The annoying reason your name could cause you problems at airport security
HAVING to deal with airports is undoubtedly the worst part of going on holiday, but it turns out small details like your name could be making things much worse.
Even if you follow all the rules at the security gates properly, there are other factors that could lead to you getting scanned more than once.
Included in those are your name, what type of ticket you have and how you paid for it, among others.
When arriving at the security gates, everyone wants to just walk through the scanners, get their bags checked and then move on to their departure lounge as soon as possible.
However, that rarely happens, with passengers often having to be scanned more than once in the walk-through metal detectors (WTMD), or being selected for a second check by Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) – also known as “body scanners”.
Aviation Security Service General Manager Mark Wheeler explained that passengers aren’t always selected for a second check because something was picked up by the WTMDs.
Sometimes, he said, passengers are just randomly chosen by security staff.
He told Stuff NZ: “All passengers must walk through a WTMD. Passengers may also be scanned in the AIT on any occasion, in addition to going through the walk-through metal detector.
“This can be due to a detection, as well as a random selection.”
However, there are some factors that could increase a passenger’s chances of having to have a second scan.
Publication Life Hacker explained that a pre-screening system used by the American TSA (Transportation Security Administration) called Secure Flight, will look for signs that a passenger could be a troublemaker.
They claim that if your name is shared by someone else on a no-fly list, or if your tickets are purchased in a suspicious way, your chances of getting picked for further checks are vastly increased.
They wrote: “TSA uses Secure Flight, a pre-screening process that involves identifying ‘low and high-risk passengers before they arrive at the airport’.
“If you share your name with someone on the ‘no-fly’ list, you will likely be stopped.
“They also determine your ‘risk’ based on what might be considered suspicious behaviour, like buying a one-way ticket or paying for your flight in cash.”
The TSA website explains that Secure Flight works by identifying passengers before they turn up for their trip and lets security staff know who might be problematic.
It reads: “Secure Flight is a risk-based passenger pre-screening program that enhances security by identifying low and high-risk passengers before they arrive at the airport by matching their names against trusted traveller lists and watch-lists.
“Secure Flight transmits the screening instructions back to the airlines to identify low-risk passengers; individuals on the selected List who are designated for enhanced screening; and those who will receive standard screening.
“Secure Flight also prevents individuals on the no-fly List and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Do Not Board List from boarding an aircraft.”
Some passengers will know that they’ve been selected for further screening before they’ve even arrived at the security gates, due to a code printed on their boarding pass.
The four-letter code SSSS means “Secondary Security Screening Selection” and lets people know that they can expect to spend longer than they’d like at the scanners.
Meanwhile, these airport mistakes will always slow you down at the security gates.
And these are the rules around taking your own food through the security scanners.