We’ve previously written at HuffPost UK about how spotting “SSS” on your boarding pass could mean your flight will take a little longer.
That’s because the four letters stand for “secondary security screening selection,” which could mean that you’ll go through a more involved scanning and searching process when you pass security.
But it turns out that the numbers that follow your “SEQ,” or “sequence,” letters could affect your ability to board a flight on some airlines, especially budget, Easy Flying shared.
What does the SEQ code on your boarding pass mean?
It simply indicates when you registered.
If you have SEQ/10, it means you were the 10th person checked in on that flight.
Often this has no impact on your journey – it just shows where you were in the queue for boarding. Passengers who have previously reserved a seat should still keep it, etc.
But sometimes, for the U.S. Department of Transportation, this number can get you into trouble in cases of overbooked flights or first-come, first-served deals.
“If there are not enough passengers willing to voluntarily give up their seats, the airline may deny you a seat on the plane based on criteria it establishes, such as the passenger’s check-in time, the fare paid by the passenger, or the passenger’s frequent flyer status,” they shared.
In other words, those who checked in last might be chosen to step off an overbooked plane first.
However, it depends on the airline you choose. Each one will have different protocols.
Your SEQ code could also land you in a worse spot
Again, those who have pre-booked a seat don’t have to worry about losing it, thanks to just their SEQ code.
But according to Simple Flying, some airlines select seats for passengers in order of arrival.
In that case, they shared, those who register last might be left with the least desirable spot.
