What class of travel? Premium cabin awards USA Australia are difficult to get. You need to be flexible with date and route. SYD is not the only international airport in Australia. So also look for BNE & MEL

While for AA this AA thread will be of interest. AS & AA have many common ff partners http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...er-thread.html

Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia (not from all airports to all airports)
- United UA (LAX SFO – SYD MEL) [Star Alliance]
- American Airlines AA (LAX - SYD) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Qantas QF (LAX SFO JFK DFW HNL – SYD BNE MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Jetstar JQ (HNL – SYD BNE)
- Delta DL (LAX – SYD) (VA & AS partner) [Skyteam Alliance]
- Virgin Australia VA (LAX – SYD BNE) (DL partner)
- Hawaiian (HNL – SYD BNE via Hawaii) (AA & VA partner)
- Air New Zealand NZ ( LAX SFO via AKL) [Star Alliance]
- Fiji Airways FJ (LAX via Fiji) (AA & AS partner)
- Air Tahiti Nui (LAX last segments on codeshares) (AA & DL partner)
- Air Canada AC (YYR - SYD, BNE from Jun 2016) [Star Alliance]
And others via Asia & Middle East

Qantas does not have a u