You're Lucky If You See This Special Code Printed On Your Boarding Pass

When checking in for a flight, most passengers tend to focus on their seat number or boarding group. However, certain seemingly unnecessary information on a boarding pass can reveal interesting details about the flight. Perhaps you already know about the time-consuming security code SSSS. But that aside, one of the most intriguing codes on a boarding pass is the sequence number, often labeled as SEQ followed by some digits. It's meant to indicate the order in which passengers checked in. If you're the very first person to check in for a particular flight, then SEQ 001 (which stands for sequence number 001) will be printed on your boarding pass. This helps airline staff keep track of and manage the boarding process efficiently.

But what really is the "luck" here? To skip the stress of long airport lines, several fellow travelers may check in through airline apps the moment online check-in opens — usually about 24 to 48 hours before departure. So, the first sequence number can be claimed within seconds by one lucky passenger among other early birds. Bear in mind that passengers on connecting flights can miss the chance to get SEQ 001 because their boarding pass may be issued before check-in officially opens. While getting that top spot may give a sense of fulfillment similar to earning a little badge of honor, checking in first may also offer some other perks, depending on your airline, such as priority seat selection.

While some travelers may find it thrilling to realize they're the first to check in, SEQ 001 actually doesn't guarantee any direct VIP privileges. It has nothing to do with ticket class, loyalty status, or saving money on your flight. That said, it could still have some subtle benefits because early check-in might improve your chances of smoother boarding and securing overhead bin space, depending on the airline. As some travelers on Reddit have shared, this is also helpful on airlines that allow free seat selection during check-in, as it gives you more freedom to choose between window and aisle seats, or even go for rows with extra legroom. "I always checkin online immediately when it opens to get the best possible seat without having to pay for it," a traveler noted on r/emirates.

Another advantage that's easy to miss involves last-minute seat changes. In a situation in which tickets are oversold, being an SEQ 001 holder typically reduces the chances that you'll be among those to be denied boarding involuntarily. As the U.S. Department of Transportation explained on its website: "If there are not enough passengers who are willing to give up their seats voluntarily, an airline may deny you a seat on an aircraft based on criteria that it establishes, such as the passenger's check-in time, the fare paid by the passenger, or the passenger's frequent flyer status." Although getting bumped from a flight might entitle you to compensation, how much you get can vary and still comes with the downside of missing your flight, so it's better to avoid checking in late in the first place. For more flight tips worth knowing, see this important advice by Rick Steves.