I'm booked BOS-ATL (departing BOS at 2:40pm, arriving ATL 5:30pm), connecting to ATL-BOM in J (departure 8pm). I have a lot of luggage (using my full 70 lbs x 3 allowance since i'm moving to BOM for a while).

I have two questions -

1. I'm planning to check one or two of my 3bags for my BOS-ATL flight *very* early (around 8am) since I will be close to the airport at the time. I'm afraid that my bag will either sit in BOS and get "forgotten" or worse go to ATL without me on an earlier flight [which i know is technically not allowed, but i've experienced a number of times where my bag reaches before I do] and get "lost" in ATL because its there so early. Am also concerned about theft.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

2. My brother took the same flight earlier this week (but from LGA instead of BOS) and was told at check in that "delta no longer did priority tags" for international BE. Has anyone had a similar experience? Priority tags (surprisingly) make a difference in BOM and I was wondering if anyone had an anecdotal experience to share. The DL website still lists priority tags as a benefit for PE and BE passengers.