The Dreaded "S"

TrinidadGT20

TrinidadGT20

Vice President of Awesome
The Dreaded \"S\"

I flew from RDU to MHT today flying on Southwest. I've never flown WN before. That, combined with a one-way ticket, got me the dreaded "S" stamped on my ticket. That "S" means search. Extensively. Embarassingly. Stupidly. I was pissed. I had to go to the "special" line (which of course was much slower) so the TSA could do their thing. I got the full pat-down in public and the TSA questioned me on my computer networking textbook asking me what it was for. I told them it was a book and that people read books. Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer methinks.

So, WN may claim that they have to do all of this for security reasons. They may claim that all new pax have to go through a screening. They may claim that a one-way ticket is a warning sign. To that I say BS. I have earned Chairman's Preferred for four straight years in a row on USAir (that means I fly over 100,000 mile a year) but that means nothing to WN. I'm still a security risk. Gee, why couldn't the TSA recognize me in their database as a frequent-flyer regardless of what airline I'm on? I'm not sure who is more at fault here; WN for punishing me for buying a one-way ticket or the TSA for not recognizing frequent flyers.

Screw WN. I will never fly them again. If this is how they punish new customers then they just lost a customer. If you guys ever get an S on your ticket, I say march right up the nearest agent and complain about it. Demand your money back. Push this back on the airlines and let them know you're not happy about it.
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

Mate, the TSA is fine. I gave a TSA agent $5 to get me to the front of the line once!! Worked a dream!!!

I avoid LLCs they are not worth the difference in service - you truely get what you pay for. You paid nothing - they give you nothing; infact you are lucky to get your bag backs!
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

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I think you have the TSA to blame for this.

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Yea it is totally random...and WN doesn't pick out who gets searched think it is the TSA.
They have these profiling programs in all airline software that picks people at random for certain things.

Matthew
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

I had the Dreaded SSSSS on my ticket and when I got to the security gate and showed my military ID they said I could bypass all the security if I wanted and go through the special gate...
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I didn't know that, that's cool!!

But I was in no hurry so I let them do their search. I fugure what the heck, I could use a good wanding down!
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don't let the random SSSSS deter you from flying an airline... you probably would have gotten it no matter what airline you flew.

I kinda expected it, flying one way, no baggage and bought only 3 days prior...
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

its not the airline that does picks the person its called the caps system which is supplied to the airlines by the govt
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

"WN" is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code for Southwest Airlines. According to The Airline Codes Web Site, "The designator is used to identify an airline for all commercial purposes. the two character airline designator is assigned by IATA in accordance with the provisions of Resolution 762. The two character airline designator listed are for use in reservations, timetables, tickets, tariffs, air waybills, schedules publications and in airline interline telecommunications, as well as for the airline industry applications. IATA assigns three types of two character airline designators. Unique, numeric/alpha and controlled duplicate." The web site I linked to lists both IATA and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) airline codes, as well as airport and aircraft codes.

As far as Southwest goes, I had my first experience with them this past August. I flew from PVD-BWI and back, and never had a problem. I was expecting something out of A&E's Airline, but both flights were pretty good. For the flight to BWI, I was near the end of the line of boarding group C, but still ended up sitting next to my mom. The seats were comfortable, plenty of legroom, and two bags of honey roasted peanuts. Flight took off and arrived on time.

For the flight home, we were in group B, and once again, had no problems finding seats, two bags of peanuts again, and the flight got back home about 10 minutes early. I say look at it this way; at least they didn't make you drop trou and bend over.
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(They didn't.... right???)
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Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

[ QUOTE ]
If you guys ever get an S on your ticket, I say march right up the nearest agent and complain about it. Demand your money back. Push this back on the airlines and let them know you're not happy about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Surest way I can think of to get yourself onto TSA's watch list, then you'll get that S even on carriers you've got an established relationship.

Best advice is to suck it up and vote for politicians not so anxious to ram the Patriot Act down your throat.
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

I say shut your hole and go through security like everybody else. You might not think you're a security threat but nobody else knows that.
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

You are way too worked up over this. Get over it. People are searched. You talk as though you were embarrassed. Do you really think people cared you were being searched?
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

How about this? Coming back from Indianapolis, we got the "S'. I had my flight bag with me, and forgot to take the fuel tester out. Right there, they searched it for a long time, and didnt say a word! My dad found it disturbing that I could get on with a test tube that has a metal rod coming out of it, and he couldnt get passed with tweezers!
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

[ QUOTE ]
Screw WN. I will never fly them again. If this is how they punish new customers then they just lost a customer. If you guys ever get an S on your ticket, I say march right up the nearest agent and complain about it. Demand your money back. Push this back on the airlines and let them know you're not happy about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd recommend having a direct confrontation with the TSA. Loudly refuse to submit to a search. Get physical if necessary.

This way everyone will see how you've been singled out and abused as they haul you off. It will really make the point that you are an intelligent Chariman's Preferred at USAir. In fact keep yelling that as they escort you away.

smile.gif
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

Isn't anyone going to tell him why he got the S? Had nothing to do with "WN" ??

It's because you bought a one way ticket - AUTOMATIC SELECTEE.

S stands for Selectee by the way, although the TSA calls them Special Customers.

I get it now and then, I just laugh it off. "Hey I'm a special customer for you today."

They always say "You aren't supposed to know what that means!" I laugh and say, "oh come on, anyone in the airline industry knows what those four S's mean!!!!"
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

[ QUOTE ]


I'd recommend having a direct confrontation with the TSA. Loudly refuse to submit to a search. Get physical if necessary.

This way everyone will see how you've been singled out and abused as they haul you off. It will really make the point that you are an intelligent Chariman's Preferred at USAir. In fact keep yelling that as they escort you away.

smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

They say that sarcasm is the sign of a weak mind. You missed the point entirely.
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

[ QUOTE ]


Surest way I can think of to get yourself onto TSA's watch list, then you'll get that S even on carriers you've got an established relationship.

Best advice is to suck it up and vote for politicians not so anxious to ram the Patriot Act down your throat.

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No, that's not true. I've had two one-ways this year on USAir and never got the dreaded SSSS. I still believe that once you have credibility with a carrier (I.e. you fly them a lot) that you're less likely to get searched.

Let's suppose for one second that this is true. I find it pretty low that the airlines, in cooperations with the TSA, are trying to intimidate you into paying twice as much for an airfare. They know that if you keep getting searched every single time you buy a one-way, then you will get fed up and buy a round trip.

And to answer another person's question, yes, it was embarassing. WTF does a book about computer networking have to do with terrorism (and don't make up any stretch scenarios) and security? When seven or eight people are allowed to pass through screening and you're stuck in the "special" line, you'd be embarassed too. People look at you funny and they think you're a suspect or something. I'm not overreacting.
 
Re: The Dreaded \"S\"

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Quit whinning, and keep the line moving.

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The line moved just fine thank you. I happened to notice it moving quite efficiently because I WASN'T IN IT. If you don't like my "whining" then don't read this thread.
 
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