Couple returns home from Aruba to find luggage burned

By Brandon Rowe, News Staff

No amount of sunscreen could have prevented this vacation burn.

A Bradford couple claims they returned home from Aruba on Saturday night to find their luggage badly burned, with some of their clothes inside even melted together.

The couple first noticed something was amiss when they spotted their suitcase rounding the carousel at Pearson Airport wrapped in plastic.

After hauling it off and unwrapping the plastic they noticed the burn damage.

The couple didn’t want to appear on camera but told CityNews they were left with few answers from Sunwing Airlines.

Sunwing told CityNews it was aware of the damage and was willing to provide compensation through the appropriate channels.

“Our ground services team at Toronto Pearson International Airport has confirmed that one item of luggage was reported as damaged upon arrival on yesterday’s inbound flight from Aruba,” a Sunwing representative said in an email statement to CityNews.

Sunwing believes that luggage was damaged on the sortation conveyor belt in Aruba.

“Our policy, once a claim is made, is to offer our passengers a replacement for their suitcase and any damaged items within it when incidents such as this one occur,” the airline said.

Air passenger rights advocate, Gabor Lukacs, says in cases like this Sunwing could be liable for damage up to $2000.

He also had some advice for passengers who finds themselves in similar situations.

“When you’re baggage is damaged you should report it, if possible, at the airport when you arrive,” he advised. “And certainly within seven days in writing. Don’t just phone. Make sure you send a letter of complaint, setting out the date, the nature of the damage, perhaps some photos …within seven days of your arrival.”

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