Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Bonvoy Platinum, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, UA Gold, AS Silver, B6 M2
Posts: 602
SYD is easy if you can get to LAX on your own. Good availability with SkyMiles on VA but for two people that's 300k SkyMiles for two in J.
But, if you are able to get to LA easy then SkyMiles are also great because you can do LAX-GRU on KE and then GRU-GIG on GOL with SkyMiles. If you were to only get to GRU though this is also a great value with Korean Air SkyPass as KE only charges 90k miles roundtirp to South America in J.
However, I'd say you try to find some availability to GIG on UA and blow your US miles. If you're going coach then you should be able to easily find COPA availability all the way down but with a connection in the middle.
Back to Australia with SkyMiles though. It's important you have the flight numbers and dates ready and KNOW that there is availability. VA can be check on Delta.com (check LAX-SYD sector only!) KE can also be checked at Delta.com. Other options like MU (avoid their JFK and LAX flights and fly ex-SFO) and CZ or even CI can be searched on EF.
You can also look for availability with MH and use your Delta Miles on them. MH availability is available on the Enrich website or via BA but the BA engine is all kinds of broken.