I flew through LGW to Manchester a couple of weeks ago and checked a bag in, I was asked if I had any hand luggage and I had a small laptop bag. I was asked to weigh this and one of these BA Approved for Cabin Bags was attached to it. (It weighed 2kgs!!).

I asked the lady if this was a new thing and she said it had been in a while.. maybe to educate people re cabin baggage in advance of this exercise thinking aloud.

I asked her what would happen if you had printed your BP off at home or had it on your phone and was told that you would have had BA staff at the entrance to security and you would not be allowed through if you did not have a tag.

I rarely travel on same day returns but I always check something in even if only going away for 1 night as I broke my arm/hand a few years ago so carrying hand luggage and lifting it to the overhead locker can become painful. That and the incredibly frustrating liquid rules with toiletries so its not the end of the world to wait at the carousel though BA could note to deliver premium bags a tad earlier but that is another thread.

Turning back to BA unbundling baggage charges. I remember when I lived in Jersey when Flybe starting doing this 10 yrs ago!!!

I seem to recall that the tag was single use and you would not be able to attach it to a different bag. There is also a white space on there which I am guessing could be used to stamp the date of travel on it.