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.

Update: No kowtowing to teetotaling taxicabs
Remember the cabdrivers who were refusing to transport passengers from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport if they suspected the traveler was carrying alcohol? The airports commission has wisely reversed its earlier plans to label taxis as “wet” or “dry.” If a cabbie refuses a fare for any reason, he now has to go to the back of the line. Good. If you don’t want to transport people whom you find objectionable for whatever reason, don’t be a cabdriver. Simple enough.

Economy Parking, Premium Skycaps
Chicago’s O’Hare airport is getting skycaps at Economy Parking Lot E. The new service, run by BAGS, Inc., will allow parkers to check in and drop off their bags ($5 fee) before they head back to the terminal via the train. But you’re expected to drop off the bags a whole 2 hours before your flight. That seems like a stretch.

More airlines lower fuel surcharges
Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines are rolling back fuel surcharges for longhaul flights. Good for them, and for us.

Singapore Airlines’ gift from above
A large metal bolt fell off a Singapore Airlines 747 and hit an Australian man’s house. (He should be glad it wasn’t a DC-10 overhead.)

Behind the scenes at American Airlines
Peter Greenberg spent a week checking out American Airlines’ operations behind the scenes. The result is a CNBC special which aired Wednesday. I missed the first showing, but it’s being re-run on Sunday. Plus, clips from the show are available for download here. Will there be coverage of the mice that seemingly infest their planes?

Europeans: ask for your travel records
Privacy advocate Ed Hasbrouck advises Europeans to find out what’s in their travel records. In Europe, you own the rights to your data. In the U.S., the company that holds the data owns the rights. Might as well have a look, to see if there are errors. Much like looking at your credit report to look for fraud…

Ryanair revises fine print, battles its own employees
Britain’s Office of Fair Trading is forcing Ryanair to change the fine print in its ticketing contract. The changes make it easier to file a claim against the airline for lost, damaged, or delayed luggage, as well as expenses due to flight cancellation. This comes on top of employee actions, including unionization threats, promises of a strike by baggage handlers in Spain, and the refusal of Italian crew to sell food on board. (See here for the unionization campaign’s homepage.)

Terrifying liquid
Via Boingboing: a liquid whose name deserves all the TSA scrutiny it can handle. Best to pack this on in your carry-on, if you absolutely, positively need to bring central American cleaning supplies through an airport.

Terrifying lawns
Taking his work home with him? A Los Angeles plane mechanic has turned his front lawn into a mock airplane crash site for Halloween. It uses real aircraft parts from a Gulfstream. Considering it’s in LA, trick-or-treaters might be unfazed and think he’s running a filming location for “Lost.”

Sharkey strikes back
NY Times travel columnist Joe Sharkey, who survived the midair collision in Brazil a few weeks ago, and whose blog was peppered with hate-filled comments after he posted a short statement of concern for the fates of the pilots of his aircraft, lashed out against his (largely Brazilian) critics in a recent post. The investigation into the accident and the surrounding controversy has become quite the drama. Thusfar no word on his site on whether or not he is, in fact, Robin Leach.

Flying internationally into Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport? Bringing in some duty free liquor? Taking a cab? Better hide the hooch, and hide it well.

A number of Somalian cabbies in the area, citing their religious beliefs, have been refusing to transport passengers who are carrying or are even suspected of carrying liquor. It’s become pervasive enough that the city is considering a system for marking cabs that are anti-booze.

Driving a taxi means transporting all kinds of people, most of whom probably have some habits that you find repulsive in some way or another. Where do you draw the line? Perhaps “cab driver” isn’t the best career choice for these particular Minnesotans.