A viral TikTok trend has emerged called “airport theory” that advises arriving at the airport just 15 minutes prior to departure – the claim is that you can still make it through security and board before the doors close.
Of course most airlines will give away your seat if someone is standing by for it 15 minutes prior to departure, and close the doors 10 minutes out. So 15 minutes is a bit of an exaggeration. But the general sentiment is right, but the advice – especially for people likely to receive it on TikTok – is not.
@itslexismith testing airport theory at LAX
However, not all attempts are successful—there are clear instances where travelers missed their flights. Reportedly the TikTok trend has led to a dramatic spike in online searches for missed flights.
@jenny_kurtzz i would not recommend ✈️ #airporttheory #airport #flying #fyp #lifehack #tipsandtricks ♬ son original – tswiftmusic
I frequently say that there’s no reason for many people to show up at the airport 2.5 hours prior to a domestic flight. Airlines and airports give very conservative guidance because (1) they don’t want to be blamed by outlier cases where someone shows up closer to departure and misses their flight, and (2) they benefit from people who are there earlier, ready to travel, and spending money at the retail shops while they wait.
However, the amount of time you should arrive prior to departure depends on:
- Checked bags. That adds time to your airport journey. How much time depends on whether you’re flying coach or in a premium cabin, whether you have status with the airline, and whether there are other options like curbside check-in that you could pay for in a pinch.
- Priority security. If you have PreCheck or CLEAR or both – and these are going to be available to you – there’s less risk that security will take inordinately long to get through. The biggest risk factor in getting through the airport is the security line. There may be almost no line at all, or it may be an hour long, and while there are ways to make educated guesses about which to expect the truth is that it simply varies. Having options to use different queues helps reduce (but not eliminate) this risk.
- Whether you have special needs and that’s not just a need for wheelchair service. It includes the need for frequent bathroom stops, or the need to shop for snacks and other items to prepare for a trip. If you must stop to buy a toy to keep a child occupied during the flight, that’s a special need too. So is having time to run a toddler around and let them get out excess energy before they’re forced to stay still for the flight.
- Which airport you’re flying from since some major airports are easy to get through while others like Miami, Austin, Denver, and Atlanta can be a disaster.
- How bad it would be to miss the flight? There are some meetings that you absolutely must get to, and some personal engagements too. You don’t want to miss your annual board meeting or your wedding! But maybe if you missed the flight to see the in-laws for Thanksgiving that’s actually ok? You made the effort and were hosed by the airline – and dodge the bullet of excruciating conversation over turkey!
If you absolutely must be somewhere, travel early and with backup options to get where you’re going in time.
However, for many trips, take ordinary care. If you have PreCheck and CLEAR and you aren’t checking bags, walking into Washington’s National airport while your plane begins boarding is actually usually ok! You might not get overhead bin space but you’ll probably have no difficulty making your flight – as long as you don’t need to stop at Starbucks or for a long potty break along the way (they have lavatories on planes).
If I want to be leisurely about it, I’ll leave home around 90 minutes before my flight. That way I’m comfortably walking into the airport an hour out, which is great even if I’m checking bags (at elite bag check, or pay for curbside – American outsourced its curbside check-in and there’s now a per bag fee which of course trades off with tips for staff). Austin airport’s security situation has gotten quite bad, with only a single checkpoint offering TSA Pre. Nonetheless, that’s plenty of time to clear security in the worst case and make it to the gate prior to boarding commencement. But I could easily shave that down 20 minutes, and my worst case scenario becomes having to gate check my bag.
It all comes down to knowing how long the different pieces of the journey are likely to take, how much buffer your planning gives you, and just how bad it would be if you suffer a two standard deviation event along the way.
Well, if one ever wanted proof that Tik Tok influencers are idiots, Q.E.D.
Well, if one ever wanted proof that Tik Tok influencers are idiots — Q.E.D.
Anyone stupid enough to try this without knowing the realities of airports gets what they deserve.
Please keep doing this tiktokers. It’ll be a massive help for me to utilize my standby flight benefits better.
Gary, I really like your posts. But today’s was disappointingly US-centric. I don’t know if most of your subscribers fly US domestic most of the time.
In my country, Canada, there is a verified traveler program, but you are only eligible to use it if you have a NEXUS card. There is no domestic equivalent of TSA pre-check. Thus the advice associated with how long it takes to get through security is not really applicable in Canada.
Canada’s largest airport by number of aircraft movements per year is Toronto Pearson (YYZ). This website tracks the current wait times for security (it’s Wednesday at 12:17 EST when I am writing this): https://www.torontopearson.com/en/airport-wait-time-dashboard
“I get my news and information from TikTok!” ( or facebook, or insta or ‘X’ or “IdiotsSocial”)
Instant disqualification from voting in any US election.
