I am on my very first QR flight (business class), which connects in JNB to a domestic BA flight on the same ticket (and QR through fare).

QR has denied me through check-in of the baggage telling me that they can't check bag to the final destination in South Africa (which this guide to connecting in JNB on FT shows it's a lie).

Further, I asked for the connecting boarding pass, and was denied that one too. After talking to the supervisor, he told me that although he couldn't print it, I was checked in for that segment, which is an utter lie: the travel agent pulled up the e-ticket (which he had issued) and the BA coupon still shows as OPEN as opposed to CKIN.

Of course, if there's a delay I am now screwed, as I can't simply drop off my bags after doing customs in JNB and walk to the gate: I now have to go find the check-in desks and risk being left behind for failure to meet BA's local check-in timeline. It's as if instead of arriving at JNB on QR I arrived on the equivalent of RyanAir.

This seems to be a disaster on the making. Is this typical QR disservice? Any advice?

Obviously, I am very pissed at the treatment I received by QR and the personnel's lying -- and these are both oneworld airlines. Nice first impression--not!