I know this isn't strictly an aircanada issue but since I pretty much fly AC exclusively I was hoping some seasoned FT's could help me out, either on here or via personal message:

Every Christmas I fly home from the west coast to Fredericton and the last 3 trips have ended with me arriving without my one checked bag -despite having status and being in paid J two of those years - you'd think that since that leg of the flight has no exec cabin the least they could do for a customer paying double is put your bag on the plane...

Today my bag again did not make it. Not sure where it is since I flew from YOW to Halifax and then back to Fredericton. Since I live 1.5 hours drive from the airport I often don't get my bag till sometime the following afternoon when it is delivered.

The past few years I have just shrugged my shoulders and rolled with it, half out of just being happy to get home and half out of apathy due to not knowing how to make insurance claim...

I was wondering how one does make a claim for delayed baggage with their insurance and this is where AC becomes part of the question:
-how do you prove the bag is delayed?
-where do you get the proof of when you landed and proof of when you actually do receive the bag?
-often times you baggage is delayed and ends up at the airport a few hours later on a later flight but if then the bag is delivered to you at a later time what time counts?
-am I making this more difficult then necessary? do I just go out and buy a t-shirt, some underwear, and some toothpaste and deodarant and claim it through my credit card? am I being a scrooge for not wanting to pay for a new t-shirt and underwear myself?

I pay for my flights with an RBC Avion Infinite card if that matters...

Oh, and Merry Christmas to all the FT's on here, I mainly lurk but would be lost without the helpful information generously given out on here...it's appreciated.