Iceman & Amolkold,

Thanks for your suggestions!

Amolkold, I will be using my US Airways points and I am based in MSY currently. Getting from MSY to any other major US city is not a problem for me. Let me check the routes that you have mentioned. At this point I'm not planning a stop over in Asia. If anything I'd love a stop over in AKL, but haven't give it much serious thought, especially as I was getting frustrated with no return flights out of SYD for my return dates.

I certainly appreciate your help folks!