“TikTok And Find Out.”
Just one of many downsides to getting your education from social media. Makes me laugh.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve done a complete 180 on my philosophy about airports. I now show up a couple of hours early, and am likely to check my bag even if it’s a rollaboard. So much less stressful. I usually fly Delta and have lounge access which certainly helps, but I think I would do it anyway
I blame a lot of where we’ve ended up today on the weaponization of social media to divide and distract us from holding those that abuse power to account. Yes, ignorant viral ‘trends’ like this are absolutely the outcome. Now, watch as we tariff our allies and aid our former adversaries. Insane.
The later I depart for the airport the more stress I feel. I’d rather waste half an hour by arriving too early and avoid the stress.
Walk into a small, regional airport and you’re probably going to be ok walking in the door (landside) 45-50 mins before the flight leaves – if you have precheck. Its true of some larger airports as well (if you know the place well). That said, you can get badly burned too. Even some smaller airports can get you (BTV took forever early one morning, for example). And don’t get me started about DEN, MCO or ATL where the TSA can take an hour even with preCheck. I had ATL take nearly an hour with preCheck and CLEAR. It was that bad, because all of the terminals use the same screening area.
ORD or LAX, on the other hand, have multiple locations to get through TSA and access airside with the ability pass between terminals airside. You have to know stuff like this before you decide to cut it close and be “efficient” with you time. Because you may well be faced with the irony of how saving 30 minutes can end up costing you several hours and big bucks on another flight.
@AngryFlier — So true though, some of these airports, like ATL, wow, I’ve never seen security lines so long. Not to mention, you need to know when to ‘dance’ between the lines. Like, even if you have a First/Business class ticket, CLEAR, and PreCheck, if you’re in a rush, and there’s an open line, I’m fine taking off my shoes and bringing out my laptop, even if they won’t honor PreCheck benefits, especially if it’s really the difference between making or missing a flight.
@1990 I don’t blame social media. I blame the idiots who are dumb enough to believe what they read. The dumbing down of our society.
It’s official! Relying on social media for news and education and listening to 22 year old “viral video addicted” influencers DOES make you dumber.
@AngryFlier
Sometimes I wish all airports were designed like SFO or DFW with airside connections between all terminals. You get those odd ones like BOS terminal A or ORD terminal 5 that don’t connect airside to the rest of the airport and will definitely mess up a first time user.
I’m going to post on TikTok that I’m the new Commissioner of the IRS and that I need everyone using TikTok to send me $100. I’ll bet that the dolts who use TikTok will do it.
Frankly TT should be banned, not because of being a CCP tool, but the sheer stupidity of most of the content.
Looking for a reason why the public has become so ill-informed and ready to believe the stupidest shiite? TT and Twitter and FB. Don’t patronize them.
Tik Tok is the 1970s version of Acid. And in the 1970s not very smart people dropped acid. The same can be said of people that take life lessons from Tik Tok.
And you can be even dumber by throwing coffee at the gate agent when you arrive at T-10 and think that will get your on the plane.
If you’d like to enjoy your Tik Tok experience on an elevated, Earth-forward flight, please consider Delta.
@David — Idiots are nothing new. It’s the lies that concern me. Here, a silly prank causes some idiots to miss their flights. ‘Fool me once…’ Ok, this is ‘limited’ harm. Fine. Whatever. Sucks for them.
But, historically, new ‘mass media’ technologies, such as the internet and social media, as with television, radio, and the printing press before, and perhaps artificial intelligence next, are abused by bad actors who seek to obtain and keep power unjustly–sometimes it’s just to ‘profit,’ but other times, it’s to enact violent ‘revenge’ on their ‘perceived’ enemies–regardless, it often leads to great harm. I want accountability for these lies, so we do not face greater consequences as a society.
@Matt — I enjoy your ‘consider Delta’ comments. Keep climbing!!!
If one is getting their ‘expert’ travel advice (or any other advice, for that matter) from TikTok, then no offense, but they’ll get what they deserve.
I agree…2+ hours ahead isn’t necessary for most folks, but 15 minutes is crazy (not to mention if you aim for that and hit a traffic snag on the way…but I’d guess most TikTok enthusiasts probably aren’t thinking much ahead of the right now anyway…).
GenX has a lot of the blame here. They raised a generation of gullible morons and led the development of the apps that gave the gullible morons a place to congregate. I pity the world that will have to deal with the offspring of these chimps.
People who take life advice from influencers pretty much deserve whatever they get.
