10 things you should never do at the airport

Travel prepared and you’ll enjoy your trip more.

We have said it a lot, and here we are saying it again. Because that’s true. If you follow the rules and know your rights, everything gets easier. More often that not, airports have fast-paced environment and are massive. It takes a lot of resources and precision to run an airport. There are so many things going on in the airport, things we don’t know about.

Thanks to thousands of employees, airports can run smoothly.

Yes, sometimes it can be challenging to navigate in the airport, and sometimes going from the check in counters to your gate takes a lot of time. Just a little bit of patience and good manners, and you’ll get to your gate. But not only employees have to work to keep the airport running. You have to play your part as well. Not only you must be polite and patient but also comply to certain rules.

Here is a list of things you should never do at the airport.

Things you should never do at the airport

1. Showing up late

You have to be at the airport in time in order to be in time for your flight.

Sometimes there are no queues, you get through airport security fast and everything happens very smoothly. But sometimes it doesn’t.

You never know how long will it take you today.

To get from the check-in desk to your gate.

That’s why it is recommended to be at the airport at least 2 hours before departure. In some airports and for some flights — even 3 hours before departure. Mostly you can learn this from your booking comfirmation e-mail.

Be on time, or otherwise you may miss your flight.

It will be not only stressful for you, but also for other people at the airport. You’ll only make the travel experience worse for the flight crew as well as the other passengers.

Don’t be that person!

2. Holding up the security line

Come to the security check prepared!

Put all of your liquids in a clear ziplock bag. Keep your electronic devices separated from the rest of your stuff. This will speed things up at the security check.

Also, do what you are asked to do.

If a security officer asks you to remove your shoes, do it.

If you are asked to take off your coat, do it!

Do not argue! It will just make the things worse for everyone.

3. Leaving your belongings unattended

Don’t do it!

Do not leave your belongings unattended, even if it is for a short period of time (e.g., a visit to the bathroom). Any unattended baggage will be removed by the airport police.

Always take your bags with you.

4. Losing your temper

Airports with their fast-paced environment may stress your out.

Often airports are understaffed and overcrowded. And it doesn’t help either.

That’s why it’s understandable that you might feel irritated when you are not getting the experience you were hoping for.

But you must not loose your cool no matter what!

It will produce the opposite effect of what you had in mind.

In fact, you may get in serious trouble.

5. Getting drunk

Do not get drunk at the airport!

Not only it will dehydrate you, but also can get you in trouble.

What kind of trouble exactly? Well, you could be denied boarding. Or, even worse, your name can be placed on the airline's “black list”. This means you won’t able to fly with this airline ever again.

Why such harsh measures?

It’s simple. Because it’s not fair on other passengers. To be stuck with a drunk person at 30 000 ft — not a great start of the vacation, huh?. Also, allowing a drunk passenger on a plane is dangerous as they can act aggressively and be a threat to other passengers.

6. Playing music or movies on a speaker

It doesn’t matter how good your music (or movie) is!

Believe me, nobody else wants to hear it. It goes without saying, but it’s downright rude to play music on a speaker in public places, where there are other people.

Also, don’t forget about the volume on your headphones.

Make sure you don’t disturb passengers sitting next to you in case they want to take a nap.

7. Forgetting stuff at the security

Check your belongings before you leave the security screening area.

So you don’t leave anything behind.

It may come as a surprise to you, but electronic devices and other important things things are left by passengers very often. That’s also another reason to come to security well prepared. So you can get through security faster and hassle-free.

Believe me, you don’t want to realise later on that some of your stuff is missing, and run around the airport searching for it franticly, risking on missing your flight.

8. Having an overweight bag

Pack your cabin and checked luggage with the airline's requirements in mind.

This means that the weight of your cabin and checked baggage must not exceed the limit. Also, your carry on bag must be of certain dimensions, or smaller.

If you cabin luggage is bigger or heavier, or both, and there is a weigh-in at the gate, you’ll have to pay a fine, which usually is quite high.

The same goes for checked luggage.

It gets weighted at the check-in counter. And you have to pay for excess weight.

Taking size and weight limits of your luggage seriously is a step forward to stress-free travel.

9. Ignoring the rules

Airport rules exist for a reason. And travellers must abide to those rules.

Find out what items are permitted and which are prohibited on a plane.

Pack your toiletries in a clear plastic bag. Remember, that you are not allowed to take toiletries with a volume grater than 100 ml. You must empty your pockets — take out all coins, cell phone and other belongings that could possibly set off the metal detectors. Do not carry guns and knives in your hand luggage.

Abiding to the rules will make negotiating checkpoints easier and faster.

10. Being an airport seat-hogger

Don’t be that person!

No, it doesn’t mean that you can't use that second seat to store your backpack, handbag, laptop bag or jacket. It’s completely fine when the departure lounge is not busy.

But when you see that other passengers are looking for a seat, don’t wait to be asked.

Travel prepared and you’ll enjoy your trip more!