Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Cop feels Berry special, helps her jump queue

MONTREAL -- Oscar-winning actor Halle Berry and her model husband Gabriel Aubry were spotted here on Monday jumping a U.S. Customs queue at Pierre Trudeau International Airport -- with the help of a Montreal police officer.

While others waited more than an hour in line, the A-list couple were whisked with their 22-month-old daughter right through to the comfort of their executive-class seats on board an Air Canada plane to Los Angeles.

Aeroports de Montreal, which manages the airport, says it doesn't give preferential treatment to anyone. In most cases they're not even notified when a VIP comes through.

Air Canada said it doesn't differentiate based on celebrity either, but rather according to fares.

As it turned out, it was a lone police officer acting on his own initiative -- and against police policy -- who helped Berry and her family skip to the front of the U.S. Customs line.

Montreal Police Insp. Jimmy Cacchione, who heads the 36-member unit that patrols the Montreal airport, said the officer was approached by Aubry and made a spur-of-the-moment decision to help them.

The Montreal police don't pick favourites, Cacchione said, adding it was bad timing on the officer's part, so soon after new security measures have meant even longer airport lines.

As executive-class passengers, Berry and her partner, Montreal-born Aubry, were entitled to priority lines through check-in, boarding and security, Air Canada spokeswoman Isabelle Arthur said.

"The fare they've paid entitles them to a different level of service... Go online and see the difference in price," she said.

Mathieu Larocque, a spokesman for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, said CATSA had nothing to do with Berry's special treatment.

Berry and Aubry were properly "processed" through security, Larocque added.

-- Canwest News Service

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 9, 2010 A12

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Follow

  1. WFP Hockey

    Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates

  2. Editor's Bulletin

    Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand

  3. Winnipeg Jets

    All things NHL on our Jets landing page

  4. Twitter

    Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter

  5. News Cafe

    Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events

  6. Facebook Fanpage

    Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events

letters

Make text: Larger | Smaller

Poll

Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?

View Results

View Related Story