Goodbye Hugs Are Capped At Three Minutes At This Airport's Drop-Off Zone

It's time to say farewell to lengthy goodbye hugs, at least at one airport in New Zealand. As of September 2024, Dunedin Airport on the South Island has put a cap on long-winded goodbyes and even installed signs noting a maximum hug time of three minutes in its drop-off zone. Can an airport really put a time limit on your farewells? Let's clarify what's going on in Dunedin.

If you've ever driven someone to the airport, you know the drill. Pull up, pop the trunk, say a quick goodbye, and then screech off into the sunset. Dunedin Airport has simply put a fun spin on this rule, asking visitors explicitly to stick to a quick goodbye in its drop-off zone. And they're not heartless down in Dunedin: If three minutes aren't enough, the airport offers an alternative area where you can park for free for 15 minutes and hug to your heart's content. 

The new signs went viral after they were installed but were met with mixed reactions, as a glimpse at Reddit's r/aviation forum shows. Some were not happy, with user Pandemonium1414 writing, "I can't believe we [are] actually doing [this]," and slogive1 jokingly asking, "How much is the fine if I hug longer?" The answer is 70 New Zealand dollars (about $40). Others took it far better, especially over in the r/dunedin forum, with many pointing out the humor and recognizing that the viral signs are good publicity for the city. On the official Dunedin Airport site, CEO Daniel De Bono clarified that the sign is "our way of being a little quirky."

Airports limiting time in the drop-off area isn't unusual. Dunedin isn't even unique in its attempt to be "quirky." Aalborg Airport in Denmark has long had a sign stating, "No kisses above [three minutes]!" Plus, at least Dunedin's drop-off zone is free. Spare a thought for those flying from the United Kingdom, where drivers often pay upwards of £7 (around $8.70) to spend a few minutes saying goodbye to their loved ones. For travelers in the U.K., it may be more economical to get an Uber to the airport.

What about in the U.S.? Does the Land of the Free allow the freedom of long goodbyes? Not in the immediate drop-off area. Many U.S. airports don't permit unattended vehicles in this zone. Reno Airport states that it's for "active loading and unloading only" and New York's JFK Airport proclaims that no standing is allowed. We assume it's not an actual tuck-and-roll out of the vehicle situation, but lengthy hugs clearly aren't welcome in these places either.

However, one of the best amenities you can find at many U.S. airports is the cell phone lots. These are car parks near the airport, where you can take your time saying goodbye or wait for a call and then swoop in to collect your loved ones. And if you're the one being picked up, consider leaving on the departure level of the airport (a TikTok hack that makes leaving the airport less stressful). Wherever you are in the world, quick hugs are the name of the game in the drop-off zone, so save the dramatic farewells for when you get home.