We’ve all suffered through some seriously long airport queues, but this may very well take the cake for being the ‘world’s longest check-in’ line’.
We can almost feel the frustration of travellers booked to fly with Virgin Australia, who rocked up to Sydney Airport to find the check-in queue was out the door – literally.
Passengers on Twitter say they were waiting for up 40 minutes in a line that started at the Virgin Australia check-in and baggage drop counter and snaked its way outside the terminal.
We didn’t believe it at first too, but then we saw the pictures on Twitter like this…
@VirginAustralia – opportunity to experience the world longest checkin line #2017 will be the #breakingrecord year 🎉 #travel @SydneyAirport pic.twitter.com/uB94JOJnIy
— Aurélie Pankowiak (@AureliePanko) January 2, 2017
And this…
@VirginAustralia @SydneyAirport What a joke. Sydney airport t2 this morning. Queues overflowing to the roadway for Virgin passengers. pic.twitter.com/Qh5cu6GpBW
— Emily (@EmilyWaslaczyk) January 2, 2017
Passengers were understandably a little frustrated about the extensive wait and turned to social media to describe the fiasco as ‘shameful’ and ‘complete chaos’.
Others were a little kinder and appreciated the effort put in by staff to keep guests calm in person and on social media.
helpful and funny staff made it more pleasant! 😊
— Aurélie Pankowiak (@AureliePanko) January 2, 2017
Virgin Australia told media that the queue was caused by an influx of travellers returning from their Christmas holidays.
The spokesperson assured that the check-in counter was fully staffed and worked hard to get through the ‘busiest day of the year’ for flying.