I dont know if it makes any difference but ever since AA's phone system nightmare after merger I start use non-English lines.

Not only it is much much quicker to get to an agent - usually no more than 3 to 5 min - but I have not experienced any of the delays people reported here In fact, tickets came quicker than in the past when I called the English Gold number.

I have ticketed an Europe to Australia award on QR flights. The ticket arrived in 90 min despite the agent preempted me it might take a couple days. I have ticketed a HKG-LAX award on CX flight. The ticket arrived in 3 hours. Then a few days later I wanted to change the flight. The reissued tickets arrived within an hour.

All the travels are in May 2016, so almost 7 months away.

If you can use non-English lines, by all means give it a try.