Are you flying coach, biz, or first? I use AA miles as they tend to be the cheapest nowadays, 65k RT in coach or 110 in business, and with the AA credit card 10% is refunded. I fly on Cathay or JAL using those points, with an AA connection to/from San Francisco or LAX as the availability goes.

Note many think an AA devaluation is coming at some point, so a year from now who knows.