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No Show for Flight

This has happened to us now two years in a row. If you miss a booked flight and are treated as a 'no show', you greatly increase your chances of getting a secondary airport screening. It will show as "SSSS" on your boarding pass the next time you fly.

Last year our flight from Rhodes to Athens was canceled due to weather, which meant we didn't catch our flight the next day to the USA. These were separate tickets, which were purchased as non-refundable. I had checked in for the home return flight at the Rhodes airport, before we got the cancellation notification. We flew out of Rhodes the next day and purchased new flights home for the following day. However, we didn't cancel our original flight home. Travel insurance paid for the new tickets, overnight stay, and meals. The extra screening was at the Athens airport for me.

This year my wife got sick in Scotland and was in the hospital when our original return flight home was scheduled. Again, the tickets were non-refundable, so I didn't attempt to cancel the flight. I had a lot going on already. We eventually flew home 3 days later after purchasing more expensive tickets on a flight where we could have 2 seats for ourselves in our row. Travel insurance should pay for the additional accommodations, medical bills, meals, and the flight home. My wife was in a wheelchair and she was flagged for the extra screening this time at the Dublin airport.

The Dublin security said the extra screening is based on an individual's profile, flying history, and more.

Posted by
1298 posts

That happens when you don't cancel the flight you missed or were going to miss. Just one of those things. We were booked on an Alaska domestic flight and after we had booked, Alaska had that mishap and Alaska flights were grounded for an indefinite period. I booked a back up ticket on Southwest and held on to my original Alaska flight. Alaska was back up and running on my departure date; so I cancelled Southwest last minute and took Alaska. TSA did take extra interest in me and asked me a few questions about the two flights; I suppose since they were same destination and same time. I did ask if I had somehow not cancelled my Southwest flight; and they said I indeed had. So it's just part of flying I suppose.

Posted by
17234 posts

If for some reason you are going to miss a flight like you did, always contact the airline and explain why. Try to do this before the fight departs.

Even though the tickets are non-refundable, that doesn't mean you can't get something. Sometimes, you can contact the airline and request being re-booked on a different flight or day or get credit for the tickets you aren't using. Especially if you have a valid reason like your wife was in the hospital. Non-refundable means you won't get your money back but doesn't mean you can't get something.

Always ask. You may not get it, but you definitely won't get anything if you don't ask.

As for bad weather canceling your flight, depending on the circumstance, you might be able to claim compensation under EU 261. You need to check what time limit Greece puts on claims.

I have purchased tickets last minute and sometimes changed flights and never had a problem with security or extra screening. Canceling tickets or missing flights alone will not get you scrutinized. However, having multiple flights to the same destination on the same day might.

Posted by
4865 posts

I did nothing unusual but had my bags opened and thoroughly checked in Athens.

Posted by
17234 posts

I did nothing unusual but had my bags opened and thoroughly checked in Athens

This can happen anywhere. If the security person monitoring the xray machine thinks he/she has found something that shouldn't be there, they will flag the bag for a search.

It has nothing to do with what you have done unless you have something in your bag that is not allowed.

Posted by
1059 posts

The Dublin security said the extra screening is based on an individual's profile, flying history, and more.

Also, called the luck of the draw. SSSS is going to happen on most any flight back to the USA. Both my wife and I have been subject to it on a few flights. Really no big deal just a more detailed inspection.

Posted by
2857 posts

Honestly you are drawing conclusions that may not be correct. However there is a theory that last minute booking does increase your chances for enhanced security screening You would have hit that risk profile both times. Not showing is not normally considered a risk