I contacted LM last week as was having trouble getting linked flights in Asia ,,, i.e. BNE-BKK-MNL ,, BNE-BKK-HKG ,,,, The availability BNE - BKK was there but nothing else was coming up ,,, so I checked the connecting flights and they were showing as available,,,, BKK-MNL,,, BKK-HKG ,,, and then some other destinations to confirm there was availability through Asia ,,, and there was.
So I contacted LM a couple of times and asked why I could not get a linked flight Oceana to Asia.. I was told that I had to book the flights separately (and pay for each segment),,, after some discussion I was told I could link the flights but would have to pay 60% using the miles I already have (discounted rate ,, essentially $150 per 10000) ,, and 40% using their more money option,, which used to be at the discounted rate but is now at the full rate ,,, $300 per 10000 miles.
Looks like they are tightening up significantly