Frequent flyers dread seeing the SSSS code on their boarding pass. It’s short for Secondary Security Screening Selection and could result in a significant slowdown in your airport security experience, with additional screening and bag searches. But a recent Travel & Leisure article says there is another code you want to watch out for, which could also mean big trouble for travelers.
Pay attention to the sequence number, or “SEQ” on a boarding pass. According to the article, it refers to the order in which passengers check in for a flight. Apparently, that order can then be used to determine who can board a flight, and who might not. Airlines are using your check-in time to determine which passengers can be bumped from a flight.
According to the Department of Transportation, “If there are not enough passengers who are willing to give up their seats voluntarily, an airline may deny you a seat on an aircraft based on criteria that it establishes, such as the passenger’s check-in time, the fare paid by the passenger, or the passenger’s frequent flyer status.”
To avoid any chance of being bumped, passengers should check in for their flights as early as possible. For more airlines, this is 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Have you ever been bumped from a flight? Message The Seniors Trust on Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter) and let us know if this new knowledge will make you check in for flights earlier.
