Eugene, For the past few years on int'l flights that ended at JFK the 'priority baggage handling' couldn't be beat,nor can it be today.TWA handlers make sure that the containers containing 1st class bags are the first ones off loaded and then leave the plane area,eventhough they could take other containers.TW wants the bags to be waiting for its 1st class people,so much so that they have handlers at the baggage belt who remove the bags and place them on a red carpet.Only twice in the past few years did I beat the bags and they came within moments.
I still remember a BA flight LHR-EWR that I took in bus.After getting to the belt it took 40 mins for the 1st and bus bagsto come out,while coach was unloaded first.I sent a letter to BA,they not only instituted a system to prevent it from reoccurring they sent me a nice check,a couple of months after that I flew BA again and yep they made sure that the coach bags were last.
As for TWA's tagging.They use 2 tags,1-is the white tag with the tracking# and all your imfo on it that also says 1st, 2-they put on a gold&white tag that says Trans World 1(1st class).My bags had both to begin with but came out with only the first,while the other peoples had both attached.Sorry for not being more specific.
The prob w/the bags from intl flights is everyone must go thru customs at the port of entry so although you get the special handling to JFK once you bring the bags to the belt for connecting flights its as if its coach but at least you save the time waiting at JFK. To me the most important thing is once I get to my final destination I want out ASAP,and having to wait for bags is a killer.Why do the airlines do so much preflight and during the flight and than die at the most important time ' baggage claim'. The few times I did AirFrance this year no probs what-so-ever. I know that what the difference at times depends if the airline has its own people or if its 'hired crews'.

Lastly, I was just in ANC with TWA,got bumped going up so they put me on UAL.Back from ANC was TW,turns out the check-in was a mess,why? cause TW doesn't have ANY ground people there they use Northwest's people.So if it wasn't that one of the FA's came out to board the aircraft I'd still be in ANC.They filled a flight that was fully booked with non-revs so needless to say we didn't take off till they got the non-revs off and the paying people on, at check-in it was 1st there got aboard.They wanted to upgrade me since I was a Platinum,I said thanks she don't thank me you're entitled to it.I had no choice then to imform her that my tkt said 'y' since no 'l' seats were left,meaning Iwas on a free tkt that wasn't entitled to an upgrade.I was willing to take it as long as it was given to me w/o my asking for it,but once she was relying on me that i was entitled to it I couldn't lie and say yes. TW had the same probs at ElPaso where AWA handled everything but have since exited that city after a short run at the money. I guess TW feels till a city proves itself why shell all the $$,yet what can you expect when its your competitors handling everything for you.