Originally Posted by rjflies

It was indeed BA agents--I mean unless they were wearing fake uniforms. They were taking all rolling bags for all BA short-haul flights (as far as I could tell)--no distinctions by group number or class of travel (I was group 1 / OW Emerald). I did OLCI. But the indiscriminate nature is why I say I would've stepped out of line and gone to the priority/whatever desk to see about avoiding checking or to get a proper bag tag. I was able to remove my laptop bag but in retrospect I should have heaved everything else into the foldable nylon bag I always carry. They could've done what they wanted with the empty bag.
As for corporate-wage-slave 's question: The bag tag issued at security was of the form 0125xxxxxx. The BA lost baggage report form and the German report form both wanted the BAxxxxxx format.

Next is to navigate the claims process...so far that form seems to want yet another case number...