Like Richard, the first thing I thought of was a SFO-DEN-IAD-FRA routing instead of SFO-FRA nonstop, but on reading the post again, I'm guessing you're hoping to get status up *before* heading off to FRA for E+ seating and other status perks?
-If you can handle it after the long haul over the Pacific, do a SYD-x/LAX-x/PHX-SFO [8509 miles] or SYD-x/LAX-x/LAS-SFO [8139 miles]routing !! (There is one person I know who would actually do something this crazy for miles!) Both options keep you under 26,000 for the trip [25,509 for LAS and 25,879 for PHX].
- If you've got the time and someone to visit in the States, fly and stop somewhere out of SFO for a few days - enough time to let the status post into your account - before heading off for FRA.
- Any reason why you're coming out of SYD and back into MEL? For the sake of a $33 VirginBlue special one way from SYD to MEL, you could then get the MEL-SYD UA flight and transit in SYD to the SFO flight. Two flight numbers so two mileage totals. That's an easy 500 miles to start with.
This is all presuming of course I'm reading the mail correctly and you're wanting status before leaving SFO.
Cheers/Regards.