sorry i'm not sure what area of the board to post this. so please move if needed.

i am looking to go to the states from sydney (final destination WI). i'm working myself into a crazy mess trying to figure out what is the best airline option.

i have ff miles united. i really don't wish to fly united as i've had probs in the past with them. however, i love air new zealand who are part of the alliance. i have looked into a few flights and have some itineraries with a few places.. but i just discovered this morning that my miles are due to expire in april (and it's going to be very difficult to keep myself active living over here now with no credit card) plus i have to book certain classes to even get the ff miles (which ultimately = more $$$) so if i want to go air nz, i have to be prepared to pay a high fare (plus the extra stopover and possibly overnighting in chicago.. which i'd like to avoid)

so i'm stuck in a rut. do i fly air nz and pay a lot to get the points or go with a new airline completely to keep the fare down? i've been suggested V australia. but no points and it's new so i don't know anything about it! and i feel a bit uncertain since there is no feedback.

i have around 23,000 miles already accumulated with united. i think you need around 80K for a free flight to the states. i will say i don't travel often now that i live in aus and i probably will only go back to the states every couple/few years.

OR i could get a cheaper air nz flight and just not get the miles. or i could hope for the best and get a united flight (but i think the travel agent said they aren't different in price than air nz, so i'd just prefer them anyway then)

argh!
so now i'm really in a rut!

help! i need to figure out what to do basically asap. one fair ends sat and i only have a day off tomorrow and would need to book tomorrow. suggestions?

with things so expensive here i wonder if it's not even worth bothering with ff programs and just going for the cheapest flights.