As to arriving at the airport an hour early, that is highly variable on working out well. Last year my wife and I were taking a dawn flight and I arrived home about 2 hours before departure to find her asleep because she had set her alarm wrong and hadn’t packed, showered, or prepared in any way. Long story short she told me to just go (it was a business trip for me) and I arrived at the airport about 75 minutes before departure. Due to impressive ineptitude by the airline – like making the family of 8 people just ahead of me readjust one pound from a suitcase to another – I got to the counter to check my bag 43 minutes before departure. The same rule stickler told me that it was too late for my checked bag and that I should have arrived at least two hours before departure. Ultimately I picked some things out of my suitcase, dropped my suitcase back in my car, then barely made my flight. Episodes like that are why I always try to arrive at least 90 minutes before departure. The stress of wondering whether you’ll make a flight just isn’t worthwhile.
My housekeeper hadn’t flown in 20+ years (if ever…I sort of think it’s never) and her teenage kids had never flown. Family going to Florida on Spirit on a Friday afternoon…I casually asked when she planned to go to LAS for departure as they had 5 suitcases. She says” we’re going to take an Uber 45 minutes prior to the flight”
Stunned, I advised luggage had to be checked in 1 hour in advance.
They ended up leaving 2 hours before the flight and barely made it.
People will listen to anything but common sense.
Usually 1-2 hours for domestic (airport/weather/traffic/# of flyers) dependent. For international, I try to show up about 30-40 minutes before check-in opens.
That’s my general rule of thumb. Each situation is different.
@Jacobin777 — Hmm. So, you ‘line-up’ 30-40 minutes before check-in ‘opens’ for international departures? I suppose lines for Economy can really stack up (but hopefully never more than 30-60 minutes waiting, and if more than that, it sounds like a poorly-run airline).
Some airports are notoriously inefficient (but again, in most cases, security and exit immigration should not be more than 30-60 minutes).
So, 3-4 hours before departure is usually ample time, but it can be a lot of waiting, especially if you do not have status, a higher class of service, or a lounge to make it a little better.
I’d say arrival immigration is where ‘times’ are so wildly different depending on the airport and country. Like, Puerto Vallarta at peak times is one of the worst (1-2 hours to enter, minimum).
@ AngryFlier It’s true that all the concourses are funneled through one (domestic) terminal, but there are four screening areas, not counting the international one. I’ve learned to always check atl.com/times/ which shows wait times reasonably well. If you have TSA Precheck, you can go to any of them. Even if not marked Precheck, they will hand you one of those cards without you having to ask. The Lower North area is often worth the short extra walk. It has a Clear lane and also the older, faster scanners rather than the slow Analogic ones.
At ATL, that is.
@Jinxed_K: So true about BOS and ORD (after I posted, I knew that someone would call me on T5…but I usually fly UA or AA so it rarely impacts me). On an average day, I pass through security at ORD T1 in an average of 5 minutes. Seriously. DFW is also a pleasure and SFO is usually good, though sometimes you need to switch to another screening area. IAH is another large airport that is usually pretty quick to get airside.
@Randy Cobb: Didn’t know about the Lower North area and will have to remember that. I usually just walk in from the airtrain (from rental car area) and go to PreCheck and it’s often horrible.
I fly out of Charlotte. Have to get to the airport almost two hours early because the security lines are insanely overloaded, the terminal is too small, and half of it is under permanent construction. Showing up 20 minutes early at CLT when it’s busy you can’t even get from the front doors to the end of the security line.
how bout if I jump for a rope ladder as it’s going down the runway?
Because of my highly classified job when I was in the United States Air Force, I am still a believer in my Dad’s WWII United States Navy mantra, “Loose lips sink ships”. Therefore, I do not participate in any social media. However, those that do participate with a “if it’s on the internet, it must be true” attitude wind up being rudely awakened as they show up at the gate AFTER the flight is closed out and wonder what went wrong. These are the same people that, sadly, do not monitor their children’s access to “anything and everything” and wonder why the child tragically died following some “dare” found on Tick Tock Crap, FaceCrook, Instacrap and the like. As “BC” said, they give me a better chance of using my flight benefits!
People‘s idiocy never ceases to amaze me …
That was dumb. Dumber for you to even post it.
According to airlines, as a general rule, passengers should be at the airport two hours ahead of time, or three hours ahead for international flights. They also tell you that programs such as TSA Pre will save you time. If you want to know the general recommendation for people with TSA Pre, according to airlines, passengers should be at the airport two hours ahead of time, or three hours ahead for international flights.
If you need to catch a plane at Las Vegas, the rule is the same, even though you might find that once you check your bags, you need to get on a train to get to the terminal, extending the time you need by another half hour. That’s in addition to the time it still takes to get to the gate once you get off the train. In a smaller airport, the walk might be a few minutes.
