Single can of beer checked in on Qantas flight: Liberal party staffer behind prank

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 6 years ago

Single can of beer checked in on Qantas flight: Liberal party staffer behind prank

Updated
Mr Wicken, who was identified as Dean Stinson, the name he uses on Facebook, said he was behind the prank., posted a photo of his 'luggage'.

Mr Wicken, who was identified as Dean Stinson, the name he uses on Facebook, said he was behind the prank., posted a photo of his 'luggage'.Credit: Dean Stinson, Facebook

An Australian man who attracted international attention by checking in a single can of beer on a flight from Melbourne to Perth has been revealed as Dean Wicken, a staff member for federal Liberal MP Melissa Price.

Mr Wicken, the current WA Young Liberals policy director, made global headlines on Wednesday after posting footage on Facebook of his lone can of Emu Export arriving at Perth Airport's baggage claim for Qantas flight QF777 on Saturday.

Mr Wicken, who was identified as Dean Stinson, the name he uses on Facebook, said he was behind the prank.

"I've had quite the notoriety," he said, declining to comment further.

He told Daily Mail Australia he was skeptical as to whether he could pull it off after he and a friend had thought of the idea.

"My mate works at the airport and we hatched the plan as a laugh - I half didn't expect it to come out the other end," he said.

"But when it did it was sent out well in front of all the other luggage, so the baggage handlers obviously appreciated it."

The absurd story with the funny images quickly went viral in news media around the world.

"A hop head in Australia checked in a single can of beer as his luggage on a flight -- and the airport staff happily tagged the tin and put it on the plane," said the New York Post.

Advertisement

The UK's Independent said: "A solitary can of lager spent the weekend making its way around an airport baggage carousel after an Australian passenger checked it in as luggage on a flight."

"To the amusement of ground staff at Melbourne airport, the can of Emu Export Lager was tagged and made its way along the conveyor belt to the plane as the only check-in item for passenger Dean Stinson," one of India's largest papers, the Hindustan Times, reported.

Ms Price was contacted for comment.

AAP

Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter

Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading