Check-in queues at Brisbane Airport have been branded the worst in Australia by passengers and Qantas staff who say they are constantly being abused over long delays.

But Julie Bignell from the Australian Services Union said the ASU's complaints to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland about under-staffing at the airport had been ignored or dismissed.

"We've been told they don't have the capacity to investigate white collar issues like under-staffing and fatigue," said Ms Bignell.

She said on other occasions staff had been spat on when they finished their shift and closed their counter.

A Qantas employee said check-in staff faced "unbelievable" stress.

"It's not once a week we're having a bad day out there, it's actually every shift," she said.

Travellers vented their anger on Brisbane's The Courier-Mail's website on Nov. 15, scathing about Qantas' service at Brisbane Airport.

Matthew Cavanagh of London wrote: "If it is not Sydney or Melbourne, Qantas is not interested. I have used a lot of airports in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and North America - however, nowhere (including Heathrow) have the queues been longer, slower and more poorly resourced or administered than for Qantas at Brisbane International Airport."

"The risk of missing a flight, even when travelling business class, is so great that the temptation is just to fly into and out of Sydney Airport."

His comments were echoed by Queensland readers, including Nick from Red Hill who wrote: "Ahh yes, the good old gunner syndrome. We're gunner employ more staff. We just haven't actually done it."

Another Brisbane reader, Pat Warner, said: "My wife works at Brisbane International Airport and every week she tells me one or two people have resigned. This is a deliberate strategy by management for what reason I cannot fathom. They are insulated from the public's frustration and anger."

And Bill David of Cairns wrote "Sadly, Qantas has gone from being one of the world's great airlines to a disgrace."