I travel HBO most of the time. That said, I do occasionally put luggage on the hold and my baggage tags have survived baggage handlers for dozens and dozens of times. Eventually, they do get frayed around the edges but as long as the BAEC # is still legible, that is the only thing that really matters, is it not? These are not fashion statements nor particularly decorative items anyway, are they?

I must say that I do not have any issue at all with BA making baggage tags on demand rather than sending them automatically every year but it is difficult not to put this in the broader continuous stream of cuts after cuts.