Air Canada sues passenger who spent thousands on clothes while his luggage was missing — so who is in the right?

These purchases aren’t flying under the radar.

When Alaa Tannous and his wife Nancy flew with Air Canada in 2022, the airline lost their checked luggage.

According to The Street, the luggage was returned to the Toronto couple less than 24 hours later, but Tannous sought compensation for purchases he made while the baggage was missing, totaling thousands of dollars.

Although Air Canada rejected Tannous’ claim, the Canadian Transportation Agency ordered the airline to pay Tannous $2,079 CDN, ($1,440 USD).

However, Air Canada is now suing Tannous, taking him to Federal Court in an attempt to overturn the CTA’s decision.

“It was shocking,” Tannous told CBC, adding that he felt that his ask was “fair.”

“It’s disappointing to see the airline, after all the money I spent with them over the years [is…] appealing a $2,000 claim.”

Initially, Tannous asked for $3,435 CDN (approximately $2,382 USD) from the airline, which it rejected and instead offered a meager $250 in compensation to cover necessary costs, a solution that did not satisfy Tannous.

In court documents obtained by CBC, Air Canada claimed that Tannous submitted expenses that the airline considered unreasonable for lacking luggage for less than a day.

A statement from Air Canada posted to LinkedIn claimed that Tannous’ luggage was delivered to the couple’s Vancouver hotel on May 26, 2022 at 9:15 a.m. local time — less than 24 hours after the travelers touched down in the city.

In the statement, the airline claimed that Tannous spent $570.12 CDN on toiletries, skincare and makeup; $1,121.86 CDN for two pairs of pants, three shirts and a single dress that cost $348.84 CDN; $247.52 CDN on four sets of lingerie and sleepwear; and $525.50 CDN for underwear, jeans and two tees.

After the bags were delivered, Air Canada claimed Tannous spent and attempted to expense $433.61 on women’s sneakers and $1,310.40 for a custom monogrammed Tumi suitcase.

According to CBC, Tannous claimed that he and his wife left the hotel in the morning before the baggage arrived without notice. He also said that the suitcase was meant to bring the replacement purchases back home, but that the amount CTA ordered Air Canada to pay was not enough to cover the new luggage.

While the awarded amount was enough to cover just the necessities, Tannous also claimed that, at the time, an Air Canada employee informed them they could expense “a reasonable amount” to replace the missing items.

“They couldn’t even track the luggage, if it’s in Toronto or, like, on the way,” Tannous said. “I was under the impression, luggage is gone.”

According to Air Canada guidelines, the airline vows it will reimburse travelers “for reasonable expenses” for “rentals or essential items,” such as clothing, toiletries or sports equipment rentals, so long as they are verified with receipts.

CBC reported that the maximum the airline could shell out for lost or delayed baggage is an estimated $2,400. Air Canada, however, is now claiming that Tannous did not adequately justify the purchases.

“I believed in the system, which is my mistake,” he said, calling the situation “unacceptable.” “It has to be changed.”