When I went through customs (I suppose it was)....
...... The only possibility the agent offered was for me to go airside again, find my suitcase, put the bottle in it and then do the whole clearance again.
Can anyone explain that?
First question would be: Can you clarify why were you going through customs without your suitcase?
Second question that possibly follows on from that: Were you by any chance connecting from ATL and your hold baggage was checked through onto another service?