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USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
TSA may pull you aside if you have these 4 letters on your boarding pass
TSA may pull you aside if you have these 4 letters on your boarding pass Show Caption Hide Caption What you need to know about airport security rules and checkpoints Here are TSA rules that you need to know and what to expect at each airport checkpoint. The code "SSSS" on a boarding pass stands for "Secondary Security Screening Selection," requiring additional screening at TSA checkpoints. Reasons for the "SSSS" code can include last-minute ticket purchases, one-way cash payments, travel to specific countries, suspicious behavior, or random selection. Passengers with "SSSS" on their boarding pass should allow an extra 15-45 minutes for security screening. As the temperatures rise and the skies clear up, you might be looking forward to a summer vacation. But before flying to your destination, you'll have to go through screening at a TSA checkpoint. Loading and unloading your luggage during the process is a hassle. But TSA can also pull you aside for additional screening if they find something on your boarding pass. Here's what to know. What will happen if there's an 'SSSS' on your boarding pass If your boarding pass has "SSSS" on it, TSA will pull you aside for additional screening. "SSSS" stands for "Secondary Security Screening Selection," which means you'll have to take an extra few steps beyond regular security protocols, according to Islands. This is not just for regular pass holders. Even those with a Trusted Traveler Program, such as Global Entry and TSA Precheck, or a CLEAR access purchase, may also be pulled for additional screening if they find those four letters on their boarding pass. Why is there an 'SSSS' on my boarding pass? The code can appear on anyone's boarding pass. A few common reasons for this group of letters include: Purchasing a last-minute ticket; Booking a direct one-way flight and paying in cash; Flying to or from a country flagged by the U.S. State Department; Raising suspicions at the airport; Selected at random. If you do find this quartet of letters on your boarding pass, allow 15–45 minutes of extra time to get through security at the airport. Annual traffic at airports in 2024 The TSA reported a total of 904,068,577 commercial passengers in 2024. That number was up from 858,548,196 passengers in 2023, according to TSA checkpoints. That's an increase of 5.3%. As of the end of May, 403,784,688 commercial passengers have passed through TSA checkpoints in 2025. Jim Ross contributed
UPI
4 days ago
- Business
- UPI
JPMorgan Chase boosts Sapphire Reserve credit card annual fee to $795
The JPMorgan Chase & Co. sign hangs at the bank's headquarters on Park Avenue in New York City. On Tuesday, Chase announced it would nearly double the annual fee on its Sapphire Reserve premium credit card to $795, in exchange for additional travel perks. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo June 17 (UPI) -- JPMorgan Chase is banking on a slew of new travel rewards to justify a massive annual fee increase of 45% on its popular premium credit card. The bank announced Tuesday that its Sapphire Reserve card will now cost users $795 each year in exchange for double the value of points for select travel offers, a $500 annual credit on select resorts and a $300 dining credit for select restaurants, starting next Monday. "It's been almost 10 years since Sapphire first launched, and we really think we tapped into something special in the premium card space when it did," Chris Reagan, president of branded cards at Chase, told reporters last week. "But we know that the industry has changed a lot since then." In addition to travel perks and airport lounge access, the card will include a free Apple TV+ subscription, a $300 DoorDash credit and a $300 credit for StubHub tickets. The card also features a $120 credit for TSA Precheck and Global Entry. Chase said it also tweaked the points structure on the card with eight-times the points -- more than double -- on purchases through Chase Travel, four times the points on flights and hotels booked directly and three times the points on dining. Five times more points can be earned on "eligible" transportation, along with points for everyday spending, according to Chase, which touted its "new points redemption accelerator program" that will replace what first drew customers to Sapphire Reserve. "We're bringing elevated benefits and greater value in the areas that our current members are most passionate about," said Sam Palmer, general manager of Chase Sapphire, who promised the new Sapphire Reserve will deliver "over $2,700 in card member value." Those who spend more than $75,000 a year in card purchases will see even more benefits. Chase launched its Sapphire Reserve card in 2016 before it quickly became one of the most popular premium credit cards for travel, according to travel news website One Mile at a Time. "When the Sapphire Reserve first came out, it was a solid middle-class play that offered champagne travel on a beer budget," said senior Bankrate analyst Ted Rossman. "These premium cards are going more luxury, and I wonder if the $800 fees are becoming too much for some to stomach." While the changes for new cardmembers go into effect Monday, existing cardmembers will not see the changes -- or increased annual fee -- until Oct. 26.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
