Woman In Russia Attempts to Check Herself In on Baggage Belt! At Vladikavkaz Airport, mistaking the conveyor belt for an escalator!
“When in doubt, always ask for directions… or risk being sorted with the luggage.”
Airports can be confusing places—endless signs, overwhelming announcements, and occasional chaos at check-in counters. But one elderly Russian traveler took disorientation to a whole new level when she mistakenly boarded a baggage conveyor belt at Vladikavkaz Airport, believing it would whisk her away to her departure gate.
Instead of fast-tracking her to her flight, the woman found herself on a slow, automated journey into the abyss of the airport’s baggage sorting area, unwittingly becoming the most fragile “carry-on” of the day.
One Small Step for Passengers, One Giant Leap for Airport Mishaps
The unnamed traveler had successfully checked in for her flight to Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport with S7 Airlines, but somewhere between handing over her luggage and finding the right way to the departure lounge, she seemed to make a critical miscalculation.
Security footage captures the moment of confusion as she confidently steps onto the moving conveyor belt near the check-in counter, standing upright like a seasoned traveler preparing for takeoff.
Oblivious to the fact that the only thing this conveyor belt leads to is TSA’s worst nightmare, she attempts to lift the plastic curtain separating the baggage screening area—presumably expecting to emerge on the other side somewhere near duty-free.
Her plan, however, quickly falls apart as she loses her balance and takes an ungraceful tumble, landing flat on her back with the dazed confusion of someone who has just realized this is not, in fact, a VIP airport experience.
As she stares up at the overhead screen still displaying her flight details, the conveyor belt faithfully continues its mission, carrying her deeper into the airport’s underworld.
At this point, the airline staff—who had been assisting another passenger and completely oblivious to the unscheduled ride taking place behind them—finally realize something is off. Unfortunately, by the time anyone reacts, her head has already disappeared into the great unknown.
The Great Baggage Escapade – What Happened Next?
As the belt continued its unrelenting duty, the woman vanished into the restricted baggage screening area, causing mild panic among airport security, who were probably not trained for this specific situation.
While no official statements have confirmed what happened next, one can only assume that:
✈️ Baggage handlers were startled to find a fully grown human coming through the system alongside suitcases and duffel bags.
🎒 Security briefly considered whether she needed a “Fragile” sticker or should be sent through for an X-ray scan.
🚨 The airport may now have a new policy that reminds passengers that conveyor belts are NOT a public transport option.
Miraculously, the traveler was unharmed and was quickly assisted back onto her feet and back into the land of the living (a.k.a. the check-in hall).
Lessons Learned – How Not to Travel Like a Suitcase
While this incident will surely go down in the Hall of Fame for Airport Blunders, it serves as an important lesson for confused travelers everywhere:
🚫 Conveyor belts are for baggage, not boarding.
👀 Always ask for directions before stepping onto a moving platform.
🛄 If your boarding process looks similar to luggage being sorted for a flight, something has gone terribly wrong.
As for Vladikavkaz Airport, sources say they are considering adding extra signage—though let’s be honest, no sign is ever going to account for this level of misinterpretation.
Meanwhile, the passenger eventually made it to Moscow—presumably taking a more conventional route to her gate this time.