[QUOTE=wannabe]JFK, on the rare occasion I'm willing to check a bag, always tag the bags premium. The only times the bags come out first are if I've connected to a non-AA airline (oneworld, Swiss, ElAl). AA itself doesn't seem to respect the tags.

Orange tags always come out first if it is non AA metal (you changed planes somewhere) and it is international Europe and ASIA. The only time you get orange first off in the U.S. is AA flights from Japan as they make sure to put in a seperate container and mark it.