It shouldn’t be too hard to model the data for each airport and figure out how much time it normally takes on given days at given times to get to gates, with separate numbers for those with Clear or TSAPre. It shouldn’t be hard to go from that to the amount of time it would take to get to the gate a half hour early on days that are much worse than average, not including major holidays that could have separate recommendations.
It’s nice having an article saying that the rules are wrong, but it’s not going to tell people when to show up. In the meantime, if I follow the rules, I generally have at least an hour in the airport lounge before I need to get to the gate. That might give me time to eat, or shower before an international flight.
One hour is just not reasonable at any big or busy airport I regularly take 15 minutes to get through PreCheck or Clear and then have to 20 minutes to your gate. You are giving people advice that will cause them to miss flights.
My friend who loved to get to the airport an hour pre flight missed 3 flights last year and I ran out of sympathy.
Once again Gen Z trying to live like Gen X youth but the 90s are over. You should do a series on pre 9/11, pre shoe b#%^er, pre liguid issue, travel to educate them.
For flights at LAX I usually leave about four hours prior to the flight. For international flights using a rental car one way, using a shuttle or using Uber all take around the same amount of time. I usually get to the airport around three hours before the flight. Getting through check in, through security and getting to the gate takes some time so I am lucky if I am at the gate two hour early. I had a shuttle get stuck in traffic from an accident that delayed my arrival at the airport for more than an hour over normal arrival. Fortunately I was there before the checked baggage cutoff time but it was too close for comfort. On domestic flights I travel to a fly away location, park and take a shuttle. That takes more time but costs less. The extra time is why I also start out about four hours before flight time. Great for TikTok making flights less crowded.
Speaking for every legitimate non-revver, please continue to do this and don’t ever stop trying it. Show up 10 mins prior, really really push the boundaries.
If you jump off the Brooklyn Bridge between midnight and 04:00 you will float gently down to the East River, really, it was on Tik Tok. Just try it
Is it possible to make it through airport security in 15 minutes? Sometimes. Should you bet on it? No. I’d rather spend time in the airport on my phone than have a someone tell me I missed my flight.
Also, I find it hilarious to think that some flights are okay to miss. I already paid $150/ticket. If I don’t want to see the in-laws, we’re not buying tickets in the first place. Why not just light $300 on fire?
And, if you’re running late, don’t stop to get coffee or you may have to throw it at someone to board.
Pre-check is not always short and fast, I was at lax pre-check line was not moving at all. One time in MIA ,global entry was 5 miles long.
But I love these idiots tiktokers you are more than welcome to show up 15 mins prior door closure so I can get on the flight on my travel benefits.
Never a good idea to show up at the gate less than 30 minutes to departure. While boarding is in progress should be the latest.
Ten years ago I was stranded in SFO as a non rev going to JFK and 2 first class passengers were in the lounge and showed up at the gate 2 minutes before the doors closed. Today their seats would have been gone. Why wait in an airline club just to get on a plane ? Same when I’m abroad . I always get to the airport 3 hrs early. Otherwise I’m sitting in my hotel room just waiting to go to the airport.
@1990:
Again, as I mentioned, every situation is unique. I’m familiar with the airports which I frequent: ORD, LGA, JFK, SFO, PDX, DOH and DFW. I’ll also do some quick research with an airport I’m not familiar with (such as FRA, CDG, KUL, DEL, AUH, etc.).
Fortunately I have status with One World (fly AA/AS 95% of the time domestically) and I often travel internationally in Business Class so I’m not (usually) worried about lines, etc. If I’m traveling with my family (wife/kids) then I’ll make adjustments depending on where we are.
Also, notice I said I “show up”, not line up. 🙂
This explains how we got Trump as president — believing lies on TikTok, no attention to reality or facts, and/or no ability to think.
Yes, please. I am an airline employee who is sitting on standby in the gate. Hoping to get your seat. If you show up on time I get bumped and I don’t get on the flight.
Yes, please. I am an airline employee who is sitting on standby in the gate. Hoping to get your seat. If you show up on time I get bumped and I don’t get on the flight.
Well this explains the uptick in people showing up late. I work for an airline. There is a reason for the 2 hr early rule. 1. The ticket counter/bag check typically closed 30 mins before departure, this is to allow all bags make it through TSA screening (yes your bags are screened) and put on the right cart to go to the right plane. We need to give that count to the bag room 30 mins. 2. The Gate to the jet bridge closed 15 mins before departure. Airlines get fined by the min they are late. Once passengers are loaded there are a number of things that need to be done before they take off including a manual head count, verifying infants and pets in the cabin and reassigning seats for those unable to perform duties such as emergency exits. The luggage guys also have to make sure all the gate checked luggage and strollers make it under the plane.
