All rules cease to exist the moment you step foot in an airport. Dressing like Lord Farquaad to catch a flight? No biggie. Chowing down on your third beer at 7 AM? Totally acceptable. Bringing a pizza box as your carry-on? Go ahead, you legend.
Don’t believe us? Just take a look at all of the strangest moments captured in airports that we at We gathered from the depths of the internet. Be prepared to take off on a bizarre adventure, and don’t forget to share your thoughts on it down below!
While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation with an experienced traveler and blogger, Apeksha Shah, and travel specialist and owner of Where to Next Travel, Amy Zainfeld, who kindly agreed to share the weird moments they witnessed while trying to catch a flight.
#1 The Best Thing To Happen In An Airport, Ever
#2 This Pilot Was Flying His Retirement Flight And Wanted To Look Special And He Did
#3 A Sign Outside An Airport In Helsinki, Finland
Experienced traveler and blogger who has visited 39 countries, Apeksha Shah, tells We, “Airport antics start from literally checking in till baggage collection. Some small classic scenarios that I usually encounter would be someone trying to fit an oversized suitcase into an overhead bin meant for a bag half its size, much to the amusement of fellow passengers.”
A more extremely bizarre moment she recalls is a person falling onto a conveyor belt and being unable to get out. “Also, an airport is a place where people are usually either too dressed up or are literally in their pajamas, directly from their beds. I have encountered people literally carrying inflatable dinosaurs along, dressing up like superheroes or anime characters – these sights are not frequent,” she shared with us.
#4 Buffalo Airport Hires Service Dogs For Passengers To Pet. 13/10 Would Pet Again
#5 The TSA Dog At The Airport “Confiscated” A Ball From Someone’s Bag And Wouldn’t Give It Back
#6 My Dad Bumped Into His Doppelganger At The Airport In Newark
Incidents that she sees happening more frequently are often due to language barriers, “sometimes very hilarious, and which even get chaotic at times.”
According to Apeksha, immigration also seems to result in comical situations. “Failure of a person to understand the immigration process, like scanning of passport and thumb impressions, actually led to an immigration officer literally leaving his place and guiding the person through, which was quite amusing and somewhat comical with the reactions and expressions from the officer.”
She adds, “People have been found sleeping in creative places, one that I encountered was curled up on the floor under the seats in an airport.”
#7 London Heathrow Airport, May 4th 2018. May The Fourth Be With You, Well Played
Meanwhile, travel specialist and owner of trip planning agency Where to Next Travel, Amy Zainfeld, shares that she sees weird and random things in airports on a regular. “I’ve seen many dogs flying as passengers, once I saw a pampered dog in first class with her own seat, meal, and entertainment.”
#8 Flight To Cancun Was Delayed After 3 Hours For Plane Issues. Everyone Is Angry. This Guy Just Gets On The Floor And Plays Cars With His Son. I Can’t Be Mad Anymore
#9 Workers At Prague Airport Having Fun
When asked why Apeksha thinks such bizarre moments are often witnessed at airports, the need for public attention was the first reason she mentioned. “Also, we cannot deny the fact that the anonymity where people are surrounded by strangers they likely won’t see again, can encourage them to dress up like this, as airports have relaxed social norms.
Thirdly, I feel people travel through different time zones. So the disrupted routine of a traveler’s internal clock might be the reason for drinking at 7 am. Additionally, many people feel stressed by air travel. The primary reasons are adhering to tight schedules, enduring long waits, and navigating through securities and customs.”
#10 New Zealand Airport
Amy believes that weird things happen at airports because people see them as a neutral third place, “not home, not work or school, where they can feel comfortable letting their freak flag fly. Also, when you travel, there are no rules, no sense of time, calories, or money on the travel day, especially. When you enter an airport, all rules go out the window,” she explains.
#11 Denver Airport Mocking Conspiracy Theorists
#12 Maybe The Whole World Just Needs A Few Airport Beers
Apekshaa, as well as Amy believe that weird airport antics definitely make the airport a fun place to be. “Watching people amidst the hustle and bustle of travel has a quirky charm, and there’s always room for a bit of laughter and human connection. These lighthearted moments might also give a routine break to the staff, making the atmosphere more free and light,” said Apeksha.
#13 The Best Way To Never Lose Luggage
#14 This Puppy At The Airport Yesterday
#15 Airport Raccoon
Even though some airport weirdness can brighten the day of any traveler or staff member, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reminds us that it can sometimes become a threat to our safety. In 2022, the organization released a video listing the top 10 most bizarre catches of the year that people tried to smuggle through security.