You need a REAL ID to fly in a plane starting May 7 — except in 5 states
Starting tomorrow, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at U.S. airports will no longer accept state-issued IDs that are not REAL ID-compliant at TSA checkpoints. Before boarding domestic flights, all airline passages ages 18 and older must to present REAL ID-compliant identification or another approved ID, such as a passport, a passport card, or a U.S. Department of Defense ID. The new rule also applies to TSA Precheck members. As opposed to a standard state IDs, REAL IDs are a valid form of federal identification. Massachusetts residents can check the top right corner of their driver's license or Mass ID for a star, which distinguishes the ID as REAL ID-compliant. Five states — Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont — issue Enhanced Driver's Licenses and Enhanced IDs, which are also valid alternatives to a REAL ID. Travelers who cannot provide one of the approved IDs will likely be subject to delays and additional screenings, and may not be admitted past the security checkpoint. You can view the full list of approved IDs on the TSA website. Under the new regulations, citizens will also need a REAL ID to access federal government buildings, military installations and nuclear power plants. REAL ID requirements differ by state. In Massachusetts, residents can acquire a REAL ID by providing a birth certificate or passport and verifying their social security number with a social security card or W-2. They also must show proof of Massachusetts residence, such as a lease, mortgage, or utility bill. Residents can start the REAL ID application process online by visiting the RMV's Online Service Center and scheduling an in-person appointment at a RMV Service Center of AAA branch (for AAA members). The latest from MassLive Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airport officials consider privatizing TSA screening duties at T.F. Green
Passengers wait at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at T.F. Green International Airport on Nov. 1, 2024, between 5:01 and 5:35 a.m. (Courtesy photo from the Rhode Island Airport Corporation) State airport officials claim the wait for passengers to get through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is taking too long, and they might have a solution: Replace the federal officers with private security workers. The Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) filed a petition on April 25 to join the TSA's Screening Partnership Program, which allows use of private screening contractors for airport security. Airport spokesperson Bill Fischer confirmed the application after the move was first reported by WPRI-12 Tuesday. A copy of the petition was not immediately made available. Fischer said the recommendation came from Virginia-based consultant Studdiford Technical Solutions after RIAC hired the firm last November to analyze increasing passenger numbers and 'unusually long checkpoint lines' officials noticed the month prior. 'We have in fact seen unacceptable and increased lines and wait times that have become a concern for the board and management team,' Fischer said in a statement. 'In anticipation of sustained higher passenger volumes, we feel it is important to evaluate every option.' Fischer said airport officials are only exploring the option and have not made any final decision on the matter. Even if the TSA were to approve the petition, Fischer said the federal agency would retain oversight and continue to set security standards at T.F. Green. The head of the union representing New England's TSA officers called RIAC's justification for pursuing the possibility of privatizing screening 'ridiculous.' 'That's not a reason to privatize,' Mike Gayzagian, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2617 headquartered in Boston, said in an interview. 'Wait times are fluid.' Since the start of 2025, TSA spokesperson Daniel Velez said 100% of all standard lane screenings at T.F. Green remained under the agency's projected peak wait of half an hour. The longest wait time in the last month was at 27 minutes, according to TSA data obtained by Rhode Island Current. The average maximum wait travelers experienced in April was 10 minutes. Travelers who used TSA Precheck had an average maximum wait time of five minutes last month. The average wait time nationally is just over four-and-a-half minutes and a little more than two minutes for those who've pre-checked. TSA tracks the data by handing a yellow card to the last passenger in line at the top, middle and bottom of the hour. Those passengers hold the card until they get up to an airport's X-ray, Velez explained in an email Thursday. An officer will then add all of the time up and average out the wait time for that hour. Federal officers may also use closed-circuit television to track how long passengers wait to be screened. Velez said travels may see long wait times due to rescheduled flights or staffing shortages. T.F. Green has roughly TSA 170 officers, but Velez declined to state how many vacancies there are citing security reasons. 