Willyroo, your choices across the nborth Pacific are AA into NRT (from several US ports including LAX, SJC, ORD) or CX YVR-HKG. For me, its CX or CX for that sector.

I suggest starting with BNE-LAX (not via SYD) and then returning HKG-SYD-BNE since HKG-SYD should be consistent with Skybeds now.

You should easily fit a flexible routing to/from LAS, esprically if not trying to absolutely max miles and SC's, but just taking the savings for a few extra SC's (and Skybed out of HKG). In my case, ORD and DFW are the two places I will need to visit, and that takes it very close to the miles limit so can't return HKG-SYD-BNE but must make it HKG-BNE direct, but then have a choice of CX or QF, with QF winning due to the way our corp discount works (cheaper for more QF metal) and the status bonus for QF flights.