I called to redeem PHL-BKK tickets, and the routing would have had me either get myself to JFK by car to catch the NW flight(since there is no PHL-JFK service anymore from ANY airline, or go PHL-MSP-NRT-BKK, or PHL-LAX(on US) and then LAX-NRT-BKK (on NW).

I think you're referring to the NW flights 12 and 13 that go from DTW to NRT and back that are not allowed. But NW has several other flights to NRT from JFK, MSP and LAX.

My problem was that the World Biz Seats were completely unavailable for the times I was seeking....I didn't ask about coach. Good luck.