The ‘airport theory’ trend, which has been going viral on TikTok since January 2025, is now causing travelers to miss their flights.
TikTok‘s popular ‘airport theory’ encourages passengers to arrive at the airport dangerously late, which has led to a surge in missed flights.
The controversial challenge has gained massive traction on the platform, with videos tagged #airporttheory amassing over 400 million views.
What is the ‘airport theory’ on TikTok?
The ‘airport theory’ suggests arriving at the airport just 15 minutes before boarding to clear security. TikTokers claim it eliminates unnecessary waiting and allows you to maximize your time outside the airport while still making your flights.
Content creator Lexi Smith tested the theory in a now-viral video. “It is currently 9:24, and my flight started boarding four minutes ago,” she said while heading to security.
Miraculously, she managed to clear security in five minutes despite being flagged for additional screening. After a bus ride to her gate, she arrived at 9:44 – just in time for the flight boarding.
Another TikToker, Michael DiCostanzo, tried the theory at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, one of the world’s busiest. He reported clearing security in 7½ minutes and reaching his gate in under 15 minutes, calling it “a huge win for airport theory.”
‘Airport theory’ is causing people to miss flights
While some TikTokers have successfully tested the trend, many others haven’t been so lucky. In one viral clip with 15.8 million views, Jenny Kurtz filmed herself casually sipping an iced coffee, confident in her ability to make it to her flight on time.
Unfortunately, her approach backfired as she arrived at her American Airlines gate after it had already closed. “For those of you thinking about testing out the airport theory, don’t do it,” Jenny warned.
Experts are also warning that ‘airport theory’ is highly unreliable. According to Amanda Parker, a travel expert from Netflights, the success of this trend depends on unpredictable variables like security wait times and the distance to your gate, which vary by airport and time of day.
She also pointed out that most airlines begin boarding 45 minutes before departure, making the 15-minute cutoff unrealistic.
The rise of this trend has coincided with a 645% increase in Google searches for “I missed my flight,” according to Netflights data.
Despite its viral appeal, experts strongly discourage following the airport theory. Airlines recommend arriving two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international ones to account for potential delays and ensure a stress-free travel experience.
This is just the latest trend that experts have flagged red, after personal injury experts warned against the viral ‘bathroom mirror’ TikTok craze.
Content shared from www.dexerto.com.