How the 'airport mentality' trend is shaping daily life

A growing number of Americans are embracing “airplane rules” in their daily lives, adopting the anything-goes mindset typically reserved for air travel to justify breaking from conventional routines and social norms.

The trend, which gained significant traction on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, encourages people to apply airport terminal behavior to everyday situations. This includes eating meals at unconventional hours, making irregular purchasing decisions, and dismissing traditional daily schedules.

“Money means nothing and time of day means nothing,” one TikTok user explained in a widely shared video. “If you want to have mimosas while eating an entire sheet cake by yourself at 1:30 p.m., do that.”

The movement initially emerged as a coping mechanism during the 2024 election season. Another TikTok creator captured the sentiment in a November 4 video that resonated with viewers: “Airport rules are in effect, alright? Money, time — they mean nothing to us now. You want a drink at 9 a.m.? I am not going to encourage it, but I am not going to judge you for it.”

Social media data indicates the trend has outlived its electoral origins. Many users documented their adherence to these self-imposed guidelines and decided they were valid for the rest of the year and, for some, even beyond 2024.

The rules mirror common airport behaviors, such as spending $7 on bottled water or breakfast burgers at dawn. Practitioners report finding liberation in abandoning conventional scheduling constraints. 

“Comfy clothes at all times. Bathrobes in public are understandable,” one person commented. “Drinking at all hours allowed. Coffee/energy drinks at all hours also allowed. So if you had a donut and a beer for breakfast.”

“I’ve had a dirty martini and Doritos so far. Oh and runts and twizzlers, and am about to go raid my grandson’s Halloween haul. I have prosecco for later,” someone shared.

“This is why I had ramen for dinner at 1 a.m.,” another laughed.

“Started with an Irish coffee and just had a canned margarita with lunch,” an Instagram user shared in a recent post.

“Airplane rules also include that money doesn’t matter. Buy whatever you want/need to get through this time,” another person added, sharing that they “anxiety bought a crockpot with a built-in holder for the lid. And it’s pink.”