Travelers warn about new viral airport trend after missing their flights

Daily Mail​

5 days ago

The 'airport theory' is the latest craze sweeping social media and it sees plane passengers challenge the conventional advice of arriving at the airport several hours before a flight but many passengers have missed their flights.
The concept sees travelers arrive just 15 to 20 minutes before their scheduled boarding or departure time - using carry-on luggage and online check-in to their advantage - in the hope they can still make their flight.
While some travelers have successfully boarded their flights using this method, others have been less successful and are now warning against the risk of relying on tight timing.
In February, American TikTok user Tiffany, who goes by @momlifewithtiff, documented in a video the moment she and her husband almost missed their flight while taking on the challenge.
In an accompanying caption, she wrote: 'Definitely do not recommend trying the airport theory. Will certainly be getting to the airport 2 hours early from now on.'
Posting time stamps of the pair's dash to board from the gate at the very last few moments, she wrote at 7.59am: 'Been in line for a while already. Flight started boarding 11 minutes ago. We started asking people to let us go in front of them.'
She noted that at 8.12am, she and her husband were 'last to board' the plane, and at 8.14am, they finally settled into their seats.
Another TikTok user, Jenny, who goes by @jenny_kurtzz, took to the platform in February to share the less fortunate outcome of her attempt at the challenge.
In a video that showed the moment she arrived at the gate, only to find that her flight had departed, she added in a caption: 'For those of you thinking about testing out the airport theory - don't. Missed my flight.'
Nicole Campoy Jackson, a travel advisor at Fora Travel, told People in April that the airport theory is a gamble not worth taking.
She said: 'It only takes one stressful missed flight for you to realize this trend is pointlessly risky. The easiest way to guarantee you'll eventually miss a flight is to rely on this 'theory.'
On TikTok, hundreds of commenters shared their views below Jenny and Tiffany's videos, with passengers appearing to show support for the trend as it would ultimately enable them to 'fly for free'.
One person wrote: 'As a flight attendant who only flies for free when there's space available, thank you.'
Another commented, 'Keep that trend going! I love the empty seats,' as a third added, 'As someone who flies standby, hell yeah let's keep this trend GOING.'
Flying 'standby' means a passenger is on a list to potentially board a flight without a confirmed seat, hoping to fill any empty seats after all ticketed passengers have boarded.
It's a gamble as passengers are not guaranteed seats and are essentially waiting to see if space becomes available - meaning passengers who miss their flights due to participating in the airport theory trend are freeing up seats for those on the list.
However, many other viewers condemned the challenge, as one quipped: 'So [the airport theory] is just fancy talk for having no time management.'
Another wrote: 'My father was a pilot for 27 years. The airport theory is a myth every time.
'You may get lucky with a fluke that left you waiting but I promise 90% of the time you will miss your flight.'
A third said: 'The 'airport theory' literally only works for SMALL airports. I live in the Midwest I can go an hour or so before my flight but places like Miami, Houston, pls get there 2-3 hours early.'