actions?
The only authority with any power to do this on arrival in the UK would be UK Customs who would NOT have proceeded in the manner described and believe me they would NOT have informed some American 'airline agent' in the US of their intentions in order for you to be forewarned if they had reason to suspect you of attempting to import some prohibited item or other into the UK. They also would never have participated in any “federal random searches”. There is no equivalent of your TSA in the UK and the security staff at LHR are airport employees who conduct the requited search of departing passengers at the security checkpoints and have no authority whatsoever to search arriving passengers or act in the manner described in any event.
Good information, your great efforts to explain is very useful, Thanks to sharing.
Really good stuff, as usual. Thanks much for this and all of your videos.
Coming back from the UK to the US I got SSSS on my boarding pass every single time. And yes, every time I got rechecked at the gate.
Most airlines do not offer food and if they do I never pass on a meal especially in a long flight. It’s rare these days you get a meal from the tightwad airlines so I am not passing on a meal.
Thank you for sharing this useful information. Regarding the food at 1:52, yes I usually take them, because I didn't know it contain more added sugar and salt. No wonder, every time I have flown a long-distance flight, I was not only gained miles, but also my weight.
Wow! So much interesting and important information I just learned from your video. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
SSSS only seems to be an issue on flights to and within the USA. Had it on my last flight to Philadelphia but it has never appeared on any of my boarding cards within Europe. to Asia or Canada. Could be linked to the American psyche since 9/11 which seems to have made them more paranoid security wise. Airport style security seems to be a lot more common entering many tourist sites over there than it was and it was certainly more noticeable on my last trip. Most staff reasonably polite although TSA still needs to do something about customer care. There is no need for their rudeness when carrying out routine screening. Can usually spot Americans in security lines as even when they are away from home and there is no need, they still automatically take off their shoes.
You are absolutely correct. This SSSS is an American thing connected to their paranoid security and does not exist elsewhere in the world. I laugh at the way they have allowed their precious 'freedoms' that they have been indoctrinated to believe they have and the rest of the English speaking world doesn't to be eroded like this.
I used to work for an insurance company that insured airliners including the DC10 that crashed in Sioux City in 1989. The claims manager did an analysis of the seating chart and discovered that most of those who survived the crash were seated over the wings.
Well there it is…one cannot extrapolate too far….as it depends on the type of crash…( I think my recollection is that…that particular crash occurred on an emergency landing…coming in very hot…(no hydraulics)..and almost had it until a wing clipped the ground…but the body was already down..while the nose dug in and the tail separated.)
But who is to say a 747 wouldn’t have had a different crash profile?…etc…etc… That notwithstanding, you would need thousands of incidents from which to draw some specific inferences. So far, each incident stands on its own…with few accurate predictions for future incidents.
Good to know, thank you!I always save all my tickets/boarding passes.
Thank You.
Friend of mine is US marshal. He has a special diet and never eat the food that is provided on airplane. On one occasion, the crew reported him to security and in the final destination they escort him out , suspecting him as drog trafficker.
Since then, he accept the food, open it, steer it and return it without consuming it. Trying to avoid the confusion.
The last time I ate a meal on an airplane was on Kuwait air from London to Nairobi, they served lamb. I grew up on a ranch with sheep, grew up eating lamb but that was some of the best lamb I've ever eaten!
Very enlightening!!Thank you
i enjoy watching your videos and shared a bunch of your tips with my wife. We plan on using many of these tips and tricks on our next flight. Not to mention, you are much prettier than most of the people posting videos on youtube....
I see a lot of the comments about SSSS. I once got this on 4 out of 5 legs of an internal business trip. On the third time I asked the TSA lady (very politely of course) how I could get this. Don't know if it is true, but she said the airline need to fill a quota, and a single guy form overseas is least likely to cause issues. Probably also have less opportunity to be selective about the airlines you pick.
I flew once back in 2007 from Logan (Boston) to Indianapolis and got the dreaded SSSS on my ticket! I havent flown since!
The part you talked about the safest place to sit. You need to watch 74gear. The reason why your window stays open is for the flight attendants to watch outside for anything they need to be worried about
Great info! I've found many useful tip sin your videos. I tried to use your discount code for the earbuds and it said that it's not valid.
This is fascinating thank you so much!
Thank you for the information.
I remember SSSS on my boarding pass, and I got the full VIP treatment from TSA
I had a friend who always chose to sit in the back of the plane (like on Southwest when you can choose your own seat). His reasoning was when you see pictures of a crashed plane, the rear and tail seem to always be intact. Apparently there's some truth to this!
Yes, of course there is truth to it but that does not change the fact that your friend is being kind of silly and paranoid. After all, you are literally thousands of times more likely to be in a fatal car crash than you are to be in an airline crash. And this would still be true even if you were a frequent flyer. And yet some of these people who are so worried about flying probably sometimes text while driving, drive while under the influence, or don’t even fasten their seatbelt. Why would you go out of your way to sit in the back of the plane when there are literally hundreds of things out there that are much more likely to kill you than an airplane but which you are not even worried about in the least? And of course, the back of the plane can sometimes be the most uncomfortable part of the plane during turbulence. Although the women in the video misspoke when she said the back of the plane is the most turbulent. It is not that the air is more turbulent back there but rather that the effects of said turbulence are more pronounced at the back of the plane.
