Well, at the time, the RTW desk was closed (it used to be closed 14 hours a day, now I think only 12, based on US working hours, when in mid-itinerary I'm not in the US); then, when it opened, I had to wait nearly 20 mins. in the RTW desk phone queue while hanging out at SCL (not fun with my cellphone); then, for some unknown reason the rate desk had to look at the record (more hold time) even though nothing had changed itinerary-wise. Before things were set up this way, I could even have changed the flight in a minute at the LA counter at SCL in virtually no time. They can see the fare basis (freely date-changeable) and the class of service availability just fine.

I guess next year with the OW changes, I won't be whiling away my time near the LATAM counter waiting in the phone queue, but then it's colder waiting at Barrow, Alaska...