Decoding the Hidden Meanings of Your Boarding Pass Codes – Revealing the Coveted Special Symbols Favored by Frequent Flyers

Often, travelers just glance at their boarding pass to see which seat they are in, but it’s worth knowing the meaning behind the other codes these passes contain.

Look closely and you’ll find that a boarding pass can contain key information about your trip, from whether you’ve been selected for additional security screening to whether you’ll be among the last passengers to board the plane.

Whether you opt for a printed or digital version, here we reveal the meaning behind the codes on your boarding pass…

RESERVATION NUMBER

It is a six-digit code, made up of numbers and letters, that serves as a digital certificate, allowing you to check-in online and manage your reservation.

Known as PNR, or Passenger Name Reference, it is used by airline staff to access your reservation information, Turkish airline. Pegasus Explain. It also contains information about whether you have requested meal preferences and special assistance.

‘SSSS’

You may see “SSSS” printed on your boarding pass if you are traveling within the US. This stands for “secondary security screening” and means that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Security Administration Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has chosen you for additional security screening. Department of Homeland Security.

frequent flyer site The boy with the points reveals: ‘Your handbag will be thoroughly examined, and we mean “thoroughly,” as every item contained inside is likely to be handled, removed, inspected, poked and prodded, along with the bag lining and exterior pockets.

You will only see ‘SSSS’ printed on your boarding pass if you are traveling within the US.

He adds that electronic devices will also need to be “turned on and presented for inspection.”

The Points Guy continues: “Enhanced screening also typically involves a full-body pat-down, an additional wave of a metal detector wand, and explosive detection swabs rubbed on your luggage and at least your hands.”

On top of that, be prepared for the TSA agent to also ask you if you packed your own bag and your reasons for flying.

‘SEE AGENT’

If “See Agent” appears on your boarding pass, it could mean that you have not yet been assigned a seat on the flight.

If you see this message on your boarding pass, it can mean several things, Condé Nast Traveler reveals.

The post notes that it could mean you haven’t been assigned a seat on the flight yet and need to speak to a gate agent to sort it out. Or it could mean you’ll be traveling on a codeshare flight, meaning it will be operated by a different airline than the one you booked.

frequent flyer site Points with a crew He says it could also mean you have to present the gate agent with additional documents, such as travel visas. And if the flight is overbooked, it could mean that the gate agent will ask you to volunteer to take a later flight.

THE ‘SEQ’ NUMBER

There is a special code highly sought after by frequent travelers.

Rhys Jones of the frequent flyer website headforpoints.comtells MailOnline Travel: ‘One of the most interesting markings on a boarding pass is the “SEQ XXX” number. This indicates the order in which the passenger checks in for the flight. Many frequent travelers go to great lengths to obtain the coveted SEQ 001.

‘In the case of British Airways, for example, where check-in opens 24 hours before the flight, the “quickest finger on the trigger” when check-in opens usually gets pole position.

«However, there may be a fly in the ointment. When someone has a connecting flight, they can obtain their boarding pass before check-in opens for their next flight. If this is the case, no matter how fast you are when the online check-in opens, you will find that the special number has already disappeared!’

FLIGHT NUMBER

Above is a Ryanair boarding pass with flight number ‘FR5260’

This code represents the specific flight you will take and usually appears as two capital letters followed by four numbers.

Passengers can compare their flight number with the airport departure board to see when their flight is boarding. The first part of the number indicates the airline while the second part refers to the specific flight. For example, flight number ‘FR964’ contains ‘FR’ for Ryanair and ‘964’ for the route.

AIRPORT CODES

These three-letter codes refer to your departure and arrival airports. Examples include JFK, which refers to John F Kennedy International Airport in New York, and LHR, which refers to London Heathrow Airport.

SEAT ASSIGNMENT

The seat assignment can be found in the upper right corner of this Eurowings boarding pass. Image courtesy of Creative commons

Your seat is usually indicated by a combination of letters and numbers, such as ’12A’.

SCALE

If you are traveling with a stopover or layover, your boarding pass will likely contain the ‘S/O’ code. If your layover lasts more than a few hours, it may appear as “SPTC.”

GROUP NUMBER

Some airlines like British Airways have introduced a group boarding system which aims to “simplify boarding” and “reduce congestion”.

If you have a group number on your boarding pass, this indicates when you will be invited to board the plane. Group one is usually for first class and club members, who board first, while groups four and five tend to indicate economy and board last.

BARCODE

The barcode usually appears at the bottom right of your boarding pass. The magnetic stripe, known as BCBP, is usually scanned at various points in the airport, including the boarding gate, and helps speed up the boarding process.