My OH always jokes “ sit at the back, you never hear of a plane reversing into a mountain 😂
Is the SSSS code used internationally by ALL airlines? I plan to fly from the Philippines through Dubai on Emirates all the way to Poland.
I think I was most shocked by the purpose of the light dimming, and I heard that the back is the safest because if there’s a crash the impact in the front does not hit the back
I have had ssss on every single ticket ive ever had until i got global entry. I flew so much out of my home airport, they even stoped saying it was "just random". I pissed someone off somewhere lol
very informative video but I kind a disagree with the shades I think it is more for passengers for a better emergency evacuation process
The part about the pilot and co-pilot not eating the same meal was interesting to learn
The set-up plot for the comedy movie "Airplane!" from 1980 (which was based on a 1950s movie) was both pilots had "The Fish" and became deathly ill, so a troubled former pilot had to land the plane. It's a long-time, well-known rule in the industry.
@@paulw.woodring7304 I was going to mention the same thing. I love that movie :)
Still funny.
..for these reasons….I don’t think the pilot and co-pilot should travel on the same plane together
Corporations do no allow their entire leadership team to fly on the same plane, to assure business continuity.
Perfect Segway to the ad read
Learned so much
Aaaauuugh!! Quad-S! I've been designated "quad-S" a few times over the past few years. I believe it truly stands for "Super Secret Squirrel Shit"! If you find yourself with this designation, and you are not pressed for time - just relax, and let the TSA folks do their jobs, it's great fun - because they actually have to DO something. It grinds everything to a halt. I love it, watching them go through EVERYTHING in my carry on bags.
I used to fly regularly between Ireland and the U.S. with my family. We never ate the airline food, what we did instead was make our own deli sandwiches and bring our own snacks. It was always funny listening to the other passengers say “why didn’t we think of that”?
They won’t let us bring water on the plane in Canada...would they let us bring our lunch???😮
Good luck trying to bring your own food these days.
@@granmabern5283What part of Canada are you in? Just curious because I’ve never had a problem taking water on board if it’s obtained after security (whether store bought or refilled water bottle).
It is not only for Captains, but First Officers also inform scheduling, crewing regarding possible colleagues who are hard to work with in the flight deck
I really enjoy watching your videos. You have a lot of useful information that helps. Thanks
Loooooooool, the do not pair reminds me of the two pilots from Air France that fought on the plane
In 2006, I had a ticket to fly Northwest non-stop from Detroit to Norfolk on a military deployment to an overseas location. I was in desert camouflage uniform and showed my USAF ID and military orders (which said I was traveling from Selfridge Air National Guard Base) to the ticket agent. She gave me a boarding pass but didn't say anything about the "SSSS." I proceeded to the security area and was directed to remove my boots. I mean, seriously, because I have a one-way ticket? What really made me question this SSSS designation is that my wife, sister-in-law, and her son were given passes to clear security without the SSSS designation, so they could see me off at the gate. I'm not complaining about having to go through additional security, while they didn't. I'm questioning the logic of the decision. If I had a roundtrip ticket, would my boarding pass still have the SSSS? In addition, Northwest left one of my bags behind in Detroit, and it didn't arrive until the next day. I had to spend the night at the Norfolk Naval air terminal, instead of taking my scheduled deployment flight. Because the next flight wasn't due to leave until after midnight of the third day, I ended up spending the day in a motel and departed for the terminal around 9 p.m. on day two. The same thing happened to a guy I met on the Northwest flight. Considering these three occurrences were tied to the same non-stop flight, I can see why Northwest is no more.
In 1984, I was on a Northwest flight from SFO to Tokyo. We had overseas clearance to depart, when it was realized that the fuel gauge was not working properly. A dipstick was used to check how much fuel was (or was not) in the tanks. We were down 8,000 pounds (1,200 gallons), which means we could have ended up in the Pacific Ocean. Fortunately, that amount of fuel was put in the tanks, but we had to wait for a second overseas clearance. It took about two hours for fueling and new clearance.
All I can say is "good riddance" to Northwest Airlines.
Haven't been on a flight that even offers meals (rather than snacks) for ages
I know somebody who bought used luggage at a thrift store. BIG problem when it tested for EXPLOSIVES at the airport!
Hi, by any chance we you in Chichén Itzá the weekend of November 6th? I think I have might of seen ya.
When buying ticket avoid airports with expensive ground transportation. For example, I bought round trip ticket to Milan for 55 euros, but airport train there is 20 euros. Instead of Milan, I could have traveled to more exciting destination for 75 euros, where airport is close the city.
I got 4S's pretty much every time I flew back from multiple Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries from '03-'10.
Pretty obvious...set a travel pattern to and from a bunch of places that don't like America, and it gets noticed.
👍. . .Thank - you .
My pleasure, Ray! Happy travels!
I wonder why the middle back seat is safest?! My first thought was maybe the studies where injured passengers had been seated on various flights that had accidents… but neglected to account for seats (such as middle back) being empty more often…? 🤔🤷🏼♀️
I had a great vacation and your advice over the past year was priceless. Cheers :)
Do they put lavender oil in the air on night flights and peppermint when you fly back into Daylight?
When traveling first time to the US from Germany I got SSSS on my boarding pass. It was quite okay but really don’t know why did I get it and if I looked suspicious.
That the QR code on boarding passes is connected to a database with protected information should be stated on the boarding pass so people know to take proper care of the paper passes. It's irresponsible of the airlines to not do such.