I hadn't really thought too much about whether Gold Card status gave priority handling (although that would be a good perk and - actually - I would have guessed it WAS a perk so thanks for correcting me on that).

But what I really was asking about it priority baggage for Club (and First) travel.

I'm usually either flying Club class or flying with hand-baggage only in short-haul economy, so the issue of economy baggage with Gold Card status doesn't come up very often.

My expectation is that Club baggage should and does have priority, that this is coded on the luggage tags, that the orange labels are there for reassurance to the passenger, and that the handling systems in most airports can actually operate to give priority to correctly labelled luggage.

My frustration is at the apparent lack of actual priority given to Club class baggage and even now I am guessing that I've just been a bit unlucky from time to time and I've remembered those occasions instead of the times that it worked correctly.

It would be very disappointing if - indeed - premium cabin luggage isn't prioritised even in theory.