Warning to Those Flying AA out of Barcelona with Wine!

Travel, Wine Tourism, and Restaurants Forum
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We just returned from a week’s trip in Spain where we flew into Madrid, and, after meandering for a week, flew home from Barcelona airport (BCN). As usual, we brought a case of wine with us to enjoy on the trip ourselves and with friends. Along the way, we acquired a bottle or two, as well as some vinegar, so our shipper case was about 2/3 full when we arrived at the airport to depart. It was a standard 12 pack styro shipper, all nicely padded inside with extra bubble wrap, and taped up properly.

We’ve flown with a wine box dozens of times, all over Europe, Asia and the US, and, while we sometimes get asked what’s in the box, and there is sometimes a discussion about how it’s properly packed, we’ve never ultimately had an issue. Occasionally been asked to pay duties, but never refused. Not so at BCN…

Arriving at the check-in counter, we were asked what’s in the box. “Wine and vinegar” we said (we’re always truthful about this, since boxes often get opened and inspected.)
The guy shakes his head and says: “You can’t check it.”
What? We explained how it was properly packed.
– No, it’s not allowed to check any bottles, wine or vinegar, sorry. It’s the rule.
– But we have done it all over Europe, it’s perfectly legal.
– No. It’s the rule at BCN. Not allowed.
– Well, could we just put the expensive bottles in our suitcases?
– No, because how we know you have it.

We called over the manager.

– Sorry, no. You are not allowed to check in wine or vinegar or other bottles. It is a rule between American Airlines and the outsourced company that they use for airport staff to not allow it. The liability is too high. Not even one bottle in the suitcase if we know about it. If we find it, it will be confiscated.

A long discussion ensued, many pictures were taken. Many texts were sent, calls were made. The manager we were dealing with was very nice, but very clear that this was absolutely 100% not allowed at BCN flying AA. I explained that this “rule” is not written anywhere, at least not on any website that I could find. She agreed it isn’t something we could have known about, but it is the rule at BCN with AA. Are we just supposed to throw it all away? She shrugged. Yes, that is what people do.

We managed to stay calm, but were also pretty upset. We don’t speak Spanish, but I heard the words “Executive Platinum” mentioned many times (I have that status), so what I believe was going on was the employee of the outsourced firm was talking with AA to see if the risk was worth it to take the box and avoid pissing off a high status flyer.

Finally, after about 30 minutes of this, we were told they would make an exception as long as we had the box wrapped at one of those wrapping stations. Of course, this is completely ridiculous, but at that point we weren’t arguing. The alternative would have been to take a train to Madrid and fly home from there, which we were looking into had it not worked out in our favor.

I don’t make any claims about how this rule came about, how and how often it is enforced, if what we were told is true, but I am absolutely sure we came within a hair’s breadth of being prevented from checking our wine case, and that if I weren’t EP, it absolutely would have been stopped.

PSA…

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Ugh. I’m sorry you had to deal with that, Sarah. Dealing with travel hassles in a foreign language is no fun. Dealing with arbitrary bureaucracy in a foreign language is even worse.

Thanks for the heads up.

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yes, not the first time unwritten rules have been enforced at airports, and I guess I’m also saddened that ‘customer status’ was so important in them finding a solution for you.

I find the idea of getting using the trains to Italy, more appealing now than a flight, despite the elongated journey time. Trains very much more civilised vs. the cattle herding experience at medium-large modern airports, with only the smallest reminding us how it doesn’t need to be an unpleasant experience.

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The smallest, or those in Japan. :slight_smile:

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Thread drift - I totally understand what you are saying here, but I am of mixed feelings. There are tons of situations where being a loyal customer gets you (and SHOULD get you, I would argue) special privileges and exceptions to rules. On this wine board alone, there are lots of times when people talk about how being a regular at a restaurant can get you permission to BYO, when generally it is not allowed. Or if you are a regular at a restaurant, you can bypass the impossible reservation system to book a table directly. Airline loyalty programs have codified benefits. Should there be other benefits that aren’t written? Better service and attention? I don’t know. I think everyone should get good service - should some get extra special?

