Travel
Why the viral airport flatlay photo trend shouldn’t worry travelers in TSA lines
Airport tray aesthetic becomes a viral trend
Travelers are artfully arranging their belongings inside the TSA regulation trays for a viral photo trend.
When Peyton Johnson, a Washington, D.C.-based fashion and lifestyle content creator, was traveling back home from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, this summer, she knew she wanted to participate in the viral “TSA airport tray trend.”
Taking aesthetically pleasing photos of your belongings in the airport bin has amassed major popularity online. Johnson said she first saw the trend flood her Pinterest, but it expanded to TikTok and Instagram. She posted a video on TikTok of her snapping the photo she used for social media.
“I had my boyfriend film from behind me, taking the video on my phone,” Johnson, 28, said. “We went through security and just propped the bin on the other side… and I just had his film, like, a very quick five-second clip of me taking the photo on my phone.”
Her bin included her cameras, passports, sunglasses, jewelry, hair clips, and other items that fit her feed’s aesthetic and theme.
“I was drawn to the part that you can make it your own and do any sort of flat lay that you want when doing the trend,” Johnson said.
Other people have shared color-coordinated outfits, accessories, and makeup essentials to take part in the ongoing craze. Some videos have garnered millions of views.
It’s likened to the “What’s in my bag?” trend, but “it doesn’t even have to be logical travel-related things that you would take out normally, going through TSA; it’s things that you might have in your bag that you make look pretty for the photo,” she continued.
TikTok trends: Brat summer is almost over. Get ready for ‘demure’ fall, a new viral TikTok trend.
TSA is aware of the ‘staged glamour photos,’ spokesperson says
Johnson and other travel creators, like 29-year-old Jessica Zuniga, intentionally took their photos after going through the TSA screening checkpoints.
“I personally feel like I didn’t take up the line,” Zuniga recalled her experience at Los Angeles International Airport earlier this month. “I didn’t also take up too much time on the side of the bench. I feel like I was done within like two minutes.”
Although people love the trend, it has been met with some backlash on social media from people who fear they are holding up the security line. In the comment section of TikTok, some described it as too “chaotic,” while others pointed out the uncleanliness of the plastic bins.
“TSA has become aware of this trend recently,” a spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement. “As long as the staged glamour photos are not causing delays or issues with other passengers in the checkpoint, there are no issues.”
The agency even joked about it on its Instagram, telling travelers to do it after screening because “holding up the line is not very demure.“
Tulsa International Airport was inspired to join the trend after seeing posts from TSA and other influencers. A spokesperson said there have been no reported disruptions at the airport so far.
Their advice: “For those who want to partake in this fun social media trend, we kindly ask that travelers come prepared with an idea of how they’d like to stage their photos before arriving at the airport to keep things moving smoothly. It’s also important to step aside and out of the way of other passengers when taking pictures.”
Brands use trend for marketing; Creators buy their own bins
Popular brands like Ciate London, Samsonite, and Anthropologie have posted their own versions on TikTok. Johnson said it’s a great marketing tactic.
“I think brands are smart for hopping on to this trend because it’s a fun, visually appealing way to highlight their products,” she added. “For instance, a purse brand can highlight a new line of purses by putting it in a TSA bin.”
On the creator front, some have decided to skip the airport and purchase a personal tray online to curate photos at home: “The point is that it’s fun and it’s art,” TikToker@pipertaich said in a video posted in July.
When you’re not in the tumultuous airport, Zuniga said, “You have more time to add more unrealistic things,” which would otherwise be a hassle when in your carry-on bag.
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.
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