RE Luggage, you're right in that BA don't give us suitcases any more.
The uniform guidelines dictate that we should have a navy blue or black suitcase (recommended hard-shell) and a similar coloured wheelie bag for carry-on luggage.
We're also told we're not allowed stickers on the cases.
Of course, people do put stickers on their bags and some people even use bags of questionable colour.
You'll get a 10% discount at Rolling Luggage in the terminals for cases, or you can use Express Baggage on Bath Road for cheap check-in bags.