In the honorable tenth place are crutches stuffed with soiled banknotes. They were discovered by agents at El Paso International Airport in Texas. “It’s hard to imagine someone thinking this idea did not stink,” the TSA said in the video.
#16 My Local Airport Was De-Icing The Frozen Plane
#17 Flying Is Rarely Fun, But These Two Strangers Put A Smile On My Face For Our 6 AM Flight
#18 Atlanta International Airport Ad. Thanks For The Anxiety
The ninth catch was an inert grenade (one that doesn’t explode) at General Mitchell International Airport in Wisconsin. Before it was discovered to be an imitation, the bomb squad was called in for help. The passenger said in a statement at the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office that he had purchased it at an air show.
The eighth peculiar find was three electric cattle prods (sticks used to make livestock move by striking or poking them) packed inside a carry-on guitar case at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. TSA’s spokesperson said he was allowed to relocate them in a checked bag, however, passengers definitely can’t carry such items into an aircraft’s cabin.
#19 All Shapes Welcome At The Jacksonville Airport Bathroom
#20 Charlotte Airport Has Rocking Chairs
#21 This Sofa In Stockholm Airport That Looks Like A Baggage Carousel With “Suitcase” Cushions
The next one was a firearm stashed inside a PlayStation console. The agent who found it noticed it in an odd X-ray picture. “This isn’t a game…” wrote TSA on their Instagram account. “Our officers at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport powered down this passenger’s poor packing choice. It’s never an idea rated E for everyone to pack firearm parts or guns in a carry-on bag.”
They also noted, ”Without going into graphic detail, gun parts, firearms, and ammunition must be placed in checked bags. You’ll control your travel destiny by declaring these items with your airline and ensuring they are packaged properly.”
#22 Porter Being A Very Good Boy At The Airport
#23 Special Arrival At Sydney Airport For Tonight
#24 New Chitose, Sapporo Airport Crew Gave Everyone A Warm Welcome Last Christmas
From fifth to second place, the list is occupied by weapons concealed inside various objects. A knife was hidden in a laptop at Richmond International Airport. Meanwhile, several firearms were stashed in medical arm sling, jars of peanut butter, and even a raw chicken. The former discovery was made in November, nearing Thanksgiving, which prompted TSA agents to write about it in a pun-filled post.
“The plot chickens as we barrel our way closer to Thanksgiving. For us, it’s a time to be thankful that our officers are always working around the cluck to keep you safe. Take for instance this “hen you believe it?” find at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
We hate to beak it to you here, but stuffing a firearm in your holiday bird for travel is just a baste of time. This idea wasn’t even half-baked; it was raw, greasy, and obviously unsupervised. The only roast happening here is this poor packing choice!”
#25 Delta Wins Tonight. Pizza For A Delayed Flight, Minneapolis
#26 Someone Checked In A Stick At The Airport
#27 When Benches Are Too Hard To Sleep On At The Airport
Can you guess what catch took first place? If you said 12,000 pills made of illegal substances hidden inside “Sweetarts,” “Skittles,” and “Whoppers” candy boxes, you would be right! Such a discovery was made at Los Angeles International Airport. The suspect was able to escape before being detained by law enforcement but has been identified, according to the LA Sheriff’s Department.
#28 Who Is This Dude?
#29 Baby Skateboarding At An Airport
#30 An Airport Lounge Has Instructions On Building A Paper Plane
#31 When Someone Takes “Sleeping At The Airport” To A Whole New Level
#32 Jersey Airport Smoke Shaming
#33 This Airport Waiting Area Has A Slide
#34 At Jacksonville International Airport, Each Airline Decorated A Tree. Had To Laugh At The Effort Allegiant Put Into Theirs
#35 In Honor Of The Anniversary Of The Last Bag Of Peanuts Offered On A Southwest Flight, Orlando International Airport Set Up This Exhibit To Honor A Relic Of Airplane Food History
#36 Seen At Saskatoon Airport. I Think They Got Their Point Across
#37 Airport Breastfeeding Suite Uses 8008 As A Passcode
#38 A Friend Of Mine Saw This Traveler And His Falcons At Doha Airport In Qatar
#39 These Shoes I Saw At The Airport In Trinidad
#40 Things Not To Try And Take Through Newcastle International Airport Security, Number 1: Sword
#41 Not Getting The Coronavirus. Spotted At The Atlanta Airport
#42 Apparently Booked A Business Trip On A Furry Flight. I Feel Like I’ve Entered A Different Dimension
#43 I’d Bet Some % Of People End Up Clicking Yes By Mistake. Wonder What Happens Then?
