If airports weren’t already a hellscape, TikTok has discovered a method to make them worse. Welcome to airport principle, a viral delusion that means you may roll as much as the airport quarter-hour earlier than boarding, waltz by way of safety, and nonetheless make your flight with time to spare. No stress, no ready, simply pure major character power.
TikTok creators like Michael DiCostanzo (@michael.dicostanzo) swear by it, documenting their dashes by way of high-traffic hubs like LAX, Atlanta Worldwide Airport, and publish–Tremendous Bowl New Orleans. Some viewers are offered. Others are calling BS.
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“So that you had PreCheck, didn’t verify a bag, and have been on the nearest terminal? Now let’s do it when it’s not the optimum state of affairs,” one consumer commented. And, certain sufficient, the web can be suffering from failed makes an attempt—movies of forlorn TikTokers watching their flights take off with out them, their carry-ons stuffed with remorse.
It’s a enjoyable fantasy, which explains why “airport principle” has racked up over 400 million views on TikTok. Sadly, the Transportation Safety Administration doesn’t care about your viral second. The nationwide common wait time for safety was 27 minutes, 16 seconds in 2024. And in case you’re flying out of a infamous bottleneck like JFK, Orlando Worldwide, or Chicago O’Hare, it’s nearer to 40 minutes. Google searches for “I missed my flight what do I do” have spiked 70 % prior to now month, per Google Tendencies. It’s not onerous to attach the dots.
Right here is your unhappy actuality verify: Airways nonetheless suggest arriving no less than two hours earlier than a home flight, three for worldwide. Typically that buffer seems like overkill. However would you reasonably rush by way of the airport together with your coronary heart racing or have a couple of minutes to ensure your gate exists, seize a bag of overpriced no matter, and scroll TikTok watching different individuals miss their flights? That appears like a significantly better airport principle to us.
Airport Hacks That Really Work
One of the simplest ways to get by way of airport safety unscathed is to maneuver such as you’ve completed this 100 instances earlier than. A little bit planning, the proper gear, and skipping social media stunts will get you from curb to gate with minimal stress.
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Time It Proper
- Journey off-peak. In keeping with CheapAir, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are sometimes much less crowded. Early flights between 5 and eight am and red-eyes (after 9 pm) are likely to have fewer passengers.
- Test TSA wait instances prematurely. The My TSA app (iOS, Android) supplies real-time safety line updates at main airports.
Get the Proper Apps
Pack Sensible
Costume for Effectivity
- Empty your pockets earlier than safety. Stash all the pieces in your carry-on as an alternative of fumbling on the checkpoint.
- Maintain steel jewellery, watches, and belts in your bag till after screening.
- Keep away from boots or high-tops. Slip-ons like Allbirds’ Tree Runners for $98 and the Rothy’s Driving Idler for $189—we have raved about them prior to now—make safety a breeze. In case you’re not planning on sprinting by way of the airport, the Bearpaw Martis Slippers ($70) are ultra-comfy.
- Skip cumbersome outerwear. Coats, hoodies with large pockets, and something with extreme zippers simply slows you down. When you have PreCheck, you may normally hold your sneakers, belt, and lightweight jacket on.
Keep Organized
