Long goodbyes? Not at this airport that limits hugs to 3 minutes

Airports are full of emotion, with intense hellos and goodbyes. But if you're traveling from Dunedin Airport in New Zealand, you better make them snappy.

The sign, reading “Max hug time three minutes,” with a note below suggesting “For fonder farewells, please use the car park,” sparked widespread discussion online. While some see it as a humorous guideline, others question its humanity.

Image: Instagram / dundinairport

Airport director Daniel De Bono clarified that there are no penalties for extended hugs. Instead, travelers are simply asked to continue their farewells in the car park, where there’s a 15-minute free parking period. Though the rule has stirred debate on social media, Dunedin Airport’s management maintains the measure is practical.

Image: Instagram / dundinairport

De Bono explained in an interview with Radio New Zealand that the sign is intended to keep traffic moving in the short-stay area near the terminal. With quick drop-offs, congestion is reduced, improving accessibility for all.

To support the sign, De Bono cited studies suggesting hugs release “happy hormones” like oxytocin in just 20 seconds, making lengthy embraces unnecessary. While initially posted in good humor, the sign has become a widely discussed detail of Dunedin Airport’s passenger experience.

The policy received mixed reactions online. One user commented that people “need time to say goodbye,” while another suggested the sign was a lighthearted way to address a practical concern.

Dunedin isn’t alone in setting time limits on airport farewells. At Aalborg Airport in Denmark, a sign reads: “K i s s and goodbye – no k i s s e s above 3 minutes," according to the Independent.

Time-limited drop-off zones, known as K&F zones, are standard at airports globally to streamline traffic near terminals.

According to Euronews, some airports in the UK charge fees for even the briefest stops. Pictured is a sign at Gatwick Airport in London with this reminder.

In Germany, there are also “K i s s and Fly” zones. Depending on the airport, you have a set time before parking charges apply: at Stuttgart Airport, it’s eight minutes, in Munich five, and at Berlin Brandenburg ten minutes.

Time is money – that’s the rule at most airports, whether it’s posted or unspoken. But while parking limits make sense to most people, a time limit on hugging is in a whole new league. What do you think?

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