Hi Flyertalk. I'm keen to hear from any experts which FF program is best for me, thanks in advance for your help.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply: Upgrades to business class on long haul flights is my number 1 goal, the others are important but that's number 1.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: approx. 100,000 miles, 30 flights.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply: economy, generally the cheapest but some flexibility.

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: most of my travel is work. If the price between two airlines is close I can choose the one that I have status with.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: 3-4 times per year I fly LA to SYD to HK to LA. I also do quite a few domestic US flights.

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: LAX.

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: Until recently I've been living in Sydney and I'm Gold with Qantas. I've got 450,000 points banked with Qantas - mostly from some fairly high credit card spend.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: I do like Qantas but I'm flexible here.

From my quick research the airlines that fly direct on the following routes are:
LA to SYD - Qantas or United
SYD to HK - Qantas or Cathay
HK to LA - Cathay

Given that's the case I'm probably best sticking with Qantas then flying AA domestic in the US. The only downside I see to this is under the Qantas FF program I have to use points to get upgrades, and I haven't had a lot of luck getting those so far. I understand the US airlines like United have much better upgrade programs - you get these without needing to spend points, however given the international flights I do United probably isn't a good choice.

Any further thoughts are most welcome, thanks in advance!