I've been enjoying planning my first RTW (a Sept departure) for while now and am finally about ready to actually take the leap on purchasing it. I've read a lot of comments on here about different booking options but am a bit confused about whether/how things have changed over the years. How would folks recommend I book this itinerary? (Background: I live in the USA, only speak English, am an AA member w/ no status, this is a leisure RTW not a mileage run, and I will only be arriving to JNB a week before departing)

1. JJ | JNB-GRU
2. JJ | GRU-EZE
3. LA | EZE-SCL
4. LA | SCL-IPC
5. LA | IPC-SCL
6. QF | SCL-SYD
7. QF | SYD-BKK
8. surface sector
9. MH | KUL-DEL
10. JL | DEL-NRT
11. JL | NRT-PEK
12. CX | PEK-HKG
13. RJ | HKG-AMM
14. RJ | AMM-BCN
15. surface sector
16. BA | LGW-MRU

So far, I've been thinking about:

• Calling AA (is there still an RTW desk–if so how do I find that number?) - Not sure if it's currently unlikely they would book it for me with no AA flights.
• Calling QF (general number, I think, is only option?)
• Booking it via the online RTW tool with LHR-JNB as the last flight and later pay the change fee to correct the itinerary.
• Or, alternatively, is there a way to just partially book it online and then call someone and have them change that final flight pre-ticketing? Does AA still ticket on behalf of JJ when using the online tool?

Thanks very much in advance for the advice - and also feel free to point out any glaring oversights in my itinerary!