TSA random checks at the gate?

[kylenne]

Yesterday returning home from Vegas there were TSA officers at my gate conducting “random” checks, and the gate agents told us to have our IDs out along with our boarding passes as we came up to board. I’ve been flying at least once a month since February this year, through JFK, LGA, MCO, YYZ, MSP and yesterday at LAS was the first time I’ve encountered anything like this. Wondering if anyone else has encountered this?

Interestingly they seemed to not care at all about those of us boarding in Mint or Mosaic members, we were all waved through like it was no big deal and the TSA agent even shooed away my ID when I offered it and told me I was good. It honestly left a bad taste in my mouth even though I was relieved not to get picked (a few years ago I was getting the ZZZZ for a good stretch so I dread any kind of “random” screening).

 

[pooch]

Was probably pre-Covid but it has happened to me a couple of times.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Yesterday returning home from Vegas there were TSA officers at my gate conducting “random” checks, and the gate agents told us to have our IDs out along with our boarding passes as we came up to board. I’ve been flying at least once a month since February this year, through JFK, LGA, MCO, YYZ, MSP and yesterday at LAS was the first time I’ve encountered anything like this. Wondering if anyone else has encountered this?

Interestingly they seemed to not care at all about those of us boarding in Mint or Mosaic members, we were all waved through like it was no big deal and the TSA agent even shooed away my ID when I offered it and told me I was good. It honestly left a bad taste in my mouth even though I was relieved not to get picked (a few years ago I was getting the ZZZZ for a good stretch so I dread any kind of “random” screening).

It’s actually the SSSS ticket. It’s a TSA term that will subject you to those screenings. TSA does this at random for security reasons. If your ticket has SSSS, prepare yourself for extra time in security… most importantly leave earlier than you normally would for a flight.

 

[kylenne]

It’s actually the SSSS ticket. It’s a TSA term that will subject you to those screenings. TSA does this at random for security reasons. If your ticket has SSSS, prepare yourself for extra time in security… most importantly leave earlier than you normally would for a flight.

First of all the code is not “SSSS”, it’s “ZZZZ” and that’s not even what I’m talking about at all. Read that post again very carefully.

 

[sam_gordon]

It’s actually the SSSS ticket. It’s a TSA term that will subject you to those screenings. TSA does this at random for security reasons. If your ticket has SSSS, prepare yourself for extra time in security… most importantly leave earlier than you normally would for a flight.

But the SSSS ticket gives you a deeper screening at security, not at the gate, which is what the OP was referring to.

I've never been subjected to it myself, but I've seen it occasionally at nearby gates.

 

[sam_gordon]

First of all the code is not “SSSS”, it’s “ZZZZ” and that’s not even what I’m talking about at all. Read that post again very carefully.

Actually, it is SSSS...

https://www.travelandleisure.com/ssss-on-boarding-pass-7547257

 

[BrianL]

I've seen them at the gate using a machine on a cart and swabbing peopels hands for, presumably, explosive residue before they boarded. I've only ever experienced it once or twice and it was very quick, but I've seen it.

 

[DeeBee3]

Maybe having to do with yesterday's murder, although it was Utah. Not sure of the time of your flight but it would have been starting in the afternoon.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I've seen them at the gate using a machine on a cart and swabbing peopels hands for, presumably, explosive residue before they boarded. I've only ever experienced it once or twice and it was very quick, but I've seen it.

ooooo I think I have seen that before! Not my flight, but I'm pretty sure I saw it across a hallway or something!

 

[LilyWDW]

It happened to me years ago (like when I was in college) when traveling from Atlanta to a airport in Germany (I don't remember which one, it was so long ago).

So this is something that happens, at random, and has been happening for like 20 years at least.

 

[miksicnarf]

Yes, they did that at my gate once last year, don't remember which airport.

 

[Leigh L]

Yesterday returning home from Vegas there were TSA officers at my gate conducting “random” checks, and the gate agents told us to have our IDs out along with our boarding passes as we came up to board. I’ve been flying at least once a month since February this year, through JFK, LGA, MCO, YYZ, MSP and yesterday at LAS was the first time I’ve encountered anything like this. Wondering if anyone else has encountered this?

Interestingly they seemed to not care at all about those of us boarding in Mint or Mosaic members, we were all waved through like it was no big deal and the TSA agent even shooed away my ID when I offered it and told me I was good. It honestly left a bad taste in my mouth even though I was relieved not to get picked (a few years ago I was getting the ZZZZ for a good stretch so I dread any kind of “random” screening).

We experienced this late last year....I'm not sure I remember the airport, but I believe it occurred at DCA since we were flying Southwest because I remember being lined up at our spots when TSA started going down the line and flagging people.

It was just so weird when it happened, as I'd never encountered this either. We've flown several times since and haven't experienced it again.

 

[_19disnA]

Happened to be flying out of LAS yesterday and didn't notice any extra security. Sometimes I think they do random things to be unpredictable which is probably a good thing. Screening at the gate is well beyond the TSA screening area. The TSA area was doing the typical check of ID's and look to see you have a current day's boarding pass.