I'm not sure how other airlines add the info into the computer but with Delta our baggage service offices have scanners. The scanners read the bar codes on the tag which contains the tag number, name, flight and date info. We initially scan the bags when the come off the bag belt. If we have not found the owner with that info within 24 hours then we are to open the bag and add the contents and what other further info we can find.

It takes an agent to be looking in the computer for a World Match to find your bag. If your tags didn't fall off it should be a simple match by the tag number. Since the Augusta Service Center didn't find a match initially I am guessing LH didn't do a good job at adding the info into World Tracer.