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First it was Somali taxis refusing to transport passengers who were carrying alcohol, because the drivers’ religious beliefs were offended.

Now, according to a growing message board thread on FlyerTalk, United Airlines staff at LAX has apparently been refusing to allow wine in checked luggage.

This is absolutely ridiculous.

While airlines are legally within their rights to impose tougher restrictions on passengers than the TSA demands, it is completely arbitrary to prohibit wine transport in checked luggage, and only at one airport in America. You’re not allowed to carry wine onboard in your hand luggage, so checked luggage is the only legal means. And other airlines clearly don’t have the same restrictions. (Consider these tips for packing and shipping wine when you travel.) Further lesson: Don’t “declare” that you have wine if checking in at United in LAX. And if you’re only carrying one or two bottles, be sure to pack them tightly.

(As an aside, I’ve had surprisingly good experiences shipping fragile/breakable liquids in checked luggage: Flying from Germany to the United States a few years ago, I transported multiple bottles of beer and a couple jars of jam in my suitcase. I had packed it well, using bubble wrap and newspaper. I cleared customs and connected in Detroit, where I had to re-check my suitcase. The TSA opened everything up and shifted the suitcase contents around. But to their great credit, they not only returned the beer and food to the suitcase — they lovingly wrapped things even more, using clear packing tape, and an artfully-placed single band of “TSA inspected” label tape. Photo above.)

As the Cranky Flier rightly suggests, the wine prohibition at LAX demonstrates one of the biggest problems in the relationship airlines have with their customers: Inconsistency. Whether the rules officially vary from airport to airport (e.g., check-in times, luggage policies…) or are seemingly invented by front-line employees (e.g., lounge privileges, wine transportation…), the customer still comes away feeling frustrated. Not a great way to make friends and influence people.