http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....-to-book-them/
I find the single most difficult award to get from North America is flying to Australia and New Zealand.
This is from a guy who knows more about the topic than I've forgotten. It hasn't gotten any easier the past 5-6 years.
Have you tried Fiji Airways connecting through NAN? They have a new SFO-NAN route that may have inventory.
Also, if you have a stupid amount of miles, EK is a possibility.
Also:
American- Has the best route LAX to Auckland, but only in coach. Has American been releasing business seats to Alaska. I looked at many dates on this route, and nothing showed for business class. Odd because 90% of their flights had no reservations for business class on the seating chart.
The seating chart has nothing to do with whether or not an airline wants to release business class award inventory. American is not a good airline for that.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...iscussion.html