It may seem like an inconvenience for you to be at the airport but it’s more of an inconvenience to the 150+ passengers sitting on the plane waiting for you. We will assign your seat to a standby if you have not arrived at the 15 min mark. If you show up to the ticket counter with checked bags and ice shut down my computer and given the bag count there is absolutely nothing I can do. The computers will not boot back up to add luggage for that flight. You can demand to speak to my manager, write down my name and call corporate but the answer will be the same. The times are given for a reason.
All that being said if you aren’t checking bags and hr is usually ok in smaller airports to get through security but I would never suggest less than that.
Use your common sense to this advice from Tic Tok. I fly from Hartford, CT. to San Jose, CA annually. TSA lines are a lot longer than Hartford and it can take up to 30 minutes to get through because San Jose TSA seems to be pickier about what’s in your carry on luggage. Right there you would have missed your flight.
The fact that you have to write a column telling people things to consider to do this gives me zero confidence in the TikTok generation’s mental ability
As someone who mostly flies standby, i approve of this trend
@Jacobin777 — Thank you for responding. We do travel quite similarly, actually. Also OneWorld Emerald, so those benefits do help, especially abroad. DEL Terminal 3 (the international one) is a good example of an airport that I prefer to be at ‘early’ because even in Business Class it can take awhile to check-in, proceed through exit immigration, security, and the gates can be far away. At least they expanded that Encalm lounge to add (paid) sleeper chairs, and it is nice to get some fresh masala dosas in the mornings, if you can manage access there. And, very true, it all depends who you are traveling with, alone, spouse, kids, elderly family, etc., that makes a HUGE difference.
It depends on the airport and time of day. At ATL during Thanksgiving rush the security line can exceed an hour and a half.
Admittedly this isn’t recent, but in 1991 in Burlington I showed up 2 hours before flight time. I was the only person at the ticket counter. I started walking to my gate and discovered that the security checkpoint was closed. It only opened an hour before the next flight out.
At BWI my wife had a 6 a.m. flight. So I dropped her off at 4 a.m. and got a message a bit later that the ticket counters and security lines opened at 5 a.m. so we then started showing up just before 5 for the drop off the next times she took that flight.
It is sad how far the dummying down of Gen Z has gotten. Glued to their phones endlessly watching TT. Keep it up, at least you will learn the hard way how things really work.
Who the heck would take advice from TikTok
I used to be one of those people who mocked others who would get to the airport extra early. That is until I missed my flight because an object fell off a truck in front of me and shattered my windshield. Now, I arrive early and relax before my flight.
@1990 – No worries! Having status while flying economy with family makes a huge difference – at least to us and that is why I’m still loyal to One World/AA. All the small stuff makes a difference.
Fortunately I haven’t had too much of a problem at DEL the past 2-3 years, even when I have to switch terminals and carriers (such as AA JFK-DEL and Indigo to DEL-PAT airport and return).
Yes you can do it! Break the rules! I fly free on standby and will gladly take your seat! Be cool and follow TikTok.
I know AUS is such a mess lately, between rapid expansion and the shortage of TSA agents who can’t afford to live in Austin.They also test out a lot of TSA changes with AUS. But I still feel so lucky to have it as my home airport. Almost all local food options, only one terminal (not counting the “side airport” as I call it), taxiing is fast, and 95% of the time it takes me less than 5 minutes to get through TSA PreCheck.
That said there is some strategy; I don’t fly out on Thursday or Sunday afternoons or Monday mornings; I like morning flights; I almost always book with two backup flights later in the day. And I’ve adjusted my arrival time from “insanely late” to “arrive 10 minutes before boarding” mostly so I can snag some juiceland or tacodeli before the plane. But the only time I’ve missed a flight in years was when I forgot trump was coming to town and the highways were literally shut down.
I miss flying out of National sometimes – you can’t beat their efficiency! – but give me Austin’s food every time. It’s the only airport I’ve ever actually not minded being in.
If your “job” is *Influencer* then you don’t really have a job. You have an incessant , unhealthy need for attention.
What kind of idiot takes travel advice from TicToc or whatever it’s called? This fixation on when to arrive at the airport is ridiculous. Experienced flyers know that anything can hold up a security line, even a priority one. Wasting time and money rebooking a missed flight is not a good thing. Get there early, set up a nest at an empty gate and get some work done … or just read a book. Oh that’s right, nobody reads books anymore. They prefer to waste time reading inane websites.
This is hilarious!!!!
Grow up people and stop listening to social media for advice. I wish they would lose their money instead of possibly getting rebooked. How stupid is this younger generation to think they are so entitled to be able to pull this off.
