I'm hoping you can help me with some suggestions on how to use up Airpoints Dollars as I don't foresee flying with AirNZ again but it seems a waste to just let the dollars sit there.

Some background. I'm an international member of Air Points (so access to things like the Air Points shop etc isn't given). I used to live in HK and joined Air Points because the AirNZ flight from HKG to LHR was the best around (I'm English so would fly back to London a few times each year). So I quickly earned Gold Elite status. Then the HKG - LHR was stopped by Air NZ (and I switched my loyalty for my London flights to Emirates). I managed to retain my Gold Elite status by doing some travelling from HKG to Auckland and Melbourne and a few Star Alliance flights. However, last June I moved permanently back to London so haven't been anywhere near an AirNZ flight since (and the earn rate on Star Alliance flights is so poor that it just isn't worth it....it's better for me in the long term to build status with One World instead).

I already dropped to AirNZ Gold and in mid-July will drop to Silver. I have my 2 Gold RUs sitting unused and I'm trying to work out any way of using them before I lose them in July. Plus 1,432 Airpoint dollars.

The only AirNZ flight from London is the LAX one. From what I understand, this is such a popular flight that my chance of getting RUs on it isn't that high (especially now I've dropped to Gold). And to be honest, I have no burning desire to go to LA this year (I was there recently anyway) so I would only be doing the run to get the benefit out of my RUs...so it would be gutting to spend money on flights and then not get the RU and my RUs expire and I've burnt holiday days from work (as well as money!)

I was trying to see if I can use my dollars on Star Alliance flights (flying to Canada or East Coast US being a preferred option) but all I get from the website is that I have to speak to the Call Centre. It seems there's no option to do any research online so I can get a view on what may or may not be possible, and where I can go etc and when. I don't particularly want to spend my life on the phone a call centre and have to keep calling back over and over again as my plans crystallise. It seems appallingly old fashioned. Maybe I am too used to Cathay and BA and being able to book check and book reward flights online with them.

Apologies all for this long post. I'm hoping some of you may have the experience to give me a few suggestions. I used to be so pro-AirNZ (I was a huge fan of the BP soft product) but now I can no longer fly with them, I've realised how rubbish their FFP is! (especially if you're not a NZ/Aus resident).