An airline passenger has reported losing a significant amount of jewelry and other valuables right before taking a flight. The incident involves Stafford Gordon, a resident of Oshawa, who was traveling with his wife from Canada to Jamaica on an American Airlines flight.

The journey was not just any ordinary trip; the couple was going to Jamaica to attend a memorial service and celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary in August. With such important events ahead, Gordon made sure to pack carefully, placing two expensive watches, jewelry, suits, and shoes in his carry-on luggage. His intention was clear: to keep these luxury items close at hand throughout the journey.

However, things took an unexpected turn at the gate. According to Gordon, an airline employee approached and took his carry-on suitcase, asking for his seat number before walking away. “He just took the bag and stepped away and left,” Gordon recounted to CTV News, expressing his confusion and concern over the situation.

Gordon packed two expensive watches, jewelry, suits, and shoes in his carry-on so that he could keep the luxury items with him at all times.

He says an airline employee grabbed his carry-on suitcase at the gate, then asked Gordon his seat number before walking away.

‘He just took the bag and stepped away and left,’ he told CTV News.  

Gordon never saw his suitcase again. 

When he and his wife landed in Jamaica, Gordon learned that his bag and all of his lavish jewelry had completely disappeared.

Gordon and his wife were headed to Jamaica for a memorial service and to celebrate their anniversary

American Airlines only offered Gordon $1,272 for his missing items

Gordon was forced to wear his travel clothes to his loved ones’ memorial

‘I found out they had no record of my bags. Nothing. It was gone,’ Gordon said.

Gordon had been forced to check his carry-on luggage at the gate – and after it was lost, he had to attend his loved one’s memorial in travel clothes. 

Gordon collects expensive jewelry and watches. He estimated that he’d lost $10,000 worth of clothes and accessories in the airline mix-up.

‘My jewelry alone is worth at least $8,000,’ he said.

When Gordon contacted American Airlines, he was told to provide receipts for his lost luggage. 

But since many of the pieces were more than a decade old, Gordon didn’t have any record of purchasing them. 

He walked away with only $1,272 for his missing cargo.

‘I need adequate compensation for my loss,’ Gordon said.

He told the outlet that the airline ‘completely disregarded’ the list he made detailing what went missing.

Gordon said the airline lost more than $8,000 in jewelry when they misplaced his carry-on

American Airlines representatives told CTV that they were in touch with Gordon and were ‘working with them to come to a resolution’

Gordon has long collected luxury jewelry and watches. He said the pieces that were lost were multiple decades old

In a statement to CTV, American Airlines confirmed that they were in contact with Gordon. 

‘Our team has been in touch with the passenger to learn more about their experience and address their concerns, and we are working with them to come to a resolution,’ a spokesperson wrote.

Gordon’s wife Karen ridiculed the airline on social media calling their policies ‘unreasonable and deliberately cruel.’ She also alleged that they refused to compensate the couple for toiletries, shoes, or the luggage itself. 

Gate-checking carry-ons is a divisive airline practice. In many instances, airlines insist that passenger check their bags for free when a plane runs out of space in overhead bins.

Experts recommend that passengers travel with valuables in their personal items to avoid losing what might be irreplicable.

American Airlines advise that passengers label carry-on luggage in case it has to be checked.

The Daily Mail has contacted American Airlines and Gordon for further comment.