'We work closely with our airport and airline partners to be able to project the busiest times of the day and make sure we are prepared,' Velez said in an emailed statement. Fischer acknowledged TSA has worked out some of the performance issues and that wait times in April have improved quite significantly. 'We will continue to monitor this situation and make recommendations that are in the best interest of our passengers,' he said in an email. So far, half of Rhode Island's congressional delegation has expressed opposition to RIAC's privatization proposal. U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, whose congressional district includes the Warwick airport, said he has concerns about shifting duties away from the TSA. 'Privatizing security services at T.F. Green is not in the best interest of Rhode Island travelers or local workers who keep the airport safe and running smoothly,' Magaziner said in a statement to Rhode Island Current. 'As a frequent traveler at T.F. Green I see no apparent need to make such a change.' U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said privatizing TSA duties could undermine safety and staffing at T.F. Green. 'We are fortunate to have a great airport, but the idea of privatization strikes me as the wrong approach,' he said in a statement. 'I worked to ensure the airport got technology upgrades to make the security process more efficient and I also provide oversight to ensure TSA is accountable and reimburses the airport as needed.' The TSA has 60 days to review RIAC's petition to privatize screening duties. If approved, Fischer said existing transportation security officers would have the option to apply to be a screener under whatever private security firm airport officials would contract. But Gayzagian said going private can come with a lesser salary and fewer benefits. TSA officers can make between $65,000 and $70,000 a year with a benefits package of health, dental and vision, and life insurance. 'Who do they expect to come to take those jobs?' Gayzagian said. Gayzagian also claimed that privatized officers would have fewer worker protections compared to their federal said that contracted screeners at other airports that have chosen to privatize TSA duties have unionized. Sure, worker organization is possible, Gayzagian said. 'They'd have to start from scratch,' he added. TSA screens passengers at more than 430 federalized, commercial airports nationwide. Twenty-one airports, including Kansas City, Orlando and San Francisco have opted into the TSA Screening Partnership Program. The only New England airport participating is Portsmouth International Airport in New Hampshire, which joined in 2014. TSA officers continue to run checkpoints at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut and Boston Logan International Airport, where Massport spokesperson Benjamin Crawley said there are no intentions at this time to privatize. 'We have a great relationship with our TSA partners,' Crawley said in an email. RIAC's decision to explore privatization comes after rumors that airport officials sought to privatize its police force rather than hire sworn officers. Airport officials signed a five-year contract last October with Illinois-based Andy Frain Services for $5.5 million to provide workers who would inspect security badges, inspect vehicles entering restricted areas, and manage traffic outside the terminal. Fischer reiterated that RIAC has no plans to replace its police or fire departments with private contractors. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Real ID travel requirement goes in effect May 7: What Coloradans should know
DENVER (KDVR) — The countdown is on for Colorado travelers. On May 7, passengers will need a Real ID symbol on their driver's license or other form of acceptable identification to get through airport security. Those without proper identification may face delays, additional screening, or not being allowed into the security checkpoint. Layover, delayed flight at DIA? Unique things to see in every concourse FOX31 found many travelers at Denver International Airport had questions about Real ID requirements. 'I don't know what is it for,' said one concerned airline passenger. The Real ID Act is the result of the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the federal government set standards for issuing identification. A Transportation Security Administration spokesperson told FOX31 that Colorado, which has been compliant with the act since 2013, maintains a high compliance rate. The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles has examples of a Real ID license, which features a star on the front in the upper corner, on its website. To be eligible to receive a Real ID, applicants must provide proof of identity, lawful presence, Colorado residency and a social security number, even if you transfer your Real ID from another state. The DMV provides identification requirement charts and a new to Colorado page for more information. Comparisons give perspective of just how big the Denver International Airport is The TSA website states that a temporary driver's license is not an acceptable form of identification but you can use other forms of ID. A TSA spokesperson told FOX31 that TSA currently accepts compliant identification up to a year after the expiration date. Real ID rules apply to everyone, including those who have TSA Precheck. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
