I don't think this is a TK thing. I think it's a global issue with companies trying to cut down their customer services.

Someone was asking SAS customer service if he could skip his first leg of his flight and they said yes. He found out that all his flight coupons were voided that he had to use $ to buy new tickets home.

UA too: Before I booked my flight I had no idea about the first carrier rule, so I chatted with UA customer service and they said the one who sold me the ticket is the baggage rules I would have to follow. I thought everything was ok because I also checked on UA's page about bags rules for *G on basic economy and it said 2 bags free. Then after I got the tickets ticketed suddenly there's a bag charge!

Basically we all need to be very clear with our rights and HUACA until we get a right answer.