Does the idea of arriving at the airport in the good of the time do you thrust or press on you? If you are in the latter camp, you are sweating about arriving at the airport, which has less than three hours left.
But for us, for those who are ready to check the traffic, equipment or roll the timing of the TSA line waiting time, there is something to say to maximize their performance in travel days at the airport. Recently, a particularly adrenaline travel indicators have made big waves on social media: enter “The theory of the airport“That’s why you need to arrive at the airport 15 or 20 minutes before your flight.
Is this legitimate 2025 travel gambut or to avoid a tricky trend? We tapped the experts to share if you should accept the theory of the airport or if the approach flies in front of ordinary logic.
What is the theory of the airport?
The theory of the airport is about time. Eric Neapoli, Chief Legal Officer Air HelpDescribes the airport’s theory as a concept that shows that passengers can show their flight schedule to the airport 15-20 minutes before departure and/or boarding, and is still enough time to clean the security and board the aircraft. “The purpose is to limit the precious time spent at the airport, to smooth the experience and maximize the performance to reach your gate as soon as possible.”
Finally, Corey Bangatzen, CEO and Pilot AT Sky shareThinks that this process is a way to tamper with people and see how close they can make their commercial flight to feel like a private flight. “Basically, this trend highlights the basic pain point with commercial air travel: unexpected delays, long security lines and many waste time,” he says.
How does the theory of the airport work
Bangatzin Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) runs us by testing the airport theory with a fake example of a flight of 6:30 pm.
“I get out of my car at the SLC at 6pm on the route of the departure and enter the airport directly on the security line. While the non -populated TSA is through the security line, I put my bag on the conveyor belt so that I can fly with my board with a scanner. I hand over the flight check -in steward and walk on the jet bridge, at 6:28 pm, the last person boarding the plane on my assignment set on the plane, all the seats are full, and reads time on my phone 6:30 pm.
In this hypothetical situation, the theory of the airport worked and Bangatzain made his flight, but as a passenger knows, things do not always move without hiccups, such as to realize that you have forgotten something in your hotel, or an unexpected problem such as delay or equipment check -time.
As a pilot, Bangatzen recommends not to arrive at the airport 15 minutes before your flight leaves, and claims that this is a dangerous approach that eventually affects others. He says, “If you lose your flight, you are putting extra pressure on get -gate agents to find you alternate flight, already complicating the broken system.”
Personally, Napoli will not follow or recommend people 15 minutes before its flight. He says, “There are many factors beyond our control, such as traffic, check -in and security lines.” “Every airport airport is different and the gate travel time is different from time to time. To take a 15 -minute approach, you really need to know your airport and airline.
Napoli added that if you really value your time, then it is better to be better than losing your flight completely by losing money and time (per napoli, most passenger rights rules do not protect you when you are late).
The ideal time to arrive at the airport
As a Katie Nastro, travel expert Going traveling The app, following the principle of the theory of the airport, means that it is mainly shown to be late for your flight because the doors are usually closed 15 minutes before departure time.
According to TSA official guidelines, passengers should have to arrive at the airport two hours before departure time for domestic flights, and three hours before time for international flights. Although Nassero has admitted that traditional time of the airport may be very careful for some people, “being too early may not hurt, it can certainly hurt too late.”
In view of the unexpected conditions, including gate changes and long security lines, Bangatzen believes to keep your gate an hour before your flight, as it gives you the possibility of peace and enables you to enjoy the airport facilities, which is more than your travel experience.
Napoli said the airport’s theory eventually gives you the risk of losing your seat.
“Just because your flight departs at a particular time, it does not mean that you have the last moment to get into the plane. Many airlines will turn off boarding 15-30 minutes before departure. If the flight is full, they will quickly close the doors (and even leave the airlines until you start the flight).” If you come to with you, the airline can collide with your flight due to a compensation.
Although technology likes NeatAnd tsa precheck The pre -boarding process can help accelerate, “never guaranteed that you will move forward faster than the airport’s safety,” Napoli added. As the old proverb is: Sorry better than sorry.
