Here's a link to the rules:
Code:
4. FLIGHT APPLICATION/ROUTINGS
...
(h) A minimum of 3 and maximum of 16 segments, including surface segments between
any two airports, are permitted for the entire journey. Free flight segments
within each continent are limited as follows:
Africa 4
Asia 4
Europe / Middle East 4 (Not more than 2 of which may be between the UK
and ALGERIA, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA, BULGARIA,
CROATIA, CYPRUS, GREECE, ISRAEL, MALTA, MIDDLE
EAST , MOROCCO, PORTUGAL, ROMANIA, RUSSIA, SERBIA,
TUNISIA, UKRAINE whether part of the free
continent allowance of 4 coupons, purchased as
additional coupons, or a combination of both)
North America 6
South America 4
South West Pacific 4
(The bolding
IS AS PUBLISHED in the document! I believe this is to make a clear distinction between where the Surface segments are limited as contract to the continental flight segment limits.)