'We are hearing reports of longer than usual queues, even for a Monday morning, at the Qantas domestic terminal at Melbourne Airport.

One passenger, who travels twice a week, told Melbourne Express the lines were "so far outside of normal as to be indescribable".

"There are all security lanes open, with at least 400 people queuing in each," the passenger said. "Security are confiscating the Samsungs. Passengers are refusing to surrender their Samsungs.

"There is considerable aggression in the lines for people being delayed. I arrived at 7.20am for an 8.40am flight and made it through the gates at 8.30am."

Several people standing to the side of the Qantas queue. The passenger overheard loud arguments with security, including at least one person refusing to hand over their phone, telling guards: "You can't take it off me".