Originally Posted by
ATOBTTR
IIRC from a while ago on here, DL.com wasn't offering award options with more than one connection to get to SYD from the U.S., so you had to be at an airport with a nonstop to LAX or you had to book the award out of an airport with a nonstop to LAX and position there. You could be running into this issue (annoyingly) since no D.C. area airports have nonstop to LAX.
I think this is correct. I wish I had called before I made the original booking. The return flight to DC is only available for 25K more though, which at this point with train ticket already booked up to NYC, I am not sure I am willing to pay.
The Alaska Air nonstops do show up on delta.com and there is one available from LA to DCA on the return date, but I guess it's not available as a married segment.