Warning ‘delusional' travel trend will make you miss your holiday
The 'airport theory' travel trend has been captivating TikTokers who are sceptical about the official advice handed down to passengers by travel hub bosses, but the risky strategy could come at a cost
A new 'ridiculous' trend is sweeping through the travel communities of Britain.
If you are looking for a way to add a little spice to your travels and don't mind potentially missing a flight, then you're in luck.
The 'airport theory' trend has been captivating TikTok viewers of late. The idea is to arrive at your airport of choice just 15 minutes before your flight is due to depart.
If, the theory goes, you've checked in online and are traveling with just hand luggage, it is possible to zip through security and make a beeline to your boarding gate. Time everything right, and you'll be able to saunter onto the plane without any waiting to endure.
"No stress, no waiting, just pure main character energy," Wired succinctly summarises.
The trend is at odds with the advice given by airports and airlines, which tend to advise arriving two hours or more before take-off time.
Airport theory is 'about whether or not you really need to arrive at the airport within a certain period of time to catch a flight,' Betsy Grunch, a neurosurgeon with 2.4 million TikTok followers, told CNN. 'Is it really necessary to arrive the two to three hours beforehand as recommended to make your flight?'
Betsy put the theory to the test by accident, arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta just 26 minutes before her boarding time due to bad traffic. Unfortunately, the travel hub is the busiest in the world.
That meant the content creator had to jog through the airport, finding her boarding gate right next to security. In total, it took Betsy just 18 minutes to get through.
There are those who swear by it, such as TikTok creators like Michael DiCostanzo, who document their dashes through high-traffic hubs like LAX, Atlanta International Airport and New Orleans. Some don't believe that the content creator and others like Michael are being totally upfront about the ease with which he appears to glide through the airport.
Others, such as TikToker Malia, accidentally found herself putting the airport theory to the test when her train was delayed. She managed to rush through the airport with four minutes to spare, but warned that the stress was "totally not worth it".
There are many other videos in which have-a-go airport speedsters are seen watching sadly as their plane leaves without them.
The 'airpory theory' hashtag has racked up more than 400 million views on TikTok, and seems to have caused quite a lot of havoc in the process. Google searches for 'I missed my flight what do I do' spiked 70 percent in April, when the trend first emerged.
"The best way to get through airport security unscathed is to move like you've done this a hundred times before. A little planning, the right gear, and skipping social media stunts will get you from curb to gate with minimal stress," Wired advises, before dubbing the trend a "viral delusion".
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