Your call to resevations regarding a RTW ticket must have been a few years ago. When I did my first RTW, the Elite line handled putting it together. Perhaps you had a newbie phone agent who didn't know how to do a NWA Round-the-World record.

DragonAir is definitely not a partner, but then again, were you trying to go to an exotic destination that a partner serves?

All this said, I wish I could another RTW trip soon. I think last year (and continuing into this year) is the first time where one can get a RTW ticket from Northwest and actually accrue WP mileage on all the possible partners. Last year they dropped Cathay Pacific (boo! the Hong Kong lounge is amazing!) but added Malaysian Air, Alaska and I think Continental.