I have a paid Qantas ticket from LAX thru Sydney to Adelaide Jan. 14 (10:30 p.m. out of LAX), then on Jan. 16 Adelaide to Melbourne, then Feb. 4 from Melbourne to LAX. It is a business trip (I write sports for a newspaper that made a sudden and unexpected decision to cover the Tour Down Under and Australian Open).

That was happy news on the one hand, but the last-minute decision (remember, newspapers are not doing well), meant the purchase of a rock-bottom Qantas ticket. I quickly had buyers remorse and have become willing in my mind to sacrifice the purchased ticket if I can use some of my many American miles to book either a first or business seat with said AA miles. Clearly I've had no luck but I keep calling American.

Do any Qantas folks know if there is any hope at all that a business or first award seat might open up on day of flight and if that would give me time to arrange a ticket with my American miles? I'd go through Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to get to Adelaide, where I do need to arrive by Saturday morning for a Lance Armstrong press conference.

Or should I just abandon hope and get ready for the fun times in coach!

Thanks all.