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If you frequently fly, you’re probably tired of hearing it: you should arrive at the airport well in advance. The exact timing depends largely on your departure city and destination, but travelers are typically advised to be at the terminal at least 90 minutes to two hours ahead. This time increases significantly if you’re flying to a distant country like the USA. But what if you could cut that wait down to just 15 minutes?
The mere mention of it might cause your pulse to quicken, but on TikTok, there are many people committed to proving the validity of an "airport theory" suggesting that if you’ve checked in online, have no bags to check, and your flight is domestic, 15 minutes is more than enough time to catch your flight.
Not for the faint-hearted. "Traveling is a pleasure," as the poet Gloria Fuertes said. But it’s also a source of stress, nerves, and rushes, especially when flying. This is why airport operators like Aena and airlines strongly recommend getting to airports well in advance.
The exact recommended time can vary, ranging from 90 minutes to four hours, depending on the destination. However, on TikTok, some believe that, in certain instances, arriving just 15 minutes before boarding—or even take-off—is sufficient. Many are so convinced that they document their experiences online.
The phenomenon, dubbed the "Airport Theory," garners attention primarily among English-speaking passengers. Searching the hashtag on TikTok reveals several videos of users (including popular TikTokers with millions of followers) attempting to board their flights with much less lead time than airlines recommend.
The trend has gained enough traction to spill into mainstream media, with coverage from U.S. outlets like CNN, Fox News, and Wired. Some influencer videos discussing the theory, like Michael DiCostanzo’s recent post, have attracted hundreds of thousands of views.
So, what’s the proposal? Simply put, the "airport theory" suggests that you might be wasting hours at the airport unnecessarily. If you’ve checked in online and are traveling with only carry-on luggage, you might only need to arrive 15 minutes before boarding.
According to this viral trend, that’s sufficient time to pass through security, navigate to the gate, and board—without missing your flight. "Is it really necessary to be two or three hours early, as recommended, to make it on time?" asks TikTok influencer Betsy Grunch, who has 2.4 million followers.
In a recent CNN interview, Grunch recounted testing the "airport theory" when traffic and luggage issues left her arriving at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport just 26 minutes before boarding. She documented the heart-pounding race with her phone, ultimately making her flight.
Another influencer, James Shaw, conducted a more cautious experiment: he and his wife arrived at a Florida airport with the standard 90-minute lead time, then timed themselves to see how quickly they reached the gate. They made it in 13 minutes.
"I think travel can be very stressful, which is why we say, ‘I need to be there three or four hours in advance,’ but I don’t think it’s necessary," Shaw explains. Like Grunch, he only carried a carry-on and used a streamlined airport service. He admits, though, he would never try the theory for international travel, which is pricier and often has more complex security checks.
The debate continues. Does the "airport theory" work? TikTok hosts a mix of supporting and opposing views, with anecdotes from those who’ve missed flights. Beyond TikTok, data suggests the trend is prompting increased searches for "I missed my flight, what do I do?" Meanwhile, airlines still recommend arriving at least two hours early to mitigate unforeseen delays like security checks or traffic jams.
"I think it’s foolish." Airport professionals, unsurprisingly, aren’t keen on passengers arriving only 15 minutes before boarding. The reason? Risks. "Security wait times can vary significantly from one airport to another, and even from day to day within the same terminal," a spokesperson for Dallas/Fort Worth Airport tells CNN. With a couple of hours’ cushion, travelers can avoid "last-minute surprises" that could ruin their travel plans.
After conducting his experiment, Shaw admits, "I am not a fan of airport theory. I think it’s foolish. I wouldn’t risk missing a flight. It’s simply not sensible." Ultimately, it’s about balancing shorter waits with a greater risk of being grounded.
Images | TikTok
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