Am coming back from Asia soon on an ex-EU and have been toying with tweaking my travel plans (after BA changed connection times on me...)

As it stands I have a T5-T5 connection of just over 2 hours, and also have option of a back to back at FRA as my retimed flight has a 70 minute turnaround. A 5 hour layover in FRA (lunch and a quick wander before flying to LCY) having been able to shower and relax in LHR lounges was one thing, an 8 hour FRA layover and possibly minimal time in LHR to freshen up is less appealing. My current plan is to ask CX to through check my bags from Japan to LHR (separate ticket to HKG for the BA flight) so I can throw them into left luggage and then do a HBO back to back and collect a few hours later.

If my inbound is delayed and I have to head straight to my FRA flight what is likely to happen to my checked bags? Is it likely to be easy to retrieve them a few hours later?

Thanks

(Mods, happy for this to go into the master baggage thread after a run-out)