Katharina Bost tested the so-called ‘airport theory’ London Stansted Airport, where she got to the airport just 45 minutes before her flight was due to take off to see if it was enough time
Going to the airport can be a stressful experience for some people, but others find it a breeze. You’re either a last-minute dasher, trusting in the cosmos that you’ll whizz through security without a hitch. Or, alternatively, you’re the type who prefers to arrive well ahead of the recommended two hours (or three during peak times like school holidays). If your travel companion wouldn’t object, you might even fancy arriving four hours early, indulging in a manicure, treating yourself to a matcha (or something stronger), and perusing the bookshop.
However, thanks to the ‘airport theory’ circulating on TikTok, which many experts advise against trying, more individuals are attempting to emulate the former category, aiming to reach the airport with just enough time to spare.
Katharina Bost tested this theory at London Stansted Airport, claiming she arrived at 6.45 pm for a flight scheduled to depart at 7.30 pm. This gave her a mere 45 minutes to complete all necessary tasks, including navigating the dreaded security queue.
By 6:48pm, Katharina found herself in the bustling airport security line. However, passengers must have been swift as by 6:50pm, she was ready to explore the fragrances and cosmetics in duty-free.
She took full advantage of the perfume testers available, spritzing herself generously before boarding her flight.
At 7.04pm, she expressed her craving for a “needed a matcha,” leading her to pop into Joe and the Juice for her favourite brew.
By 7.09pm, she had her matcha in hand, sipping it as she strolled towards the airport gate.
She reached the gate at 7.14pm, and by 7.22pm, she was strapped in and ready for take-off, looking quite chuffed with herself.
However, some commenters questioned the authenticity of the timestamps provided in her video, wondering how she managed such a seamless airport experience, something they’d never encountered before.
One person commented: “There’s no way security took 15 minutes unless you got fast-track”. A fast-track pass allows you to bypass most of the queue and rejoin further down the line.
A woman retorted: “The longest time I’ve ever spent in an airport security queue is about 15 minutes tbh”.
“You went through fast-track security, and then your plane was delayed,” another accused her.
A TikTok user confessed: “I’d be having a panic attack cutting it this fine,” while another admitted: “I’d literally be running”.
“It took me an hour to get through security at Stansted a few weeks ago, on a random Saturday afternoon,” someone grumbled.
Stansted Airport advises: “Always follow your airline’s guidance on how early you need to be at the airport before your flight.
“As a general guide, you will need to have checked in and be ready to go through security at least 2 hours before your flight departure time.”