The answer is that the friend can't use SDC, having nothing to do with status. She is simply not eligible for SDC because she is flying RIC-HKG. The only international route for which AA permits SDC is JFK-LHR.
This is not to suggest that an AA agent at RIC will not simply make the change for her and waive the change fee. That is a fairly common courtesy, but it does have to be done in person at the airport.