5 Things You Shouldn’t Do in an Airport

Picture this… You’ve got your flight booked and you’re headed to the airport. Everything seems fine until you arrive and suddenly something goes awry. You’ve just committed a major airport faux pas and now you’re stuck in that dreaded room trying to explain yourself.

Over the years, airports have been the setting for many unpredictable situations, some of which have even been turned into TV shows.

Things You Should Avoid Doing in an Airport

At some point, someone is bound to make the mistake of doing something they shouldn’t in an airport.

If you’ve ever seen the movie, “Meet The Parents”, then you know that causing a scene in an airport is never a good idea. You might just find yourself in a jail cell with a not-so-friendly cellmate named Bubba, and that’s not a situation anyone wants to be in.

Questions to Consider Before Heading to the Airport

Before entering an airport, it’s wise to ponder these questions.

• Do I have anything suspicious in my luggage?
• Are my liquids within the permitted size limit?
• Am I dressed appropriately?
• Even the way you speak must be carefully considered.

Times have changed, and people are more cautious at airports due to past incidents. You might think, “Well, that would never happen to me, what could I possibly do to cause a problem in an airport?” Here are some things to avoid:

#1 Avoid Mentioning the Word Bomb, Explore, Bang, or “In My Shoe”

This is undoubtedly at the top of the list of things you should never do in an airport. Uttering any of these words could get you kicked off the plane faster than you can retract them. No one wants to hear the word bomb, especially in an airport. Not only will you regret it, but you’ll also attract unwanted attention, and who knows where that could lead you!

Note from Deb: When I was young, my dad once made this mistake. I was traveling to Colorado for figure skating training at the Broadmoore arena in Colorado Springs. Back then, we used a metal scribe for drawing circles during practice. It resembled a gun when folded up. My dad joked about it being a gun. Imagine that happening today? We’d be in big trouble!

Think of the old compasses used in school, with a pointy end for drawing and a slot for the pencil. That’s what I had. When folded, it did resemble a gun.

My dad’s joke could have landed us in serious trouble today!

Check out: Breeze Through Airport Security this Summer

2. Refrain from Wearing Sunglasses Indoors

Wearing sunglasses indoors could give off the impression that you’re a fugitive trying to conceal your identity. Being mistaken for someone you’re not can lead to a lengthy ordeal before the mix-up is resolved.

You might even get detained and miss your flight, all because you wanted to look cool. Adding a wig to the ensemble would only make matters worse. Remember, save your cool looks for elsewhere; airports are not the place for that.

Note from Deb: I’ve experienced this personally. I wear prescription glasses and often opt for prescription sunglasses. Since I’m extremely nearsighted and can’t see without my glasses, I sometimes forget to remove my sunglasses before approaching the counter. I once received a stern warning when going through immigration with my sunglasses on. That incident taught me to be more cautious about wearing my prescription sunglasses in such situations.

#3 Avoid Reaching Into Your Jacket Immediately After Triggering the Metal Detector

Even if you’re not carrying a weapon, if security suspects you are, it’s better to comply with their instructions to avoid any mishaps. It’s better to be safe than sorry and risk being mistaken for a threat.

Dave and Deb: This is a scenario we never would have thought of, but it’s a valid point.

Check out Packing for Airport Security

#4 Avoid Carrying Large Quantities of Tea Leaves in Your Bag

While many people love their tea leaves (including Dave and Deb!), carrying them in bulk could get you in trouble or even lead to your arrest. You might end up waiting for hours to be cleared for departure. To avoid unnecessary embarrassment, it’s best to leave those tea bags at home and purchase more when you reach your destination.

Note from Dave:  Our former neighbor used to bring back coffee for everyone from his trips to Jamaica. However, he had to distribute the coffee in ziplock bags because officials thoroughly inspected it. He was upset and couldn’t understand why his coffee was tampered with. The lesson learned? Bringing back large quantities of coffee from Jamaica can raise suspicions.

He learned the hard way that bringing home copious amounts of coffee from Jamaica can raise red flags.

#5 Avoid Touching the Sniffer Dog

Many sniffer dogs are trained to detect drugs and explosives, and they aren’t there to make friends. If you attempt to pet them, you could find yourself in a world of trouble. You might end up being escorted around the airport in a less-than-desirable manner or even require a trip to the emergency room instead of your intended destination.

You’d be creating an airport experience you’d rather forget and a story you’d be embarrassed to share with friends!

Note from Dave and Deb: While in Australia, we saw an adorable dog sniffing for fruits and vegetables. Although it was tempting to pet the dog, we refrained from doing so. While this dog may not have caused any trouble, we chose not to take any unnecessary risks. We avoid interacting with dogs, officials, security, or anyone unless they initiate contact. Call it paranoia, but we prefer a drama-free airport experience.

While these scenarios may not always occur, they are definitely plausible. Being careless at an airport could land you a spot on the next airport reality show, and not in a good way! There are plenty of things you should avoid doing in an airport, but for some reason, people still make these mistakes.

If you engage in any of these behaviors, don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Do you have any amusing (or frightening) airport stories to share? We’d love to hear them!

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