I need to get to Melbourne in a few weeks and will have to suffer in coach (client won't cover T+ fares, so no hope of using my eUps ) and I'm hoping to get some recommendations from the group here who have flown to Australia in coach. Here are the options I'm considering:

1. Fly Tango fare on AC (YYZ-YVR-SYD-MEL) - only get 50% AQMs but I can use the lounges (I am SE)

2. Fly on UA (YYZ-SFO-SYD-MEL) - get 100% miles (since it's before the April 1st changes) and I can use the lounges, but I'm guessing the AC hard product is better than the UA hard product in coach (?) So is 50% miles worth suffering in a UA seat for 15 hours? Or is it not that much worse?

3. Fly on Qantas (YYZ-LAX-MEL) - get no usable miles (I don't collect AA or Qantas miles and can't see myself doing so in the future), but it saves me a connection point. I also won't get any lounge access with this one, however, I believe Qantas has a superior hard product in coach (?)

I have NEXUS, so transiting via the US is not an obstacle.

All three options are around the same price - any recommendations?

Thanks!