TSA appears to endorse outrageous passenger behavior — but could travelers really get away with it?
The TSA is no stranger to stirring up reactions on social media, but a recent Facebook post has travelers scratching their heads — and digging out their carabiners.
In the post, shared on what was apparently National Hammock Day, the agency spotlighted a traveler who had strung a hammock between two columns inside an airport terminal. “Why sleep on a bench when you can sway the stress away?” the agency wrote in the caption. “Some travelers pack snacks. Some bring books. Then there’s this legend who packed peace of mind and two carabiners.”
The tone was tongue-in-cheek, with the agency praising the “hero” for finding calm amid the chaos of air travel. But not everyone was sure whether TSA was serious — or subtly trolling passengers who might be bold enough to try it themselves.
The comment section lit up. “So TSA is recommending travelers carry hammocks?” one person asked. Another joked they were planning to call their airport ahead of time to find out which columns were “the sturdiest.” Others took a more skeptical view, warning about structural safety or musing that the traveler was probably asked to take the setup down shortly after the photo was taken.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_5jckr8lb2mav5ubsddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_9jckr8lb2mav5ubsddbH1_ iframeOne commenter even turned the moment into poetry, imagining the weary traveler waking in their hammock like a butterfly from a cocoon, announcing, “Where's Starbucks?”
The most common sentiment, though, was surprise. Many travelers admitted they’d never considered hammocking inside an airport — and now that TSA seemed to be giving it a wink and a nod, they were tempted to try.
Still, not everyone was convinced this was wise advice. “Crazy thing for TSA to post,” one person wrote. “It’s like they’re tryna set us up.”
Yahoo CreatorAlesandra DubinAlesandra (Alice) Dubin is an award-winning travel and lifestyle journalist. She has a BA from UC Berkeley and an MA in journalism from NYU. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their twins.FollowFollow
While the TSA seems to condone unacceptable passenger behaviors suggested by their recent actions, it is crucial for travelers not only to understand but also respect safety regulations. Thusly implemented measures prevent actionable incidents and keep all passengers safe.
The apparent endorsement of questionable passenger behavior by TSA raises concerns about the actual standards passengers adhere to during screenings, questioning whether they truly perceive consequences for their actions.
