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Travel is exciting, but it doesn’t always go smoothly. Between crowded terminals and the mad dash to get through security on time, even experienced travelers can feel stressed before they ever set foot on the plane.
That stress only increases while juggling carry-ons, keeping track of travel companions, and trying to follow ever-changing checkpoint rules.
But recently, one passenger unintentionally set off a viral discussion after avoiding a behavior that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers say can come across as “inconsiderate.”
What followed was a debate over what travelers should be doing once they clear security.
A Passenger’s Unexpected TSA Checkpoint Habit Sparks A Viral Debate
In a now-viral video, TikTok creator @currentdowns can be seen collecting several empty bins at a TSA checkpoint after clearing security, then neatly stacking them to the side.
The caption reads:
“Always having to start a shift at security ’cause no one cleans up after themselves.”
This video sparked a lengthy debate over whether passengers should re-stack the bins at security or leave them as is, with several TSA officers joining the discussion.
TSA Officers Applauded The Passenger For Doing What Most Travelers Won’t
The TikTok video garnered more than 1,000 comments, including responses from current and former TSA officers and airport employees who said the passenger’s habit of replacing bins addressed a common frustration.
What Commenters Wrote In Response To The Viral Video:
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“As an airline employee, this grinds my gears like put it back neowwww.” |
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“As an ex-security employee at the airport, we actually love people like you.” |
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“As an airport employee, we appreciate passengers [who] use their brain cells and put their trays back.” |
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“[People] are so inconsiderate.” |
However, other commenters pointed out that travelers are often unsure of what the correct etiquette is. One noted that their home airport specifically discourages stacking bins.
“My home state airport (Salt Lake) has a sign asking us to leave the trays on the belt and to not stack them ourselves.”
The commenter later clarified that the airport uses automated screening lanes, which explains the signage and the reason why expectations vary so widely between checkpoints.
According to the TSA, Automated Screening Lanes (ASLs) are modern checkpoint systems designed to improve efficiency and help travelers move through security more quickly.
These lanes are already in use at airports in:
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Las Vegas
- Dallas
- Chicago
- Minneapolis
- Miami
- Houston
- Newark
- Seattle
- Atlanta
- Charlotte
There’s also hope that these upgrades will encourage travelers to be more mindful of their behavior in airports across the country.
The U.S. Department Of Transportation Is Urging Travelers To Be More Respectful At Airports
The debate over TSA security bins comes just after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) began looking into ways to address rising tensions across the air travel system.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there has been roughly a 400% increase in in-flight conflict reports since 2019. In response, the DOT launched a nationwide initiative called “The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You.”
In an announcement video (shown below), Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the campaign is designed to restore basic courtesy and safety at airports and onboard aircraft.
Duffy also posed several questions he said travelers should ask themselves before and during a flight:
- Are you helping a pregnant woman or the elderly with placing their bags in the overhead bin?
- Are you dressing with respect?
- Are you keeping control of your children and helping them through the airport?
- Are you saying thank you to your flight attendants?
- Are you saying please and thank you in general?
On the flip side, the TSA recently reminded travelers that disruptive behavior at airports can lead to serious consequences, including fines of up to $13,910 and possible criminal charges.
However, viral videos like @currentdowns’ suggest that many travelers are actually choosing courtesy on their own. Despite reports of rising airport disturbances, simple voluntary gestures, like stacking security bins, show that civility hasn’t disappeared from travel.
