Whether it’s “life hacks” or “get ready with me,” TikTok is constantly leading to viral trends, but one recent trend is causing people to miss their flights.
The new trend, known as “airport theory,” has gone viral on social media and encourages travelers to show up to the airport just 15 minutes before their flights leave — despite several travel experts and even airlines advising otherwise.
The idea is that travelers can show up to the airport just 15 to 20 minutes before their flight leaves to clear security and board the plane but avoid spending precious time waiting around the airport.
However, Delta Airlines‘ comprehensive guide for check-in times at U.S. Airports suggests you should typically arrive at the airport at least two hours before your plane departs, check in at least 30 minutes before, and arrive at the gate at least 15 minutes before departure.
While some TikTokers have tested the theory with success, others have not been so fortunate.
TikToker Michael DiCostanzo recently tested the theory at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is considered the busiest airport in the world, according to Business Insider.
DiCostanzo said it took him seven-and-a-half minutes to clear TSA precheck-in and security. However, he did not check a bag in.
According to DiCostanzo, he made it to the gate in 14:57 minutes, hailing the experience “a huge win for airport theory.”
He tested the theory again at the Los Angeles International Airport where he claimed it only took 40 seconds to grab his luggage, seven minutes to clear security and three to four minutes to reach the gate for a total of roughly 12 minutes.
“Airport theory’s got me covered,” he said.
But other TikTokers would beg to differ.
The airport theory failed TikToker Jenny Kurtz.
Kurtz posted a video of her calmly walking around an airport with an iced coffee in-hand and text overlaid reading “for those of you thinking about testing the airport theory… don’t do it … missed my flight.”
She captioned the video “i would not recommend.”
And it appears she isn’t the only one.
Syracuse.com reported Google searches for “I missed my flight what do I do” have increased 60% over the past month, citing Google Trends.
According to Travel and Leisure, Transportation Security Administration spokesperson Lisa Farbstein suggests arriving at any airport at least two hours before a flight’s departure.
“We recommend that when flying domestically out of a medium to large airport that travelers get to the checkpoint two hours prior to their airline departure time, regardless of whether they are enrolled in TSA PreCheck,” Farbstein told the outlet.
“This is especially important if someone is traveling during a holiday period.”
Farbstein said several factors such as parking, time of day and where you’re flying out of can impact if you actually make your flight on time.
“Travelers need to be prepared for a line at their airline check-in counter if they are flying during a peak travel period of the day,” Farbstein said. “Get to the airport early.”
