If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen the clips of travelers sprinting through terminals with a phone in one hand and a boarding pass in the other. The trend is called airport theory, and it dares you to show up absurdly late and still make your flight. It’s the kind of challenge that looks thrilling when it works and absolutely brutal when it doesn’t.
Airport theory basically argues that most people arrive too early, so you might as well test how close you can cut it. The most extreme versions involve getting to the airport about 15 minutes before boarding, sometimes even closer to departure. The appeal is obvious because nobody loves sitting at a gate for hours, eating overpriced snacks, and watching the clock crawl.
The problem is that airports are a chain of small time traps, and you only need one of them to snap shut. A slow security line, a bag that needs extra screening, a kiosk that freezes, or a terminal train that is temporarily delayed can wreck your plan. Add in the fact that boarding and bag drop deadlines are not suggestions, and suddenly “close enough” becomes “too late.”
Some creators have pulled it off and made the trend look doable. Michael DiCostanzo is one of the names that gets brought up a lot, because he timed a quick run through a major airport and made it to his gate just under the wire. But other videos show the darker side of the gamble, including Jenny Kurtz sharing what looked like a missed flight after trying to play the same game.
@momlifewithtiff Definitely do not recommend trying the #airporttheory. Will certainly be getting to the airport 2 hours early from now on. #travelhacks #missedflight #allegiantair #flying #airport #airporttips #flyingtips ♬ there she goes – 🎸🪩
Travel advisor Nicole Campoy Jackson has warned that this trend is pointlessly risky, and her logic is hard to argue with. Even when everything goes right, you’re building a plan on luck rather than control. And the first time you miss a flight, you don’t just lose time, you can lose money, connections, and your whole travel day.
If there’s one moment when airport theory makes the least sense, it’s the holiday travel season. December brings heavier crowds, more families moving slower with strollers and carry-ons, and more checked luggage clogging counters. Winter weather can also trigger delays and last-minute gate changes, which turns a tight schedule into total chaos fast.
A smarter approach is to aim for a buffer that keeps you calm without trapping you at the gate all afternoon. Check in early, keep essentials within reach, and be realistic about your airport’s security lines and layout. If you want to spend less time waiting, focus on what actually saves minutes, like packing lighter and planning your arrival, instead of turning your trip into a high-stakes sprint.
Have you ever tried cutting it dangerously close at the airport, or are you firmly on the arrive-early side of the debate? Share your holiday travel style in the comments.
