
Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, her 22-month daughter and her baby daddy (model Gabriel Aubry) could not wait on a long airport line last week like everyone else, so they cut the line with the aid of a Montréal police officer.
Folks stood on a U.S. customs line for more than an hour, with tempers flaring, stomachs growling, kids fidgeting and fussing, and parents frustrated. All the while, Berry and her family were whisked right to their executive-class seats on Air Canada without missing a beat.
Who blew the whistle on the favored actress? Apparently, a Montréal journalist who just happened to be booked on the same flight as Berry and her clan. She witnessed the actress and her family being escorted to the front of the line, bypassing all of the other countless passengers who were forced to patiently wait their turn. The journalist, who was rather perturbed by what she saw, wrote about Berry's line-cutting on her French-language blog. Ironically, the journalist who waited her turn in the customs line was then berated by an Air Canada employee for being late to board the flight.
Aéroports de Montréal, though, claims that it doesn't give preferential treatment and that it is often not even notified when a VIP arrives.
According to Air Canada, it doesn't differentiate based on celebrity status either, but rather, according to fares: As executive class passengers, Berry and Montréal-born Aubry, were entitled to priority lines through check-in, boarding and security, said Air Canada spokesperson Isabelle Arthur.
Inspector Jimmy Cacchione, who heads the Montréal police force airport unit, states that the officer who escorted Berry acted on his own accord. "The husband of Ms. Berry asked if they could go faster through the line, because they were late and they had the baby," Cacchione said. "The officer took the personal initiative to allow them to go through the line faster, but that's not something the Montréal police supports."
Cacchione further stated, that the officer will not be reprimanded but that the police airport unit will institute stricter rules for the future.


Comments: (88)
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By: NIKKI on 1/11/2010 11:05AM
As many times as we fly and get upset at the priority seat boarding privileges, its just the same difference... She probably paid $1,000 per ticket... maybe more if it was a last minute flight... anyone who pays that amount of money deserves special treatment... not an escort but a priority scanning section at the least... I would be the first to complain about any special treatment but, I know I have had that type of treatment when I was about to miss a flight.. but that was as a servicemember in uniform... so does that make it any better...
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By: Harold Kinobli on 1/11/2010 10:54PM
There are NO VIPs waiting in lines at the airports... The ONLY VIP in the U.S. has his own plane - he's called the president.
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By: L.T. on 1/12/2010 3:29PM
There's a difference. That's something that I think that you deserve ESPECIALLY being a service member. You're fighting for this country and that's the least that can be done for you. It should be more.
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By: wayne8734 on 1/11/2010 8:17PM
shes a beauitful woman but she can stand in line like everyone !!!! my time is just as valuable to me as hers is to her.the ones who escorted them through should be terminated
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By: flat top on 1/11/2010 8:23PM
More starstruck people enabling these celebs ... SHEESH!!
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By: Janis on 1/11/2010 8:27PM
I look at it like this, money talks bull shit walks. Do you seriously believe that any celebrity is going to wait in any line? You’re crazy. That’s why they get free expensive clothes and people chasing after them taking pictures, because their fucking famous.
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By: kj on 1/11/2010 8:31PM
Please that is not her husband even though she probably takes care of him....not even married and keep having babies.
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By: mrs b on 1/12/2010 3:53PM
Correction...this is her FIRST baby.
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By: Kelly on 1/11/2010 8:37PM
Well, if her child was upset, etc. one thing she might have done is ask if all parents with children could go ahead and board so that they could address the needs of the children. That way she could have used her celebrity status for everyone. Nice thought, but in reality, to be fair, you really never know if it was her or the airlines.
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By: T on 1/11/2010 8:53PM
The poll is not just misleading, it's obviously never been proofread or even been given a second glance by anyone at this publication, ever. If you answer "Yes", you're saying, "Yes, I think it's fair that they were escorted to the front of the line; who do they think they are?" which makes no sense whatsoever. It's scary what passes for an editor these days; apparently they just need to be able to recite their abc's and not much more.
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