No, in terms of rules/policies, nothing has changed. BA will generally not through-check baggage on separate bookings even if it’s BA-BA. However there are occasions where FLY and backend system detects chronological bookings and the check-in agent proactively sees the final destination (on a separate booking) and on such occasions, not often mind, one can be offered through-checking of baggage.

You were very fortunate that this happened to not once but twice on your travels!

The other occasion where it might happen is an outsourced agent at a BA outstation who may deviate from policy and through-check separate bookings. Though again this isn’t common.