#44 The Airport In Portland, Oregon Has Giant Sticky Notes While They’re Undergoing Construction
#45 I Think They Are Recording Us, Bremen Airport
#46 I’m Sorry Sir, That Is Not How You Go Through Security
#47 Two Stalls, One Roll. I Guess DFW Airport Wants Me To Fight This Guy
#48 Dude Going Through Airport Security Had 2 Pizzas As Carry-Ons
#49 The Toilet Door Was Broken At The Airport, So I Decided To Use My Brain For Once
#50 Delta Passenger Put Down Mattress And Goes To Sleep At The Gate
#51 The Drains For The Sinks In The Minneapolis Airport Are Airplanes
#52 When You’re On A Flight To Fort Lauderdale
#53 She Has Actually Done What I Think She Has Done
#54 These Huge Dumplings At The Airport In Taiwan
#55 My Foreign Mom Texted Me “I Saw Hog Hogan At Frankfurt Airport And Took A Selfie With Him”
#56 This Floor Tile At LaGuardia Airport Has A House Key Embedded In It
#57 Ran Into A Guy Wearing The Same T-Shirt At The Airport
#58 Pilot Speaks To The Wife Of An Angry Passenger. The Wife Wasn’t Buying His Excuse That His Flight Home Has Been Delayed 14 Hours
#59 These Airport Wheelchairs
#60 At The Airport Right Now
#61 This Airport Uses A Roomba To Clean The Top Of The Luggage Claim
#62 Nice Try Dublin Airport. You Ain’t Catching Me Out Today
#63 Travel Companions
#64 There’s A Yoga Class At Manchester Airport Train Station If You’re Interested
#65 We All Know You Have To Have An Alcoholic Drink At The Airport, But It’s Nice They Now Got Signs Up, Making It Mandatory
#66 Was Excited To Find An Outlet Next To A Chair In The Airport, Until I Found Out It Was Just A Sticker
#67 Seriously? Found At The London City Airport Security Point
#68 This Airport Restroom Has Four Different Hand Dryers
#69 Saw This Guy At The Airport Playing Age Of Empires On His Knee, Boss
#70 This Guy At The Airport
#71 Someone Tried (And Failed) To Take A Tin Of Baked Beans Through Security At Manchester Airport
#72 The Person Next To Me
#73 I’m Never Surprised By The Things I See In The Orlando International Airport
#74 This Man At The Airport Was Wearing 3 Fedoras
#75 Met A Guy At The Airport And This Is How He Manages His Various Mac Chargers And Cables. Steve Jobs Might Turn In His Grave, Jony Ive Disapprove, But It Works For This Guy
#76 Delta Sky Club Puts A Sign For Bananas In Case You’re Confused
#77 The Airport Ad Is An Accurate Public Service Announcement For Visitors
#78 Birmingham Airport Staff Must Be Having A Laugh Sending This Out First On The Carousel
#79 Well, I’m Definitely Not In Los Angeles Anymore. Yippee Ki Yay
#80 How Many People Are Trying To Bring Marmite Through Gatwick Airport To Warrant This?
#81 Saw This Luggage Unattended At The Airport And Reported It. Was Told It Is A Part Of The Duty Free Alcohol Display
#82 Saw This Frozen Bag Someone Bought For Their Kid At Guangzhou Airport, And Something Doesn’t Look Right
#83 These Helpful Robots That Wander Incheon Airport, Seoul, That You Can Use To Check Flight Information
#84 This Step Stool At My Local Airport’s Shoe Shine Place
#85 This Amazing Airport Carpet
#86 Knives For Sale Past Security
#87 An Interesting Visitor Spotted At Changi Airport Terminal 3 Departure Area
#88 Seattle’s Airport Knows What You Need
#89 This Sign At The Airport. Mom Laughed
#90 Turning 20 Today, So I Leave You The Wisdom Of The Airport Restroom Sages
#91 It Finally Happened. I Was Prompted To Tip At The Airport Self-Checkout Station
#92 I’m Not Doing That When They Call Us To Line Up For Boarding
#93 “Delta In The Streets, United In The Sheets”
#94 I Saw This Guy In An Airport Today. His Words: “Mom Said She Wanted A Sign, But She Never Said What She Wanted On The Sign”
#95 Made Me Look Twice
#96 Airport Uses Xbox Cameras To Scan Bags
#97 New Baggage Screening Machines At Detroit Metro Airport
#98 At Stansted Airport You Can Have Your 10th Pair Of Nail Scissors Confiscated For Free
#99 That’s A Funny Airport Sign
