Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Going on holiday tomorrow, can't check in - panicking

30 replies

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/05/2019 10:56

DH and I are flying to the US tomorrow and he's just tried to check us in online but can't check me in. He's phoned the airline and apparently I've been selected for a random check and it's nothing to worry about but I'm a nervous flyer and I'm panicking.

Has this happened to anyone else? DH was reassured we will get the seats we selected (we're flying premium economy if it makes a difference so selected them when we booked the holiday) but I'm now in a state thinking we won't be sitting together. I've already told DH I'm not going if I can't sit with him.

Is it worth DH checking in online so he's got his seat and as there's only 2 in the row I'll hopefully get the one next to him?

OP posts:

BossAssBitch · 03/05/2019 11:25

Don't worry, you should still be able to sit together. Google 'Secondary Security Screening', it will tell you all you need to know. Your DH should check in online as normal. Get to the airport early. Enjoy your trip.

redredrobins · 03/05/2019 11:41

Don't worry it is usual for some random checks on passengers. To make it quicker give most or all of your hand baggage for your DH to carry, they will only look through what you are carrying.

eurochick · 03/05/2019 11:47

You've been SSSS'd. This happened to me last year. I had to get my boarding pass at the airport and then when boarding had to go to a special area at the gate with my fellow winnners of the SSSS lottery . I think they just swabbed my palms and rescanned my bag. It took about 5 mins, most of which was waiting. It's a bit of a pain but nothing to worry about. When you check in at the airport stress that you want to sit together.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Flying Holidays

Mississippilessly · 03/05/2019 12:03

Yes it happened to me going to the US.
Honestly it was fine. Make sure your phone is charge though, they checked my hand luggage at the gate and asked me to turn my phone on.
Have a fab time!

stepup123 · 03/05/2019 12:05

Don't worry, like others have said, it's secondary screening. Let the crew know too that you're a nervous passenger.

TFBundy · 03/05/2019 12:12

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

greenelephantscarf · 03/05/2019 12:19

make sure you pack in a way that you can easily repack without help.

QforCucumber · 03/05/2019 12:23

DH had this in Feb when we flew to Vegas, it was fine, it just means they'll ask you some questions about where and why you are travelling and will ask to look through your hand luggage case. Also meant he got to board first though!

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/05/2019 12:24

This happened to me last year. I had to get my boarding pass at the airport and then when boarding had to go to a special area at the gate with my fellow winnners of the SSSS lottery

I'm panicking even more now! Will DH have to board separately? What happens if they say I can't fly (I can't think of any reason I can't but who knows) and DH has already boarded? I really don't want to go.

Am I likely to have the same problem coming back?

Thank you for all your replies. I'm normally a calm, rational human being but there's something about flying that turns me into a nervous wreck!

OP posts:

Arewenearly · 03/05/2019 12:28

My husband had this last year, you will still board together. We just waited for him to be swabbed/bag scanned and all boarded together. No drama at all, try not to worry.

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/05/2019 12:33

Thank you so much Arewenearly, I had this image of him going off on his holiday with me waving the plane off and spending three weeks at home with the cat!

OP posts:

JollyAndBright · 03/05/2019 12:43

We had this, DP won the SSS lottery.
I’m not a nervous flyer but I just didn’t want to board without him so I waited for him and we boarded together.
We still had our seats that we selected and had no other problems, your DH should check in as normal.
It was fine, try not to worry.

AliciaMayEmory · 03/05/2019 12:47

DH and this when we went to the US at Christmas. He just had his boarding pass printed at check-in, had a bit of an extra check at the gate and we boarded together as normal. Nothing at all to worry about.

Penguinpandarabbit · 03/05/2019 12:59

I had this last year when we flew to Australia and was a bit panicked. DH and 2 kids could check in online fine but mine came up check in not possible or something like that so checked DH and kids in and had visions of me being at home for 3 weeks.

Asked online and someone thought I was selected as had a new passport, just renewed.

They all came with me to check in and went up and they checked me in fine in pre booked seats and all went to airport together. Asked them had I been selected as first time used passport and they said yes so if you have renewed your passport that is likely to be why. Didn't happen on way back, was a bit nervous as it was Australia but thought want holiday anyway so just went and enjoyed it. It sounds a lot scarier than it is.

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/05/2019 13:00

You're making me feel better, so thank you all.

I do have one question (sorry). When I was googling, it mentioned a full pat down. If that happens will it be done by a woman as there is no way on earth I'm having some random bloke doing it!

OP posts:

Penguinpandarabbit · 03/05/2019 13:02

Didn't get that at all with the special screening, was literally just checking in at airport somewhere else. I did get that in Singapore as I had a jumper on and that apparently triggers in or so they said but its always by a female if you are female.

NameChangeMcgee · 03/05/2019 13:02

If they do a pat down a woman. I get this all the time- I wish I knew why!

Hellohah · 03/05/2019 13:02

I had this at the beginning of April. Got boarding passes when checking bags in and got another check at the gate. Took about 1 minute. Don't panic

tabulahrasa · 03/05/2019 13:04

If you get a pat down it’ll be a woman.

I’ve only just realised that’s why I couldn’t check in online when we went to the US a couple of weeks ago, lol

It was my adult DS who got the extra screening - it was literally just an extra bag search before boarding the plane.

Penguinpandarabbit · 03/05/2019 13:07

Don't wear heels or anything metallic anywhere to maximise chances of not going through patting down. Though sometimes give you chance to take off heels first.

Singapore said they did jumpers as people could hide things under them and asked me to remove it but explained just had underwear on underneath so just got the patting down! Normally jumpers don't trigger it.

Beachbodynowayready · 03/05/2019 13:13

Once had to expose pregnancy bump at an airport!
Mortified!

juneau · 03/05/2019 13:18

I get SSSS'd regularly. Please stop worrying OP! It's just standard, random security screening. You and your DH will be together at all times. It just means that your stuff will be gone through more rigorously, but I've never been moved to a separate area or taken away from my family. It's just a bit of a PITA, that's all.

tanpestryfirescreen · 03/05/2019 13:28

SSS on your boarding pass. The bonus is that you get pre-boarding.

I just give my bags to DH and stroll through with my passport and phone. We travel light anyway- but swabbing the laptop etc takes time so whoever doesn't have sss takes it.

They sometimes let the whole party through early.

Get to the gate early and wait for your name to be called.

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/05/2019 13:33

Thank you all you lovely people!

I presume if I get through the gate first I can wait for DH so we can board together?

I have decided that this will probably be my last flight (well the return leg obviously!) as I don't think I can take the stress!

OP posts:

JudyDenchsBloomers · 03/05/2019 14:18

Honestly, don't worry about this, had this loads of times. Your DH will go through a secondary check, just before the gate and you can wait just outside or, like I do, meet him on the plane! You'll still have your seats that you've chosen/been assigned.

Please don't worry, it's totally normal. The return flight won't be affected by this at all. I promise! Flown hundreds of times.

Flip

1 2