Travelers Are Testing the ‘Airport Theory.’ Some Are Regretting It

Is an increased chance of missing a flight worth a shot at a shorter wait at the airport?

Some travelers think so, based on the “airport theory” trend circulating on social media—even though many miss their trips and despite the advice of experts who say it’s not worth the risk. The trend, widely seen on TikTok, essentially involves a bet that you can gamble with security times and other factors, ultimately arriving at the gate just in time for boarding.

Instead of the recommended multi-hour cushion for airport arrival, videos on TikTok show people aiming for closer to 15 minutes. One TikTok user reported success despite being randomly selected for extra screening. “Airport theory is true, what can I say?” said Lexi Smith, who had time to stop for M&M’s.

“Unfortunately I will never be this chill,” wrote a commenter on another traveler’s TikTok post. “Why would I want to waste precious time sitting in an airport?” wrote another.

‘I Would Not Recommend’

Should you follow suit? “Arriving to an airport 15 minutes prior to your flight departure time will more than likely start your trip off on the wrong foot,” said Dan Velez, a Transportation Security Administration spokesperson. “TSA, as well as most airports, recommends that passengers arrive at the airport two hours before their flight to ensure they have enough time to handle all the necessary steps before boarding.”

Those steps—including stuff like checking in, checking bags, and getting through the security line, but also possible personal necessities like refilling a water bottle, getting a bite to eat, and even figuring out where to go—can all complicate things for travelers, whether they’re rushing or not.

So can the time of day, airport size and distance from security to the gate. And there’s no guarantee that airport workers or other travelers will be able or inclined to help you move through long lines quickly. Anika Robertson, assistant director of communications and media affairs at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, advises checking her airport’s website for security wait times.

Some travelers prefer the rush. There are even debates about whether services like CLEAR or TSA PreCheck invalidate the challenge. TikTok user Michael DiCostanzo, who has chronicled his experience testing the theory at various airports, said that in Atlanta, where he had TSA PreCheck and traveled without a checked bag, it took him just less than 15 minutes from door to door.

Jenny Kurtz, who documented her own failed attempt to zip into a 5 a.m. flight that she missed, was less fortunate. “I would not recommend,” she said.