My mom just flew on a CRJ-900 to visit me for the weekend. She gate checked a rollaboard that had a Diamond tag affixed with the original lanyard. When she picked up the bag in the jetbridge upon arrival, the tag and lanyard were gone.

My mom has no status -- not even a SkyMiles number -- although she was on an award ticket redeemed by my dad, who is Diamond (and who owns the bag).

My dad says he is sure the tag cannot fall off on its own. The bag shows no sign of rough handling; even the pink gate check tag is hardly wrinkled.

I suspect the gate agent radioed down to the ramp agents to instruct them to take off the luggage tag. Is that possible?