This is one of the main purpose why I worried when my luggage tags is lost when I receive my bags, be it from FF or whatever tag...

Anyway, my partners FB Gold tag was also missing when it was returned after Air NZ lost the bag during my trip last month to NZ. I doubt that it dropped off, cause I normally stick the open ends together just to ensure that they do not "accidentally" fall off. So, I guess it was purposefully removed.

One weird thing I noticed in NZ is that they clean up the bag of all tags when it gets lost.. very strange.. cause my luggage was also delayed, and when it was returned to me, all the old tags featuring the priority tags, were all gone and the bag was just clean of any tags (only the FF tag was intact). I have never seen such "clean" up before even though I have had my share of baggage delay..