Meaning of ‘RR’ symbol on boarding pass

RR stands for “Random Review”. Recently, this special code has appeared more and more on boarding passes, especially at major Indian airports such as Indira Gandhi International (Delhi) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Mumbai), causing confusion for many passengers.

According to Ms. Katy Nastro, a travel expert, if passengers have gone through the additional security check process with the symbol “SSSS” in the US, then “RR” is a similar version being applied in India. If this symbol appears, passengers must definitely go through an additional screening step before entering the cabin.

The “RR” screening process can vary by airport and airline, but is usually performed at the boarding gate area. Security staff will check identification documents and passports. In some cases, passengers must open their hand luggage, have specialized cotton swabs used to check for traces of explosives on electronic devices, or must answer short interrogation questions about their place of residence and trip plans.

This process takes place because India’s aviation security system has many layers of checks. Passengers must go through document verification checkpoints before entering the terminal, baggage screening and additional checks near the departure gate. This system is strictly monitored by India’s Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

Mr. Gary Leff, aviation expert, blog author The View from the Wingsaid that despite the name “random”, this process is sometimes intentional. “Passengers can be flagged based on intelligence warnings, baggage records or other operational factors. The proportion of passengers having to go through this step is about 1-2%,” Mr. Leff said.

The screening process is usually quite quick, but there is still a risk of passengers boarding the plane late. Therefore, experts recommend that passengers who receive tickets with the code “RR” should proactively arrive at the departure gate early, especially during peak travel periods.