2024-09-18 20:52:34
Meet the people who are now considered “the most hated people at airports.” In the middle of a chaotic security line, they stop and carefully arrange their belongings in a security tray. Then they take a photo of the result and post it on social media.
As Walla writes, this weird trend now has a name: “Airport Tray Aesthetic.” It’s especially popular on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. It involves mostly Gen Z travelers (born between the late ’90s and 2012) carefully photographing the contents of their airport trays as they pass through X-ray machines.
But it’s not just about photographing random objects. These travelers aim to create visually appealing shots. They arrange sunglasses, shoes, toiletries, and books in trays. Instead of crumpled up paper or toothpaste, you’ll find things like vintage film cameras, hiking boots, and limited edition books.
However, this trend causes significant disruption, especially in already tense and crowded security lines. Any small delay can lead to frustrated passengers, and when someone takes the time to set up and take a photo of their tray, it angers other travelers.
British newspaper Metro even called it a “terrifying trend” that risks making you “the most hated person at the airport.”
One TikTok user shared a step-by-step guide on how to do it right, which has already racked up 83,000 likes. She advised: “The idea is to take a picture after you go through security. Find a quiet place and use a few trays if you can. Why not?”
@_shoppursue kicking off girls trip with some controlled chaos #airporttray #airportaesthetic #whatsinmybag #packing #pinterestaesthetic #airportstyle #phototutorial #airportdiaries #airportfashion #airportoutfit #ootd ♬ Very Demure Jools House of Evo Remix – CasaDi
However, even such “quiet” places are often needed by passengers to reorganize their belongings after security checks.
Another problem is that many of the trend’s participants put their shoes in the tray. Airports are far from sterile environments, and placing shoes in the same trays that others use for personal items is far from ideal.
While many passengers resent those who hold up the line to take pictures of their trays, even the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is aware of the trend.
“We are aware of this. As long as these staged ‘glam shots’ do not cause delays or disturb other passengers, there is no problem. Passengers should take care of their IDs, passports and any items that may be lost during this process,” the Authority said.
Earlier, Cursor wrote about which beauty trend could lead to delays at airports.