Originally Posted by
canadian_golf_guy
Flight/Origin-Destination: 162/YVR-YYZ
Date: Sept 4 - 5, 2010 (redeye)
Cabin: J
Status: UA 1P (*G)
Post departure
If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time?
HAHAHAHA! No.
My bag never showed up, and I missed my connection to the US because of all the waiting. The baggage agents have no idea where it is, but they think it's at YVR. Will I see it before I have to return from the US? Doubtful. 
Overall experience/any other comments
It's funny how AC is sometimes. I get an op-up, which is awesome, especially on a redeye, but then my bag disappears and causes me to mis-connect. Everything must be in balance, I suppose.
As a follow-up to this, I thought I'd comment on AC's interim baggage expenses claim policy.
As I was only in Dallas for one night as part of a mini-vacation/MR, I never got my bag until after I got back to Calgary, which meant that I had to buy clothing/toiletries so I didn't reek up the plane on the way home. I headed to a local mall in Dallas, and picked up a full change of clothes, toiletries, and a new rollaboard to old my old stuff for the trip home. I spent $275 on all of this.
When I got back, I wrote an extremely detailed letter to Air Canada explaining what happened and what I bought. I made a point to make it facts only, with no emotion or complaining.
As I was gathering together all my receipts and boarding passes to send in, I realized that I lost my one for the toiletries and rollaboard I bought at Target, so I got my credit card statement and blacked out everything except for the three purchases I was claiming back. I also picked out the items I bought on Target.com and printed off their descriptions and prices (total $105 of the $275).
I scanned all the BPs, receipts and Target.com info, and emailed that with my letter to the Air Canada Baggage Services email address. A week or so later, I got an email back saying I had to mail in my original reciepts. Uh-oh, I thought, as I was still missing my Target one. Nevertheless, I realized that it was my fault and decided to suck it up and mail in the other two for $170 total, so I popped them in the mail.
Today, I realized that I hadn't heard from Air Canada about this since I mailed in the receipts about 3 weeks ago, so I gave Baggage Services a call. After a couple of prompts, I was transferred to an agent who answered immediately. I asked him about my claim, and he said "Sir, according to our records, we mailed you a draft on Sept 29." "That's great news!," I replied and he apologized for my inconvience in all this.
When I got home after work today, an envelope from AC was waiting for me in the mailbox. I opened it, and a letter and cheque for $275 was inside. The letter said that they (and the rest of the Star Alliance) have an official policy of only paying out $100 for interim expenses, but they made an exception on an "exceptional basis" and gave me the full amount. They made no mention that I didn't even have the official receipt for the Target purchase.
It should be noted that I have no status with AC, and am just Star Gold with UA. With everything taken into account, I'm happy to say that I'm thrilled with Air Canada's service, from the <1 month complete turnaround to the full payment even without all the receipts. Way to go, AC!^