So, I've got a tough call to make: I've got a few hotel stays coming up that are "off network" for me (e.g. not Hyatt and not IHG-with-a-good-offer). I'm going to have a Hilton account at some point in the near future to try and take advantage of the "double dip", but Hilton points have a toxic transfer rate so even then I'd consider using RM for them.

Basically, I'm trying to sort out some odd-and-end legs in East Asia (not Eastasia, the occasional prevalence of Newspeak in these programs notwithstanding) for a trip next December and so I'd like to pile up miles with some speed in a single program. Notably, I'm trying to fill in an HKG-SYD gap. The thing is, at present the various options are:

-Virgin Australia. My preferred airline in the region at the moment. Not an option since they're the only program I know with such a heavy geogaphic restriction on signing up, and I live in North America. Non-option.
-Amtrak. Lost the Chase transfer partnership and then blew a devaluation. Non-option.
-Virgin America. My preferred domestic airline, but (1) I'm flush with their points (almost 300k) and (2) their overseas options are a bit tied down. Possible but not necessarily desirable.
-Virgin Atlantic. Serious option, but the points are comparatively watered-down from what I can tell. Decent partner options, but availability is spotty outside Economy outside of their network, and the fees are nasty. Possible.
-Singapore. Serious option, though I'm not sure if I could rack up the desired points fast enough to make this work. Possible.
-AsiaMiles? I'm not quite sure how they relate to Cathay Pacific, but I'd be willing to seriously entertain them as an option with more information. Possible.
-Alaska?
-Someone with good access to the "major" networks (e.g. SkyTeam or OneWorld)?
-Anyone else worth looking into for this?