I'm in the process of arranging a DONE4 ex-ICN that starts out ICN-HKG-SYD-CHC. The HKG-SYD flight I want has D0, so I've asked the AA RTW desk about ticketing with an alternate flight and waitlisting that one. I'd been told by RTW agents that an origin-Asia xONEx didn't permit any changes to the first intercontinental flight or any preceding flights. The agent told me that this was new. When I pointed her to the section of the rules that seem to clearly permit doing this [section 16(a)(1)(b)(1)] she read them and said "Oh my! They've made a mistake. They left that part out. I'll call them first thing tomorrow morning [it's current Sunday in the U.S.] and point this out so they can fix the rules."

I don't know if she's correct that the intention is to prohibit changing HKG-SYD on an ICN-HKG-SYD-... itinerary, or if the rules will change, but I'm going to try and get this ticketed tonight in case she's right.