I see there is a route on VT between PPT and RAR that goes bi-weekly. Seems like that may be the only connection and I don't think VT leg can be purchased with miles. OK, so that may cost a bit (looks like $700 for 2 people) but that saves me from going all the way to Auckland and then over to the Cooks. I think I can get from RAR back to LAX on NZ, which would be a *A award.

So it seems like i can knock out LAX-PPT with miles, pay for PPT-RAR, and then use miles again for RAR-LAX.

Quesiton: NZ files from RAR to LAX, but how many FF miles does that require? NZ uses some kind of Airpoints Dollars. If I have 100k Ultimate Rewards points, which transfer to CO, how far does that get me for on NZ. Both NZ and CO are *A