Thanks for all the good advice. I'm leaning towards the all first class route via PEK and BKK. My layover in PEK is from 5am to 5pm, so I don't have to worry about staying there overnight, but thank you for the hotel suggestions. Never know what could happen. I read about the 72 hour no visa pass, so I hope to get out of the airport and see some sights, having never been to China, or anywhere in Asia.

Any recommendations for hotels in BKK? Should I stay near the airport? We would arrive at 9:20pm and our flight to Sydney would be at 5:00pm the next day.