Max hug time three minutes’: New Zealand airport goes viral for limiting goodbyes
 

The airport’s CEO says hugs lasting longer than three minutes are “really awkward”.

Airports and emotional farewells go hand-in-hand, but one hub in New Zealand is cracking down on public displays of affection.

Travellers leaving the New Zealand city of Dunedin have been told there’s now a three-minute time limit on goodbye hugs in the airport's drop-off area, intended to prevent lingering cuddles from causing traffic jams.

Outside the terminal, signs read: “Max hug time three minutes,” adding that those seeking “fonder farewells” should head to the airport’s car park instead, where they’ll be given a generous 15 minutes to say goodbye to their loved ones.

Despite some criticism on social media, with people calling the move “inhumane”, the airport’s CEO is standing by his decision.

The anti-hug signs are meant as a gentler alternative to those at other airports warning of wheel clamping or fines for drivers parked in drop-off areas.

At some hubs in the UK, there are imposed fees for all drop-offs - however brief.

Dunedin's airport, though, a modest terminal serving a city of 135,000 people on New Zealand's South Island, prefers a “quirky” approach, De Bono said.

Three minutes was "plenty of time to pull up, say farewell to your loved ones and move on,” he added. “The time limit is really a nicer way of saying, you know, get on with it.”

Source : https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/10/22/max-hug-time-three-minutes-new-zealand-airport-goes-viral-for-limiting-goodbyes

Comprehension

What is the new rule at Dunedin airport regarding goodbye hugs?
Why did the airport implement a three-minute time limit on hugs in the drop-off area?
Where can travelers have longer goodbyes at the airport, and how much time are they given there?
How did some people react on social media to the new rule?
What is the CEO’s response to the criticism of the new rule?
How does Dunedin’s airport approach differ from other airports regarding drop-off areas?
What is the purpose of the signs at Dunedin airport’s drop-off area?
How does the CEO justify the three-minute hug limit?

Discussion

Do you think three minutes is enough time to say goodbye to someone at the airport? Why or why not?
How would you feel if your local airport had a similar rule? Would it affect how you say goodbye?
What are some other ways airports could manage drop-off areas without limiting hugs?
Do you think this rule is a good way to prevent traffic jams, or does it feel too restrictive?
Have you ever experienced emotional goodbyes at the airport? How would this rule have changed that experience?
How does public affection at the airport reflect the emotions of travel, especially during farewells?
Would you prefer a “quirky” approach like Dunedin’s or a more strict one like wheel clamping or fines? Why?
Do you think people’s reactions to this rule on social media are justified?
How do you balance efficiency and personal emotional needs in a public space like an airport?
How important is it to maintain a light-hearted or “quirky” atmosphere at places like airports?

Vocabulary

CEO – Chief Executive Officer, the highest-ranking person in a company or organization.
Affection – A feeling of liking or love, shown by gestures like hugging or kissing.
Lingering – Staying in one place for too long.
Traffic jam – A situation where vehicles are stopped or moving very slowly due to congestion.
Criticism – Negative comments or opinions about something.
Quirky – Unusual in a fun or interesting way.
Farewell – The act of saying goodbye to someone.
Impose – To establish or apply by authority (as in rules or fees)