Winnipeg Free Press > Canada > Cop feels Berry special, helps her jump queue

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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Cop feels Berry special, helps her jump queue

By: Catherine Solyom

9/01/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 10

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

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10 Commentscomment icon

Agreed. Celebrities and pretty girls have always gotten special treatment. Not really much of a story.

PlainJoe... you're right about the able-bodied taking advantage, but it reminded me of an incident from 'way back. A dude on crutches appeared to be intent on crossing Univ. Cres. [during morning rush hour]. The driver of my carpool stopped to allow it, whence the first car at the sidestreet zipped in - the dude grabbed his crutches, hopped in, and they were off. My driver was absolutely livid, and I don't suppose my brother's and my laughing about it helped...

It's most likely best to get her out of there as soon as possible. Not just for her safety but for everyone’s. Mass recognition and crowds of people surrounding her is likely the sort of distraction and chaos the security people are trying to avoid. It would make a perfect cover for any sort of untoward activity.

Good for her for taking a commercial flight, like the rest of us peasants...when she could have likely paid for a private jet and avoided the whole thing. The real story here is that Halle Berry flies Air Canada. I wonder if they were rude to her too and lost her luggage?

Wow, their spokesperson better hope she has a job on Monday with that idiotic comment coming out of her mouth. Air Canada isn't in a position to be treating "executive" class people any different. The smart thing for her to say would have been that this had nothing to do with them but that the officer's decision was his and his alone. Idiot. And really, why does sitting in 5 special rows in front of a see-through curtain make this actress and her boyfriend special? Pathetic.

I agree with wpgmom. Isn't there anything more important to whine about?

if anything she should have to wait after being in catwoman

Ah what a pretty face will get you. The officer was probably dumbstruck and really, who wouldn't be. As wpgmom said, why is this even a story?!?

I may not agree with jumping the queue, but with paparazzi and others possibly bothering the couple, for safety purposes, I would hope that such celebrities would be given special status.

Only the righteous would feel this was an issue.

Remember, the plane doesn't leave till all are aboard, and anyone with young children, likewise should be able to jump the line.

I object more to the able bodied people who ask for a wheelchair and then walk quite briskly onto the plane.

She can wait in line like the rest of us. I don't care how many movies she made.

I think anyone with a two year old should be able to jump the queue!

And why is this even a story? Superstars always get preferential treatment, this isn't anything new.

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