There’s a new travel hack floating around the internet, but, fair warning, it’s a bit shocking. The thinking of the hack goes like this: People have negative associations with flying on 9/11, given the events that happened in the year 2001. Consequently, that means fewer flights are sold on 9/11. Thus, one can get a good deal on a flight. Plus, as many people are paranoid on that specific day, it could mean that your flight is safer as staff are being extra cautious.
On the surface, this makes a perverse bit of sense. But is there any truth to this idea?
One TikToker user’s recent video on the topic has people wondering.
Is It Really Cheaper To Fly On 9/11?
In a viral video, TikTok user Katelynn (@katelynnmarie70) shows her mother lamenting the fact that her husband, Katelynn’s father, opted to book the family on a flight leaving on 9/11. The clip has over 2.1 million views.
“You’re making me go on a plane on September 11th. And we have a layover in Washington, D.C.?” Katelynn’s mom asks, bewildered.
In the text overlaying the video, Katelynn says that this was the case due to the flight being cheaper.
It may be the case that these specific tickets were cheaper on September 11th. However, there’s not a lot of evidence to suggest that flying on this day will be any less expensive than other, similar travel days.
As noted in a 2011 piece for Slate, flights on September 11th were cheaper in the years following the attacks. But by 2011, they had returned to around their normal rates, in line with comparable dates of travel.
So, Is It Safer?
Whether it’s safer has not been conclusively proven. Though it should be noted that flying is already incredibly safe.
Per Peter Dizikes, writing for MIT News, “The risk of a fatality from commercial air travel was 1 per every 13.7 million passenger boardings globally in the 2018-2022 period.” In general, air travel is considered substantially safer than driving. That’s due to strict regulations, comprehensive pilot training, and regular maintenance.
Commenters Aren’t Bothered
While commenters were amused by Katelynn’s experience, many said they wouldn’t mind hopping on a flight on September 11th, no matter the history of the day.
“I’ve flown on 9/11 before and it actually made me feel safer.. cause like what are the chances it happens twice on the same day,” wrote a commenter.
“My family went to disney RIGHT AFTER 9/11/2001. they had wicked cheap vacation packages bc nobody was traveling. my picture in front of cinderella’s castle is kind of erie bc nobody is there,” recalled another.
“The fact that it was cheaper shoulda been the first sign,” joked a third.
BroBible reached out to Katelynn via TikTok direct message and comment.