Experienced traveler and blogger who has visited 39 countries, Apeksha Shah, tells Bored Panda, “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.

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."

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."

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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!”

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.