Channel Seven presenter Kylie Gillies has given her followers a starkly relatable glimpse into the festive travel rush, sharing a series of chaotic moments from Sydney Airport that nearly caused her family to miss their holiday flight.
A Festive Travel Nightmare Unfolds
The 58-year-old The Morning Show host was travelling with her husband, Tony Gillies, and their son, Archie, on Tuesday when they were engulfed by the pre-Christmas bedlam at the domestic terminal. In a candid series of selfie videos posted to her social media stories, Gillies chronicled the overwhelming scenes of long queues, overcrowded spaces, and luggage confusion.
"An hour and 20 later, we're through [the queue]," Gillies revealed in one clip, highlighting the significant delays faced by passengers. The family's stress was compounded by a personal booking blunder, as the television star confessed she had forgotten to reserve a luggage allowance for her 22-year-old son, Archie.
'It's Like Home Alone'
"Did I mention the bit where I forgot to book Archie's luggage? He's now deserted us...he said he'd meet us at the gate," she explained. Her husband Tony wryly compared the frantic situation to a classic holiday film, remarking, "It's like Home Alone."
After thanking airline staff for their help in resolving the mix-up, Gillies admitted she had to send Archie back into the lengthy queue to sort out a new baggage check. She shared a photo of her exasperated son sitting on a suitcase amidst the throng, waiting for the line to move.
Images of Airport Mayhem
Further illustrating the scale of the disruption, Gillies posted images of a lengthy lineup of passengers snaking outside the terminal building. Joking about their potential delay, she captioned one post: "Can somebody put the turkey on? We may not make it by Christmas Day."
Fortunately, the story had a happy ending. A final picture from her aeroplane seat confirmed that the Gillies family successfully navigated the chaos and made it onboard their flight. "I'll let the in-flight entertainment take over now," she quipped, signing off with, "Thank you for your attention. Safe travels."
A Season of Goodbyes
This airport drama follows an emotionally charged period for the presenter, who recently bid farewell to her eldest son, Gus, 23, as he moved to Berlin for his "dream job." In a heartfelt Instagram post, Gillies shared tearful snaps from Sydney International Airport, discussing the challenges of becoming an empty nester.
"We've been wobbly these last few days after squeezing him tightly and saying goodbye," she wrote, encouraging her son to be proud of his own achievements. This latest family holiday, albeit chaotic, underscores the bittersweet mix of reunion and separation that often characterises the festive season for many families.
