Air France Lost Fencer’s Gear—Then Denied His Claim
For Lev, a Team USA saber fencer from Bethesda, Maryland, a routine flight to Tunisia in January 2025 turned into a bureaucratic nightmare—all because Air France lost his fencing gear. The bag, packed with everything from custom blades to his official Team USA tracksuit, was valued at $2,736. But getting reimbursed? That proved nearly impossible.
The Lost Bag That Could’ve Cost Olympic Dreams
Lev was en route to compete in a Grand Prix fencing tournament—a critical qualifier for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Without his own equipment, he had to borrow gear and underperformed. “The stress of losing my bag affected my focus,” he said. “It wasn’t just about money—it was about preparation, identity, and fairness.”
Air France’s Reimbursement Runaround
What followed was five and a half months of contradictory instructions, disappearing documents, and sudden new requirements:
- Initially told no receipts were needed.
- Later asked to submit receipts—but only in PDF format.
- Then told his PDF signature didn’t match an earlier version.
- Finally, flagged by Air France’s fraud department over “inconsistent” receipts.
At one point, Air France offered a mere $619 as a “gesture of goodwill”—less than a quarter of his actual loss.
The Montreal Convention & Airline Liability
Under the Montreal Convention, international airlines are liable for up to approximately $2,190 per passenger for lost luggage. Lev’s claim fell well within that limit. Yet Air France dragged its feet, citing vague “documentation standards” nowhere to be found in its public policies.
Breaking Down the Reimbursement Timeline
| Date | Action | Amount Offered/Paid |
|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | Bag lost on Air France flight to Tunisia | $0 |
| June 2025 | Initial “goodwill” offer after 5.5 months | $619 |
| October 2025 | Partial reimbursement after media inquiry | $896 (plus $619 = $1,515) |
| Late October 2025 | Final payment issued following NYT intervention | $676 (total: $2,191) |
Emotional Distress: An Overlooked Cost
European courts have recognized that lost luggage damages aren’t just material—they can include emotional distress, especially in high-stakes scenarios like elite sports competitions. Lev’s case highlights how rigid airline policies often ignore the human impact behind a missing bag.
Credit Card Insurance Saves the Day
Thankfully, Lev’s credit card included travel insurance that covered the remaining $545 gap. “Without that, I’d still be out more than a fifth of my claim,” he noted.
What Travelers Can Learn
- Always photograph your luggage contents before flying.
- Keep digital and physical copies of all receipts for valuable items.
- Know your rights under the Montreal Convention—it caps liability but guarantees some compensation.
- Escalate early: Waiting months only gives airlines room to shift goalposts.
