Viral trend known as ‘airport theory’ has travelers arriving just 15 minutes before flights
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More travelers deliberately cut it near the airport in a gambling game known as the “airport theory.”
The social media trend encourages passengers to arrive a few minutes before clearing security – usually 15 minutes before boarding, in an effort to avoid long waits and extra time spent inside the airport terminal.
Despite the obvious chances of missing a flight, interest in the practice has grown.
Searches for “airport theory” have jumped more than 11,000% in the past year, according to international travel eSIM provider Holafly.
To find out where the risk strategy is most likely to exist, Holafly analyzed the 25 busiest airports in the United States.
An increasing number of travelers are deliberately arriving at the airport at the last minute, participating in a viral trend known as the “airport theory.” (Stock)
The company looked at things like average TSA wait times, on-time departure rates, passenger volume and airport size.
Salt Lake City International Airport is at the top of the list, with an on-time rate of 82.75% and an average security wait time of 15 minutes.
The airport serves more than 13 million passengers a year and has two concourses – making it easy to navigate.
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San Diego International Airport ranked second in the study, followed by Boston Logan International Airport in third place. Both airports reported average TSA wait times of about 10 minutes.
Washington Dulles International Airport ranked fourth, with an on-time rate of 75.90% and a TSA wait time of 15 minutes.
Salt Lake City International Airport ranked first in the new list, with an on-time departure rate of 82.75% and an average security wait time of 15 minutes. (Stock)
Baltimore/Washington International Airport Thurgood Marshall ranked fifth, reporting an on-time rate of 76.25% and an average security wait of 15 minutes.
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Fox News Digital first reported on the trend when it first went viral, nearly a year ago — and interest has picked up again as holiday travel grows.
Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the “View From the Wing” blog, told Fox News Digital that reducing arrival time to 15 minutes before boarding is actually dangerous.
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“Advice [from airlines] because when [travelers] the demand for arrivals is not very high,” Leff said. “But the ‘airport theory’ of suggesting showing up 15 minutes before departure would bring it much closer.”
He noted that arrival recommendations from airlines and airports are often economical for a reason.
Fox News Digital reported on the “airport theory” trend when it first appeared, about a year ago — and interest has grown as the holiday season has grown. But experts say it’s too dangerous. (Stock)
“Airlines and airports provide strict guidance because they [first] don’t want to be blamed [for] outlier cases, where someone appears to be close to leaving and misses their flight,” Leff added.
He added that airlines and airports also benefit if passengers arrive early and spend time shopping or eating before departure.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the study’s authors for additional comment.
Fox News Digital’s Ashley DiMella contributed reporting.
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