Welcome to Flyertalk, JDC747!

United has the lowest point requirements from the US to Australia, I believe -- 60k miles for coach, 90k for business, and 120k for first.

From New York you can travel purely on United or on a mix of United, Air Canada, and/or Air New Zealand.

If you don't already have a United mileage account, there's a 3000 mile enrollment bonus.

The United Visa has a $60 fee but nets you 20,000 bonus points...

Y'know, you could upgrade that card to a Gold Class Visa for 5000 miles... and nab a Business Visa (if you don't have an ongoing business, just make it for Your Name & Associates) for 15000 miles. So far we're at 43,000 miles.

You can open up a NetBank checking account for up to 7000 miles... or an Ameritrade account for up to 25000 miles.. or an Etrade account for up to 75000 miles..

You can launder any of your Continental miles through Amtrak into United 1:1 up to 25000 miles.

You can transfer Hilton, Marriott, Priority Club, etc. points into United.

You can earn a whole mess of United miles from Sprint with cell or residential service.

Basically it shouldn't be too hard to be flying to Australia in at least business class!


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View from the Wing: A blog about Free Miles and Free Markets