Risky 'airport theory' has travelers cutting arrival time for flights 'way too close,' says expert

The social media trend encourages passengers to arrive just minutes before clearing security, often just 15 minutes ahead of boarding, in an attempt to avoid long waits and extra time spent inside the airport terminal.

Despite the obvious possibility of missing a flight, interest in the trend has surged. 

The company looked at factors such as average TSA wait times, on-time departure rates, passenger volume and airport size.

The airport serves more than 13 million passengers annually and has two concourses, making it relatively easy to navigate.

Washington Dulles International Airport ranked fourth with an on-time rate of 75.90% and an average TSA wait time of 15 minutes.

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport placed fifth, reporting an on-time rate of 76.25% and an average security wait of 15 minutes.

Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog "View From the Wing," told Fox News Digital earlier that cutting down the time of arrival to 15 minutes before boarding a flight is risky indeed.

"The advice [from airlines] for when [travelers] need to arrive is too conservative," Leff said. "But 'airport theory' suggesting showing up 15 minutes in advance of departure is cutting it way too close."

He noted that arrival recommendations from airlines and airports are often conservative for a reason.

He added that airlines and airports also benefit when passengers arrive early and spend time shopping or dining before departure.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for further comment.

Fox News Digital's Ashley DiMella contributed reporting.