Travellers warned over risky airport trend making people miss flights

The 'airport theory' trend is the latest thing taking social media by storm, particularly on TikTok where it ha garnered mass attention.

It encourages people to challenge the conventional advice of arriving at the airport several hours before a flight.

People partaking in the challenge instead turn up for their flight just 15-20 minutes before they are scheduled to depart.

Whilst some have had success in doing this, others have not been so lucky, and are now discouraging those who are contemplating undertaking it.

@jenny_kurtzz on TikTok told of her experience at the challenge, where she said that by the time she arrived at the gate, her flight was long gone.

"For those of you thinking about testing out the airport theory - don't," she advised. "Missed my flight."

American TikToker @momlifewithtiff gave the challenge a go with her husband and was one of the successful ones, arriving just as her gate was closing.

However, she also did not recommend it, saying that she will "certainly be getting to the airport 2 hours early from now on."

Nicole Campoy Jackson, a travel advisor at Fora Travel, told People in April that the airport theory gamble is definitely not worth the risk.

"It only takes one stressful missed flight for you to realise this trend is pointlessly risky," she said.

"The easiest way to guarantee you'll eventually miss a flight is to rely on this 'theory.'"

Commenters on TikTok were equally skeptical of the seemingly pointless challenge, but expressed support as the "empty seats" make their flight a lot better.

One person wrote: "As a flight attendant who only flies for free when there's space available, thank you."