What Is Airport Theory? Here’s What Happens If You Arrive 15 Minutes Before Your Flight.

Another day, another TikTok trend. This time, creators are testing “airport theory.” It basically means playing chicken: getting to the airport only 15 to 20 minutes before boarding time and trying to make their flight. Many creators have (supposedly) had success, too.

If this works, I think many of us would be interested. It could mean less doomscrolling at the airport gate or more time at the beach, for instance.

At the same time, let’s be realistic: With security lines, checking baggage and lots of other travelers running around, how much can we trust the airport theory?

HuffPost turned to travel experts and an airport employee for their thoughts on whether this is a realistic strategy.

When it comes to internet trends, it’s important to decipher what’s real and what’s not. Are these creators really making their flights in that little amount of time?

“Just because they show their watch doesn’t mean they didn’t change the time,” said Eli Harris, a travel adviser and the owner of After Hours Travel, a personalized cruise planning resource. “It could be an attempt at schadenfreude,” where they’re trying to set you up for failure — and getting a kick out of it.

It’s not impossible, however.

“There is no doubt in my mind people have done this successfully,” said Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going, a flight alert service app. “I myself have cut arriving to the airport with only 30 minutes before takeoff to make it on time before the door closes magically, but I also had TSA PreCheck and [an] empty airport to run through, and a flight that was in fact delayed by 10 minutes.”

So really, it might just depend on your luck (as well as the size of your airport, whether you’re checking your luggage, and a few other factors).

Travel experts and staff across the board agree: As interesting as this theory may sound — and as possible as it may be — they wouldn’t recommend it.

“[Even with] all situations lining up perfectly to allow for a late arrival, I would not suggest this to anyone, especially if they have onward travel and/or are flying internationally,” Nastro said.

“The airport theory makes for entertaining content on TikTok, but in practice, it’s more of a gamble than a strategy,” agreed Jesse Neugarten, a “travel hacker” and the founder and CEO of Dollar Fight Club, a travel membership service that helps people save on flight costs. “The airport is wildly unpredictable and one of the few places where hundreds of variables are completely out of your control.”

In his own travels, he’s seen security take less than 10 minutes some days and an hour with no warning other days.

Harris has TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, and yet he still arrives hours early, knowing that anything can happen. When he sees an airport theory post, he cringes.

“Accidents on the highway can slow down your Uber,” he said. “Trains get behind schedule or are derailed … I have experienced flight delays, but I have also had flights change to earlier times.”

Risks or concerns travel experts mentioned include:

• Missing your flight and risking the cost of rebooking
• Unpredictable delays, whether with security lines, document checks or boarding procedures
• Not getting to the counter early enough to get your bag on the plane
• Airline cutoffs, aka carriers closing check-in well before the flight departs
• The unnecessary anxiety that rushing can cause both travelers and staff
• Not getting to your destination on time
• Having to pay for an overnight hotel stay
• Missing a connecting flight

We get it: Not everyone is going to take these experts’ advice. If you do choose to try the “airport theory” trend or find yourself rushing unintentionally, there are certain best practices that may boost your chance of success.

Neugarten said people typically have a smoother experience at the airport when taking early morning midweek flights. Nastro said midday flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the least traveled days, according to TSA checkpoint number averages. Harris urged avoiding holidays, the day before a holiday and rush hour.

Harris also recommended travel insurance. “In today’s non-refundable discount environment, you don’t want to be on the hook for tickets for the flight you missed,” he said.

But again, getting to the airport with little time to spare isn’t in your best interest by any means.

“The margin of error leaves zero wiggle room,” Neugarten said. “Miss one step, like a longer-than-expected security line or glitch with your mobile boarding pass, and the flight is gone.”

Let’s talk about real best practices. How much time is enough without being overkill?

Harris usually arrives two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights.

Kate Boyer, the general manager of airports at Air New Zealand, shared: “If you’re flying domestically, we recommend arriving at the airport at least an hour before the flight’s departure time. For international flights, we recommend arriving three hours before the scheduled departure.”

However, those numbers may not be the ticket for every single flight. Again, many variables play a role. Boyer mentioned considering whether you have checked luggage, how early the carrier closes bag drop and if anyone you’re traveling with needs special assistance.

“Arriving late and expecting to jump the queue to ask airport workers to make an exception for you is a no-go as far as I’m concerned,” Boyer added. “You might think you’re ‘working the system,’ but it’s not the job of the other passengers to make sacrifices because you wanted to save 15 minutes in your day.”

To be clear, while experts don’t recommend trying out the airport theory, they do understand the interest behind it.

“We get it — most people would rather spend a little more time at home or lapping up the last few hours of their holiday than sitting at an airport gate,” Boyer said. “That’s probably why ‘airport theory’ has gained traction.”

Nastro said she personally hates arriving too early and having too much time to kill, and she finds it the more desirable option, knowing the alternative could be missing her flight.

Another good thing is getting to your gate early doesn’t have to mean sitting around bored for hours. There are things to do.

“Whether you’re traveling for leisure, work or something else, the airport can be a great place to relax, recharge or even get some work done,” Boyer said. “Most airports have a variety of shops, bars, restaurants and options for you to enjoy before your flight.”

Neugarten agreed it’s worth it to get there early, even if it’s not the most desirable option.

“Every time I’ve given myself extra time, I’ve been glad I did,” he said. “Plus, that extra time can mean snagging a better seat assignment, and of course, the peace of mind of not sprinting through terminals.”

So, you’re free to try out the airport theory if you want (or find yourself in a tough spot). But if you’re debating it, the answer is that it’s probably best not to. While a fast life hack can be great, it’s not best implemented when traveling.

“When it comes to travel, slow and steady wins the race,” Harris said. “It’s much better to watch an episode of your favorite show on Netflix, sipping a coffee, than waving to your plane as it takes off.”