You get to the airport early and are stuck waiting for the check-in counter to open. That’s the lot of some Virgin travellers, says aviation writer SCOTT MAYMAN. 

Imagine rolling up to Canberra Airport to check in for your flight. But the Virgin Airways counter is shut.

Check in is shut and, if you have luggage, you can’t pass through security, if your bag is too big.

You’re stuck outside; so much for shopping at Canberra Airport or even enjoying time at the club.  It won’t happen.

It’s not known if it’s a shift change or if Virgin is cost cutting, but it seems early afternoon is the worst time to arrive at Canberra Airport if you’re flying out and planning on checking in early.

Despite repeated requests by Virgin to “check in early”, you’re going nowhere.

You’d think in this day and age, at least one agent would be at the front counter, but no: the counter is closed between morning flights and the afternoon surge.

It might be Virgin’s policy, but it’s something that needs to be re-defined when passengers are told to get to the airport early, but can’t check in.

This problem is daily at Canberra Airport and, despite impacting dozens of customers, Virgin’s Canberra Airport facility has not addressed.