Ozzie this was the 6th trip of mine since yours, the last being 14 days earlier, if it changed it was very recent.

The last time I was redirected from that channel was as a Silver almost 3 years back now (perhaps longer)

Seems the best suggestion is as whmere says and to just ask at check in since the vast majority of the BA staff at JFK are A+.

Actually discussing this in the context of other airports gives me a flash back to the last two times we flew out of Kingston (Jamaica).

Flying Gold in J, there isnt (or wasnt) a fast track there. None the less the Lounge staff (ground side) were able to provide us with a personal escort around the extensive immigration queue despite loud objections for the terminal supervisor. Full marks to them ^