Flair Airlines Ordered to Compensate Passenger for Missing Jewelry
The BC Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) recently ruled in favor of a woman who claimed that jewelry went missing from her checked baggage during a Flair Airlines flight from Mexico to Vancouver. Following her journey in February 2024, the woman discovered her luggage had been tampered with and a pouch containing valuable jewelry was nowhere to be found.
Despite promptly reporting the loss to Flair Airlines in February and April 2024, it wasn’t until June 2024 that the airline acknowledged the missing items. However, Flair denied the woman’s claim due to the lack of an itemized list or receipts to substantiate her losses.
While Flair argued that jewelry should not be placed in checked baggage as per their international tariff, the CRT held the airline responsible for the missing items. The tribunal emphasized that airlines can be liable for the loss of registered baggage under certain regulations, even though Flair suggested jewelry should only be carried in hand luggage.
Ultimately, the CRT ordered Flair Airlines to compensate the woman with $606.18, including damages, interest, and tribunal fees, within 30 days. Despite not receiving the full claimed amount due to the absence of supporting evidence, the ruling highlighted the airline’s responsibility in ensuring the safety of passengers’ belongings.
