Just got waitlisted for LAX-SYD and SYD-LAX for next summer. Entire J cabin is open at this point, and I know that DL wants to sell seats before giving them away for "free." Before I booked, I called to see if there was any OP space for a period of two weeks on the outbound. Zero.

Have others had much experience clearing LAX-SYD and v.v. ahead of time? For what it's worth, I'm only one person.