@jsn55 — Are you doing a purposeful mispronunciation ‘schtick’ and/or a pretend-to-not-know-what-something-is-called ‘bit’? Because, it’s no better than when Nancy P did it: ‘Tic-tac-toe’. Oof. Yeah, I’mm’a go out on a limb and guess you don’t like the former Speaker much either. (Nobody does, mostly because of her blatant insider trading.) And yea, I don’t give a rat’s ass about Tick Tock, either–or the fools who trust it for ‘advice,’ much less Facebook or any other social network. It’s like you’re saying: ‘Wait…people can ‘lie’ on the internet? What!’ But, don’t you dare defame Gary or VFTW…we got only ‘experts’ on here. Psh. Live a little.
Never underestimate the stupidity and gullibility of many Americans.
As an exemplar, 49.8% of those who voted [34% of eligible voters went to the polls] chose a candidate who repeatedly promised that “inflation will end on day one and prices will plummet on everything from gas to groceries.” All in a free market economy.
AHHHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!!
If you’re stupid enough to show up 15 minutes before your flight, you’re too stupid to fly. Period.
The airports I go through most often are JFK, LaGuardia and, Istanbul airport .
I have precheck, use carry-ons only, and am set up to go through security long before I get to the scanner. Sometimes the system works and I am at my gate or the lounge at JFK within 20 minutes. But, I follow the airport guidelines about arriving at the airport at least two hours before my domestic flights and three to four for international ones. There were times I just made boarding. People who take advice from tick tock deserve everything they get.
Anyone listening to advice from tic Tok is a blooming idiot.
@M.K.M. The Perspective — Yup, He promised to ‘fix everything’ on ‘Day 1,’ and now it’s Day 46. Many ‘swing’ voters said that they voted based on the ‘price of eggs’–yet, those prices are now 2-3x higher (not lower), if ever ‘in stock.’ I wonder if they realize they’ve been conned–probably not. And we know that there is and has been a bird flu affecting egg supply, and that solutions do ‘take time,’ but that was not what was promised–he promised ‘Day 1’ and that didn’t happen. How He was given another chance to screw us after all He did the first time (namely, the pitiful pandemic response, and His January 6th, 2021, attempted coup, really stick out to me), is still beyond me. I guess we all ‘deserve’ to suffer so that He can be our king again.
Gads…
Why would you jeopardize your travel by listening to knuckleheads
Just another example of people being idiots.
and THIS (TikTok skit) explains why we have the POTUS we have.
Taking advice from TikTok is almost as intelligent as responding to texts (supposedly from your bank) asking for your login credentials and social security number. But hey, you do you…. LOL
Maybe listening to TikTok is just one step less stupid than listening to X or TruthSocial.
Maybe folks who listen to any of the three shouldn’t be flying, much less voting!!
Every nonrev says, “More of this, please!”
I appreciate watching the ‘entitled’ who are denied boarding while nonrevs are being boarded.
It’s a Chef’s Kiss when they also get to watch as their bags are removed while the a/c is still attached to the jetway.
Them: You won’t delay the flight for me but you will delay it to pull my bags?!
Agt: Heck yeah, Princess!
Funny all the people blaming all tt people for being dumb watch CNN and MSM for “accurate ” information … play stupid games win stupid prices !
While every airport is different as are the first flight of the day, when to get to the airport will vary and never has 15 minutes before takeoff is smart. Then again, listening to someone on social media is probably not the best advice. Even folks on this forum is giving poor advice since there are 5:00 flights out of BWI and the security line opens before 5AM. That is why you don’t want to use SM as a fact source, many times people are either just poorly informed or trying to screw people up
Must be the same people who voted for trump because of some influencer or podcasters. BIG FAIL.
The only thing more stupid than Tik Tok are the morons who believe what they see on Tik Tok
Internet “intelligence” < wisdom
Well. I say… Let’s make America great. Strengthen our borders. Get rid of the illegals.
Well, if its on Tik Tok, it must be true!
If you are listening to someone you don’t know on tik to for travel advise you are some kind of stupid. The internet is ruining the world.
“If you never miss a flight, you’re spending too much time in airports.”
I’ll take this advice, from a Nobel Prize winning economist, George Stigler, over TikTok… but it is true. Simple math.
I’ve missed two flights. One was road construction, the other was (intentionally) for a girl. I’ve come close a few times – a border control issue with a faulty passport led to a 15 minute departure delay in HBA, but thankfully Air New Zealand waited for me.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/case-missing-your-next-airline-flight-180951650/
This really only works if you have KCM and good running shoes.
