Just got back today after flying F from JNB, was a great flight and whole experience was fantastic. However what spoiled it a little for me was 2 things:

1) We checked in at the First desk in JNB as soon as it opened, but our bags took ages to come out at LHR and they were not tagged priority. Is this something you have to ask for or should it be a standard procedure for F/J?
2) I vaguely remember reading on here about security checks they do in JNB, but totally forgot about it yesterday. Furthermore the woman checking us in did not mention it at any point so we had no clue we should have left our bags unlocked. Hence when we did get our bags back today, the inevitable had happened and they had broken open the locks to see inside. Fortunately nothing was missing however I have a Samsonite bag that has the lock on the side so you clip the zip loops into there. On this trip I had used a padlock as the bag was quite full and they had clipped open the loops on the zips to take off the padlock. End result is that now the zips cannot be locked as there is nothing to be clipped in! When I spoke to the baggage guys there they did file a report and told me Antler would call to get it fixed but I do not know whether they will replace teh zips with the same ones (with a Samsonite logo, to match the other zips on the bag) or just a standard one - any ideas? Or should I ask for a new bag? Also my wife's bag had been opened but just the padlock had been taken off so no damage, although the luggage strap (for ID) had also disappeared even though that was just a clip on strap so there was no need to damage it!

So do I have a valid complaint against BA for not informing us of the need to have the bags unlocked? Even though they have offered to fix the bag, the (admittedly nominal) cost of replacing the padlocks and strap will presumably not be covered? I would have expected us to have been told at check in especially as we were flying F! As this only seems to be a requirement in the US and SA I'm sure there are many travellers who would likewise face the same problem.

Cheers
John