Sign at Dunedin Airport urges short farewells, limits goodbye hugs to three minutes
Dunedin Airport in New Zealand has ignited a global debate after introducing a controversial new rule: limiting goodbye hugs to three minutes in its drop-off area. A sign at the airport reads, “Max hug time 3 minutes,” and suggests that passengers who need longer goodbyes should use the parking lot instead, where they can linger without restrictions.
Mixed reactions to the hug limit
The unusual policy gained attention when a photo of the sign was posted in the Facebook group “The view from my window.” The post quickly sparked a lively debate, with some applauding the idea while others found it unnecessary.
One user commented, “I love it. It shows warmth and compassion. At my local airport, you can’t stop for a moment without getting fined. I love Nice Airport – they have ‘Kiss and Fly.’”
Others were more critical, pointing out the stark contrast with policies in the US. “You get three minutes to hug?? In America, they don’t even want you to stop. Just come to a slow roll and push your passenger out,” one person wrote.
Another commenter reflected on the rule’s emotional impact, saying, “This got me thinking… Who are the people I would hug for three minutes? Life is short.”
Airport CEO defends the decision
Dunedin Airport CEO Daniel De Bono addressed the growing debate during an interview with RNZ radio of New Zealand. De Bono explained that airports are often “emotional hotspots,” where farewells can be intense. He cited a study showing that a 20-second hug can release oxytocin, the “love hormone,” but emphasized that the goal is to keep traffic moving smoothly while still allowing heartfelt goodbyes.
De Bono also noted that Dunedin Airport offers 15 minutes of free parking, providing a space for those who want more time to say goodbye. “Our team has witnessed some interesting things over the years,” he added, acknowledging the emotional nature of airport farewells.
The debate over how much time is appropriate for a goodbye hug continues, with some seeing the rule as a lighthearted way to manage airport traffic and others questioning if such limits are truly necessary.