What the Airport Theory Does to Your Family Vacation

According to conventional wisdom, you should arrive at the airport at least an hour or two before a flight. The Transportation Security Administration—i.e., the TSA—concurs. They state in their 2025 guidelines that domestic travelers should arrive at least two hours before their boarding time, and folks traveling internationally should arrive at least three hours before boarding time.

But according to a viral social media trend, all that advice should be tossed out the window, and travelers should arrive just 15 minutes before their plane departs. Totally wild, right? It’s a trend called the airport theory, and we’re here to tell you why this is a really bad idea, especially if you’re the parent of small kiddos.

Why Testing the Airport Theory on Family Vacay Is a Hard No

So, what is the airport theory, exactly? It’s a trend spreading on platforms like TikTok and Instagram that says you should arrive about 15 minutes before your flight—which basically gives you just enough time to get through TSA and board your flight (well, in theory, at least).

The airport theory is more of a game than anything else, with people trying it out and attempting to “beat the clock”—sometimes with a literal timer running on their phones. Still, because some people take these things seriously, and may even be tempted to try them out, we caught up with experts to tell you just why this is such a very bad idea, and why it’s a big nope if you’re a parent.

“The airport theory sounds like a fun travel experiment for solo travelers or couples who like to push boundaries, but it’s a terrible idea when you’re flying with kids,” says Jesse Neugarten, a parent and the CEO and founder of Dollar Flight Club. As Neugarten notes, when you’re traveling with kids, everything takes ten times longer than when you’re traveling alone, so the idea of rushing through the airport in record time makes no sense.

“On our recent trip to Australia, we thought we had plenty of time but still barely made it through check-in and security before boarding started,” Neugarten shared. “If we had tried to cut it close, we would have missed the flight entirely and ruined the trip.”

To illustrate this point, Marianne Perez Fransius, CEO of Bébé Voyage, shared a non-exhaustive list of all the things that can take up extra time when traveling with small ones:

• Kids may forget their favorite stuffed animal and parents have to go back for it
• Kids may get motion sickness on the way to the airport
• Check-in may take longer than expected because you have to drop off the stroller, car seat, or other gear at the “special baggage” spot
• Security may take longer than expected because your kids’ toys, snacks, or water bottles trigger a manual screening
• Unanticipated bathroom stops, diaper changes, or diaper explosions
• Unanticipated meltdowns due to tiredness, overstimulation, or the stress of getting through the airport

Not only is it likely that you’ll encounter one or several of these kid-related issues, but the consequences of missing your flight due to them is even more costly and aggravating than if you were traveling alone.

“You’re then stuck with a bigger problem: how to rebook all the members of your family on a new itinerary,” Perez Fransius says. “Rebooking one passenger is already difficult, so rebooking two, three, four, or more could be both costly and time consuming and/or require that your group be split up.”

Lisa Anderson, LCSW and clinical director at Brooks Healing Center, explains that it’s not just the reality that you will likely miss your flight altogether if you try out the airport theory, but the stress and anxiety it has the potential to cause both parents and kids.

“From a therapist’s perspective, rushing creates unnecessary stress for children and parents,” Anderson says. “Kids who feel your tension tend to mirror it, leading to meltdowns or anxiety around travel. Not to mention, missing a flight could throw off your entire vacation—and that kind of stress can easily be avoided with better planning.”

Airport Tips for Family Travel

If just the mere thought of navigating air travel with young kids makes your heart race, you aren’t alone. That’s why it’s vital to have a good plan of action going in. “Traveling with kids does not have to be stressful, but it requires time, patience, and a solid plan,” Anderson advises.

Additionally, Anderson shared her best travel tips for families:

1. Arrive two to three hours ahead. “This gives you space to breathe, manage security, and avoid last-minute rushing,” she says.
2. Pack a well-organized carry-on with the essentials. Include snacks, water bottles (fill them after security), hand wipes, changes of clothes, and maybe a favorite toy or blanket.
3. Keep all documents easily accessible. Passports, boarding passes, IDs should all be in your front pocket.
4. If possible, use family or TSA PreCheck lines. This can save time and streamline the process.
5. Make sure your kids have realistic expectations. “Before you travel, talk with your kids about what to expect at the airport—how they’ll go through security, how long they’ll have to wait, and what they’ll get to do on the plane,” says Anderson. “Giving them a sense of what is coming can make the process smoother.”

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of staying calm and flexible. “Things may not go perfectly, but if your kids see you handling surprises gracefully, they are more likely to follow your lead,” Anderson describes.

Safe travels! (And truly, don’t test out the airport theory!)