That said, please keep doing this GenZ, you’re making my commute easier!
p. s. Stop blaming GenX for this social media nonsense. Zhang Yiming (ByteDance) is 41. Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) is 40.
These are millennials.
Elon Musk is 53, but we have officially kicked him out of our generation. He gives off serious Boomer vibes.
One more thing: it’s perfectly reasonable to give yourself additional time to get though security and locate your gate (which will certainly be at the very end of the concourse.) However, once you locate your gate sit down and relax. Hovering around the boarding lane is annoying to everyone. You’re in Zone 8. You can probably have a steak dinner before it’s time for you to board.
Airline employees have an ugly term for this. (Not going to repeat it. If you know, you know.)
@Peter Westwood — This is not generational warfare. It’s class warfare. The oligarchs weaponized social media from a town square to a dystopian circus—all so they distract us while they steal.
But anyway, on airport etiquette, you know there really isn’t really any set rule. Also, it’s not that pejorative or offensive because ‘gate lice’ isn’t always a bad thing. Some airlines actually request that passengers line up at the appropriate zones to facilitate a more efficient boarding process.
Not everyone is going to conform to our personal expectations—that’s fine. You do you. They’ll do them. And just because they’re younger than you, it doesn’t mean they won’t board ahead of you in Zone 1. Let’s try to be more kind, less cruel to others.
Anyone doing this has a smooth brain. Like literally smooth as a marble
Only happens to the dumb 25 and under crowd
Why is this news? And do people really post videos of themselves missing a flight? Lol, what a waste of the internet.
Never take advice from those who don’t have to deal with the consequences.
My apartment in Phoenix was next to the airport.
From locking my door, to gate at T4 A gates would be 13-16 minutes walking and sky train.
T3 is 15-20 minutes.
In addition to pre check/clear always have access to the 1st class/priority lane.
This is just another example of the lack of critical thinking and basic common sense that is becoming a societal norm. So many people seem to be mindless lemmings waiting for someone else to tell them how to think, and they just do what they’re told.
I don’t know if it’s poor education or misguided devotion to talking heads on screens, but whatever the cause, people seem to be less and less capable of effectively thinking for themselves.
If their lack of intelligence gets them into a bad situation, they just make a video documenting their stupidity and find solace by posting it on SM. It’s a self-supporting stupidity cycle.
These lemmings are more than a little frightening if this is the future.
Omg people really are completely gullible and brainless. But sure get all your information from other brainless people on a social site. Yikes
Everyone, this one trick guarantees a first class upgrade. Every time!
Show up at the gate 10 minutes before flight time, or less. Guaranteed first class upgrade because they gave away your seat to a loser standby like me, trying to get home sooner. If you reach your gate with more than 5 minutes to spare, hide out behind the trash cans, so the agent can’t hand you a boarding pass and make you sit with us poors. The horror Pretend! Just pretend you’re a janitor or soemthing and refuse to take the economy class boarding pass.
And when everyone at the gate points fingers and laughs at you, you can make a tiktok and score bigly on engagement.
You can pay for your next flight with the views abd heart-reactions.
See? Tiktok rulez!
Follow me for more tips on scoring free *t.
Your theory might work for you as long as most other people don’t follow it, but if 20-30 people consistently walked up at the last moment with bags to be gate checked, I bet the airlines quickly stop rewarding that behavior by refusing liability for getting the bag on the flight or delivering at the other end.. It is by most people “following the rules” that makes it possible for others to take advantage of the system, but do you really think an airplane could be boarded in 20-30 minutes if everyone showed up late? The answer is NO. Stop treating getting there late as a way to game the system and be thankful that sometimes everything might still go okay on those occasions when you are legitimately running late.
Absolutely a trend of buffoons.
But it does make me chuckle seeing all these “Gen Z morons will follow anything they see on TikTok,” as if other generations aren’t brainwashed by social media and news outlets. Be smart enough to see your own deficiencies or you’re just as hopeless.
I suspect some.of the advice has to do with making sure you get to the airport on time. If you focus on departure, you plan differently than if you’re thinking about 2.5 hours before a flight.
Last time I was in Salt Lake my scheduled Uber just never materialized. Thankfully I had planned to be early – this gave me enough time to download Lyft, recover my account and book a trip to the airport. Arrived at the gate just as my group was being called.
Have I sprinted Home Alone style through the airport while getting a “last call for Kate” over the intercom? Sure. Was I just getting in line at Tsa? Yes. But, I can 100% guarantee I wasn’t doing it for shits and giggles. IF you make it, and I mean by the grace of God. You’re the sweatiest, most insane looking person on the plane. Not to mention the walk of shame to your seat or trying to find somewhere to stuff all your shit while everyone stares at you. Airport rules, like chugging beer at 8 am are scared and should be treated as such!
