A passenger is facing legal action from an airline after spending over C$3,000 on replacement items when his luggage went missing during travel. Losing luggage is one of the most frustrating experiences a traveler can encounter. Whether it’s a temporary delay or a complete loss, the inconvenience of being left without essential belongings can be significant, especially if it happens upon arrival at a destination, leaving travelers unprepared for their trip. This was the unfortunate reality for Alaa Tannous and his wife, Nancy, in 2022 after they took a cross-country flight with Air Canada from Toronto to Vancouver.
Upon landing in Vancouver, Alaa discovered that his luggage had not arrived. According to him, airline staff couldn’t even determine its location. “They couldn’t even track the luggage, if it’s in Toronto or, like, on the way,” he told CBC. “I was under the impression, luggage is gone.” Given this uncertainty, he was informed that he and his wife could purchase a “reasonable amount” of necessities to compensate for their missing bags. Taking this into account, the couple proceeded to buy essential items, accumulating a total cost of over C$3,000 (approximately $2,100 USD). Later, they submitted their receipts to Air Canada, expecting reimbursement for their unexpected expenses. However, Air Canada initially only offered them $250, which they declined.
Determined to seek fair compensation, Alaa took his case to the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), which later ruled in his favor, ordering Air Canada to pay him and his wife approximately C$2,400. Alaa viewed this outcome as fair, believing that it covered the reasonable cost of the essentials they had purchased in the wake of their missing luggage. However, what seemed to be a resolution to their frustrating ordeal took an unexpected turn when, in December 2024, Alaa and Nancy received court documents informing them that Air Canada was now suing them. The airline had decided to escalate the matter to Federal Court in an attempt to overturn the CTA’s ruling.
@getlostwebsite I could see it moving around the airport🤬 @sarah #airlinestaff #airportlife #lostluggage #stolenluggage ♬ Suspenseful and tense orchestra(1318015) – SoLaTiDo
The news came as a shock to Alaa. “It was shocking,” he said about being served with the lawsuit during the holiday season. “It’s disappointing to see the airline, after all the money I spent with them over the years … they’re appealing a $2,000 claim.” The legal battle caught the attention of many travelers who sympathized with Alaa’s plight, questioning why an airline would take such drastic action over an amount that, to many, seemed relatively small compared to the inconvenience he had experienced.
However, Air Canada provided a different version of events, arguing that the couple’s luggage had been returned within 24 hours of their arrival in Vancouver. According to the airline, some of the items the couple purchased and claimed as necessary expenses were bought after their bags were already back in their possession. In its official statement, the airline asserted that Alaa’s flight arrived in Vancouver at 11:08 a.m. on May 25, 2022, and that the luggage was delivered to their hotel the following morning at 9:15 a.m. on May 26.
Breaking down their expenses, Air Canada pointed out that on May 25 alone, the couple spent nearly C$570 on toiletries, nearly C$300 on lingerie and sleepwear, and over C$1,600 on clothing and underwear. The airline further claimed that some of the receipts indicated purchases made after the luggage had already been returned. For instance, on the evening of May 26—the same day Air Canada said the luggage was returned—Alaa and his wife spent C$433 on a pair of women’s sneakers. Then, on May 28, two days after getting their bags back, the couple reportedly spent over C$1,000 on a personally monogrammed Tumi suitcase.
Air Canada defended its decision to pursue the legal case, stating that under current law, it cannot appeal CTA rulings directly to the agency and must take the matter to Federal Court instead. “Under current law, Air Canada cannot appeal decisions by the Canadian Transportation Agency to the agency itself and must instead appeal to the Federal Court. In this case, Air Canada has chosen to appeal to the Federal Court because it is seeking guidance on what constitutes reasonable expenses that customers can claim,” the airline explained in a statement posted to LinkedIn.
Despite taking the case to court, Air Canada stated that it was not seeking legal costs from Alaa if it won the case. Meanwhile, Alaa expressed his frustration with the ongoing legal battle and stated that he did not plan to hire a lawyer, as he didn’t want to “waste more money” on the situation. The lawsuit has sparked public debate over what airlines should be responsible for when a passenger’s luggage is delayed or lost and how much compensation is considered reasonable. Many travelers argue that airlines should be held accountable for the inconvenience caused by lost baggage, while others question whether spending thousands on replacement items, including a luxury suitcase, falls under the definition of “necessary expenses.”
As the legal proceedings continue, the case serves as a reminder of the frustrations that come with air travel and the sometimes complicated process of seeking compensation for lost or delayed baggage. For Alaa and his wife, what started as an effort to recover the cost of their missing belongings has turned into a lengthy legal battle against one of Canada’s largest airlines. Whether Air Canada succeeds in overturning the ruling or not, the case has already highlighted the need for clearer policies on airline liability and passenger rights when it comes to luggage mishaps.
