At least they were honest with him. Better to be told up front there might be trouble than to be surprised at the airport.

Air Canada is sh*tty.
That's all.
I wouldn't apply it to Star Alliance, although United is getting to be just as bad.

I admit I'm not much of a terrorist, but how could you hijack a plane with a bottle of wine? Maybe by getting the pilot drunk.

How is AC shitty? The airline was honest. Instead of him getting raped at the airport they were nice enough to inform him.

You can't bring wine on planes anymore - no matter what your name - thanks to the TSAs completely sensible liquid ban.

how could you hijack a plane with a bottle of wine?

By smashing it and using it as a weapon? Much worse than box cutters I think.

Aren't bottles of wine more than 3.2 ounces? Joe Honkey will get butt-raped at any U.S. airport for trying to bring on any liquid more than 3.2 ounces, let alone a bottle of wine.

Seems like if he's flying from the UK to Canada, then the United States Transportation Security Administration has nothing to do with this.

Unless George W. has invaded Canuckistan and I just haven't caught the headlines yet.

What if you bought a bottle of wine in duty-free?

When I was flying at New Year's, I had a bottle of wine in my checked luggage. As I was checking it in, the United rep asked if I had wine or any similar bottles in my luggage. When I said yes, she said it had to be packed in styrofoam, or I couldn't have it in my luggage. I assured her that it was packed securely, although not in styrofoam, and that I fly with wine in my checked baggage all the time (although I hadn't flown United in a while). I was forced to remove it and leave it at the counter (at LAX).

I hadn't though much about it, but eventually looked at the United website. Nowhere does it mention having to pack wine (or other glass bottles) in styrofoam. The TSA website also doesn't mention this. Nor has any flight rep asked me about wine or other bottles in my checked luggage since. Hope they enjoyed the wine.

how could you hijack a plane with a bottle of wine?

By smashing it and using it as a weapon? Much worse than box cutters I think.

There's already several bottles of wine on the drink cart and ceramic mugs, plates, etc. in business and first.

And fix the headline --- Air Canada told him not to try it because of his name. United, apparently, just hung up on him.

So why does the headline read "United Airlines"? Air Canada was the one who made the claim, not United. And the airlines don't run security, the even less competent government agency TSA does.

At least you didn't get kicked off for scaring the other passengers. Planes are serious business nowadays, might as well build your own. Less hassle, anyways.

There's already several bottles of wine on the drink cart and ceramic mugs, plates, etc. in business and first.

Yep. This is why it's silly when they try to ban certain sharp objects.

grouse - like I've said before, the people who make airline security policy are far too big fans of MacGyver. They need to watch some western barfights instead.

I'm surprised that terrorists even hijack/bomb planes these days, with the absurd airfare (and numerous ridiculous fees) that these companies charge. Even with your frequent flier miles, you're looking at at least $500 CND to one-way bomb over the Atlantic, is that reasonable?

Wine?! Did they ever get around to refunding the $3,000 they stole from the couple?

You could ship the bomb for much less, hell, even get a courior to pick it up from the post office and deliver it, while you sit cosy at home, *snicker* I kid, I kid...

@Scazza-
You've ever flown with them?
Worst customer service ever.

Yeah. My friend Terry Wrist has to travel by hitchhiking on back roads nowadays. Things have gotten pretty out-of-hand. Actually I got that name from a youtube thing I saw where they made reservations somewhere in the UK under Terry Wrist and Al Kayda and since they didn't show up for the flight they were paged over the PA. Lol.

Don't see anything wrong with this... the rep was straight up honest with the guy, which is always good. Basically they said it's not really allowed through security by various agencies, but that if you can get it past them, they don't mind it.

Hurrah for arbitrary policies designed to make a few overreactive individuals feel slightly more secure.

I am now recalling the time when my now-ex-girlfriend, returning from Japan, had bought me a few small gifts. Despite the fact she was not allowed to bring a faux (although metal) throwing star on board, she was allowed a 4" faux katana. Curious policies.

What would happen if you walked through security with a shirt that said "I am da bomb." ??

faust1200 says:
What would happen if you walked through security with a shirt that said "I am da bomb." ??

You should probably ask this guy.

I've flown Air Canada from Osaka to Vancouver and on to Chicago. Compared to JAL,ANA and even UA; Air Canada had by far the rudest flight attendants in my experience.

Furthermore, the security stopped me to interview and search me no less than 3 times after arriving in Vancouver...That was the last time I flew that route to save a few bucks.

And...United Airlines is still incorrectly identified in the headline as the offending airlines. Ben- you clearly have it out for United, are you purposely not correcting the error in hopes that the RIAA vs UA poll results will change? And no, I'm not a United shill, so please don't ban me like you did that other poster a couple of months ago (who I'm pretty sure didn't work for them either).

Hurrah for arbitrary policies designed to make a few overreactive individuals feel slightly more secure.

If you buy a bottle of wine from a store beyond the TSA checkpoint, you can bring it aboard. SFO has a wine shop in the United terminal.

@morecoffee: Back in LAX, a random check-in attendent got blitz on some free wine later that night...

Would somebody please think of the magrails.