Only a moron would post a politicized comment on this article…
I was gonna say if you take advice from TikTok , you’re probably special needs, but that would be a disservice to actual special needs people.
If I left my house 90 mins before my flight I’d have a heart attack. I don’t see any good reason not to be early. I can work, read email or even a book wile waiting
I will continue to show up 2 hours early, I will continue to check my bags (even though after June Imma have to pay for it), I will continue to use TSA precheck, and I will continue to have a stress free travel experience. Hell, now with SWA getting rid of what made them special, I might try first class!
First of all you new age kids are idiots but thanks cause that’s me getting your seat on stand by itdiots. 2. clears is a waste of money! Anything can happen on the way and when you get to the airport where I’ve actually seen tsa get shut down for a period of time causing delays why put yourself through this. Southwest, United, American will leave with out you and will not put you on the next flight if you decided to be rude. They will absolutely give your seat away. I’ve taken plenty who think this ok. But thinking that’s it’s ok to get there just on time will cost you money in the long run stop thinking your so smart. When you start flicking with the faa they are not nice people .
I mean 15 minutes is crazy but depending on the airport you don’t have to get there 2 hours early if you’re going out of Burbank or Santa Barbara or something like that there’s no way it’s going to take you two hours to get to your gate, seeing as though there’s like two terminals and they’re like maybe 100 yards long I don’t even think they’re that long
*Laughs in ATL* Good luck with doing that here! It better be just you, the simplest backpack, and some decent slip on sneakers. There is CLEARLY no time to check in bags (if you were crazy enough to bring any), pray the TSA line only eats up 80% of your time, your flight better be on T concourse (the one immediately after TSA) or it’s the train for you. Pray AGAIN that you didn’t miss that or you’re using those decent sneakers to RUN! But hey, I load planes and I’ve noticed an uptick in Standby and Buddy tags lately. It’s gotten a bit harder post Covid with how many ppl have been traveling. NOW? Whenever we see zero pax on our end and the number goes back up to 3, we know those are standbys/buddy(s) getting on. Which is fantastic! Really appreciate it yall! Keep doing the good Lords’ work! ✨️✨️♥️
How dumb are people just “testing the theory”… no wonder this country is in the hole right now! People, get a book and some common sense!
You go Kate!
Beauty of my home Airport there is token in the United service so Delta is the only game in town. I leave for the airport about 40 minutes before the flight and I’m through security about 35 minutes before the flight no check bags.
This is terrible advice. No big deal if you miss your flight? You’re out the money you paid for it, there are no refunds for missed flights. If you run into issues and the airline doesn’t prevent you from boarding, you’re delaying the other passengers. Arrive early, take responsibility.
I usually aim for 45 to 60 minutes before the flight for domestic. I’ve gotten better about actually hitting those times, rather than constantly being late, but even back then, I can count on one finger the number of times I’ve missed a flight. It’s all about knowing your airport.
It’s also about time, stress management, and financial situation. If you don’t value your time, are unable to deal with small amounts of stress and/or cannot afford to pay the fees for missing, then waiting 2-3 hours in the airport seems like a better option. Otherwise, that waiting is just wasting. As I get older, I’m much more sensitive to people and places wasting my time.
Walking in to the airport “as your flight begins boarding” is dumb. Not just because they can give away your seat, but also because (I know most folks don’t realize this, and I imagine not a single TikTok content producer does) flights can leave early.
Yes, they can, and I’ve had it happen to me. Obviously the airlines prefer this not to happen, because they will then be on the hook to make arrangements for anybody who gets left behind, but the decision whether and when to leave is ultimately exclusively the Captain’s, and if he decides to leave early (because of wind or weather) then that plane WILL be leaving early, regardless of what TikTok or your prior experience or your feelings say.
And you certainly don’t need “90 minutes” either. I never do more than an hour, even for the biggest airports. I also don’t really try for less than 20 minutes, as saving that little time isn’t worth the risk of being delayed potentially a whole day.
It’s a revolt against the blindly accepted status. Revolt against why waste our time. Why the whole chain of supposedly responsible people are not responsible enough to have incentives to make safe travelling efficient and effective. Break the blocks, simplify the chains.
What an idiot. Tiktok people should be punished for making this kind of article. Most people have. Ommon sense.
This is every bit at juvenile as eating Tide pods or goldfish.
60 minutes at an airport like Sacramento, maybe, at least from terminal A (UA, AA, DL).
Anywhere else, 90-120 minutes. The consequences of missing are far worse than the “inconvenience” of being there early.
And why are all these TikTok videos backwards?