I went to Delhi T3 to find out how long it takes to say goodbye at the airport. This is what I found
Kiss-and-goodbye definitely doesn’t work with Indians. Families arriving at the airport to drop off their loved ones often stay for at least 30 minutes.
in short
- New Zealand’s Dunedin Airport recently introduced a ‘3 minute hug’ rule
- This inspired us to see how long it takes Indians to say goodbye
- We saw families arriving 4-5 hours before their flights and taking their sweet time to say goodbye
If you are Indian, you know that traveling has become a full-fledged event. From packing an extra bag with home-cooked meals, adding at least a two-hour pillow “just in case” (a time limit that only family members can understand), and the inevitable last minutes before leaving. Yelling in – These rituals are just part of our travel routine.
When it comes to air travel, things get even more serious. With luggage restrictions and the rule of arriving three hours early, the farewell ceremony is a saga in itself. Given the typical Indian stereotype of being family-oriented and emotionally expressive, it’s no surprise that airports are the stage for heartfelt, and sometimes tearful, goodbyes.
Goodbyes are rarely easy. Be it a family member bidding farewell to a son or daughter pursuing their dreams, or a couple parting ways for work in another city, farewells are always bittersweet. That smile that hides tears, Hardik”coming soon” (See you soon)—these make the farewell even more poignant. And this was exactly the scene at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, where India Today Went to see how long it takes Indians to say goodbye.
Don’t let the emotions catch (your) flight
Dunedin Airport (DUD), a small airport serving New Zealand’s South Island, has recently attracted global attention after installing new signage in its drop-off area and imposing a time limit on hugs before departure .
The sign, which has sparked online debate around the world, sets a three-minute limit for ‘hugs’ at the drop-off area.
Despite the protests, airport officials have justified the new rule, explaining that anyone requiring a longer departure can do so in a nearby parking lot.
He argues that the logic behind this limit is very simple: it aims to reduce congestion at the drop-off area and enhance the overall passenger experience.
Given that the airport has only one terminal with a limited number of flights each week, and the parking lot is conveniently close, he believes this measure is both practical and efficient.
This online debate left us wondering how Indians say goodbye, and if so, is it possible to bring a similar law here. We saw and spoke to various people who were dropping off their loved ones at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport – one of the busiest airports in India.
‘People come here 4-5 hours in advance’
Kiss-and-goodbye definitely doesn’t work with Indians. Families arriving at the airport to drop off their loved ones often stay for at least 30 minutes, if not more.
For example, we met Rachna (and her family), a Delhi-based housewife who was visiting the US to drop off her in-laws. He said they arrived four hours before the flight. Even after saying goodbye, Rachna remained outside the airport for at least 40 minutes to ensure that her 60-year-old in-laws could check-in properly.
“I am waiting for their call to confirm their boarding. I am just here to make sure their luggage is not overweight,” Rachna said. Most airlines only allow 15-25 kg for checked-in baggage (23-46 kg for international flights), and exceeding this limit results in additional charges – something that travelers naturally try to avoid. We do. This is why it is common to see family members waiting outside, keeping an eye on the weight of the luggage, before their loved ones proceed.
Rachana also demanded that those accompanying family members, especially elderly relatives, be allowed to accompany the passengers until they board.
We saw countless other families like Rachna’s, waiting to see their loved ones with heavy hearts and moist eyes. For example, Renu, her husband and her brother, who had come to drop their son for a domestic flight after returning to his job, waited outside the airport for at least 45 minutes to get confirmation that they had left without permission. Security clearance for any incident has been granted. ,
Another common sight was family and friends enjoying a small picnic, sharing food and drinks as part of a farewell. This often takes more than three hours. This ‘picnic’ they set up right next to the drop-off area.
Selfies and photo sessions were also a big reason to say goodbye for a long time. For example, we met a newlywed couple going for their honeymoon in Goa, who spent at least 20 minutes taking pictures with the family members who had come to see them off.
Kiran, a ground staff member who works at Delhi airport’s Terminal 3, tells us that she has “seen people coming with their families at night for early morning flights”.
“It is quite common to see people arriving with their families a few hours before the flight. Those who have morning flights arrive at night; Those who have afternoon flights come 4-5 hours earlier,” says Kiran.
busiest terminal
Across its three terminals, Delhi airport handles 1,250+ flights daily. Terminal 3 is one of the busiest terminals, handling both domestic and international flights. It also serves as a major transit point in India, accommodating popular Indian carriers such as Air India, Vistara and IndiGo.
It is one of the largest terminals in the world and can handle 45 million passengers every year, i.e. more than 1.2 lakh passengers every day. Despite such a huge crowd, the CISF spokesperson we spoke to said it only takes 10-15 minutes for people to enter. This number also includes the crowd during festivals like Diwali.
There are signages indicating estimated wait times at each gate of Delhi airport, allowing passengers to manage their time accordingly. This signage was renovated by former aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia after the chaos during the New Year rush last year.
P.S.: You can also check on the Delhi Airport website how much time it will take you to get out of the queue.
However, for parking, Terminal 3 only offers 8 minutes of free pick-up time for private vehicles. If you extend this time then your money will be deducted automatically through FASTag. People also often take cab services from third-party apps like Ola and Uber, which have separately allocated parking areas.
Overall, it is clear that it takes time for Indians to say goodbye. A rule like New Zealand’s Dunedin Airport won’t work here at all, because taking pictures, sharing food and long hugs are part of our farewell traditions. These rituals have become such a natural part of our farewells that it is hard to imagine completing them in just 3 minutes.