Overall, this particular rule should not exist, and no one should have to suffer it. Should someone with status have more pull to ask for an exception? Well…it’s kind of the way of the world, if not exactly fair. I suppose if you’re in the status group it seems more fair than if you are not. :wink:

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We had a similar-ish strange occurrence at the Basel Europort a number of years ago. We had been travelling through France, and picked up a number of bottles to place inside the styro shippers we had brought (3 cases for the 2 of us, iirc). The Basel Europort is in France, just off A35, as context. When we arrived to the counter with the cart of boxes, we were asked if we had a receipt for the Swiss import/export of the wine. We were told that the airport is technically Switzerland, and therefore, our French wine needed duty paid for import (from the parking lot to the counter) and export (counter to plane). However, this duty could not be settled at the airport, we needed to go to Basel (which is actually IN Switzerland) to fill out forms and pay duties. Supervisors were called, many discussions in French, German and English, and finally after (likewise) noticing and discussing FF Status, we were allowed to check the wine, although it was represented that the duty requirement was an airport policy, not an airline policy. Note, I did not utter the word “Fonctionnaire”, at any time, although it was close to happening. :roll_eyes:

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Crazy story. I am in Europe right now flying out of Geneva on Friday and I’d be deeply distraught if someone said I couldn’t fly with the case I’ve been lovingly putting together. (And now I’m irrationally nervous, of course.)
Glad it all worked out!

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I agree this is the way of the world. But it’s a lot more than just being loyal. The average person may be loyal to an airline, but never fly enough or spend enough money to get to Executive Platinum. That’s almost by definition a level for rich people.

But regardless, that is an insane story. Yet another example (as is Mike’s) of how airports are like alternate realities where standard laws do not apply and you never know what can happen!

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Or business travelers like me.

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I’m not trying to shame you. But how many poor ‘business’ travelers get to Executive Platinum. How many poor people even travel by airplane for work. Corporate/business travel is a wealth machine.

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I don’t think you are trying to shame me, not that I would care much if you were. But I don’t know that it’s making much of a point to remind us that the world is generally easier for people who have means. :woman_shrugging:

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Ian thought it was a shame that your situation was resolved in your favor because of your means/frequent flyer status. You responded by saying that your status was more than just having means, it was about loyalty. My point was that your loyalty only had value to the extent it was downstream from your means.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so nitpicky on a wine board where we all have means and enjoy the benefits!

And I’ve never run into this problem but now you have me wondering when these policies may rear their head against me! I do appreciate the headsup post.

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Frustrating and although after corporate life I’ve never been an AA traveller, I just hope other airlines that I travel with do not replicate.
Especially when their stated policy, as per AA website, clearly state otherwise, i.e. what one can /cannot do.

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I wonder what AA out of BCN does with bottles of wine/liquor purchased at the in-airport Duty Free shops … :thinking:

…I heard from a couple friends who recently went to Barcelona that Barcelona is currently in an Anti-Tourist state of mind. I was disheartened to hear this news, as I frequently sing Barcelona’s praises (it’s my favorite city in the world). I wonder if your experience and this Surprise “rule” is part of this alleged ongoing sentiment against tourists …

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Well, Duty Free is carry-on, so wouldn’t be affected by the rule. We didn’t go into Barcelona at all, so I can’t say what the tourist climate is. But I think this is more about a cost cutting drive to outsource than something tourist related.

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My (limited) experience with Duty Free liquor purchases is that they go from the shop directly to the airline, thus requiring some level of handling above and beyond that which is required when a passenger is simply carrying something on. Quite frankly, this “rule” you guys encountered sounds like some b.s. to me ---- how can “rules” be enforced or deemed valid without Notice of the same?!? I don’t get it, and it sounds like you were/are similarly flummoxed. Regardless, I’m glad it worked-out for you in the end. Thank you for posting the PSA.

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Duty free staff are not part of American Airlines’s outsourced employees. This rule is between AA and their BCN third party airport staff, so has no effect whatsoever on Duty Free handling elsewhere in the airport, or even other airlines, if I am understanding correctly. They will not accept any bottles for checkin. You can buy a bottle of wine anywhere in the airport after security and no one will stop you getting on the plane with it. Again, this is just what I was told, I have no way of proving it.

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Did they explain what sort of liability they were afraid of? Doesn’t sound like a scam to just take peoples wine , with he management involvement.

Years ago returning from Punta Cana they claimed a bag was overweight, when I was quite sure it wasn’t. My insisting on a receipt and paying by Visa magically brought the bag onside.

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They didn’t say anything about liability, they just said it’s an agreement because of the “risk” of handling the bottles. My interpretation based on the situation described had to do with liability, either in damaged property of the customer, or that it could somehow damage other customers’ bags and they’d be angry, or even that it could damage the cargo hold/transporters somehow. It’s about glass and bottles, not about alcohol - vinegar not allowed either. The language barrier was a little high to be discussing nuances. It was definitely not a scam, it was clearly being escalated up a chain. They made no move to confiscate the wine, didn’t even suggest they would or could. When I asked if I was supposed to just throw it away, all I got was a shrug. Since they made it clear that vinegar was also not allowed, I doubt there was any desire for personal gain involved.

FWIW, I have messaged AA Customer Service about it, but have not received a response.

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I’d email-call, too. Am interested as to how they explain deviation from their online-stated check-in policy on wines.