I recently booked JNB-HKG-LAX and couldn't be happier with that award. If it weren't so darn far to get from So Cal to So Africa, I'd be going much more often with my Alaska miles.

I think, as always, booking 330 days ahead of time, using the award chart sweet spots, and being flexible, are, as usual, the key ingredients to amazing award bookings. My strategy is to go where the miles take you. I tend to bank my miles until a good award redemption plan comes to mind. Alaska miles seem very valuable to me, and only moderately easy to come by. My "plan a year ahead" doesn't work for everybody, but it really helps reduce frustration about award availability. These programs all have their strengths and weaknesses. I've been frustrated recently with Lufthansa rewards and those ridiculous fuel surcharges, but, just yesterday found a route that works for me... LAX to WAW nonstop on LOT. I flew that route last week using Air Canada miles, now I see another option. I just had to make a mental note--Go to Poland using those someday-to-be expiring Lufthansa miles. In fact, add to the miles stash so I can go in Biz both directions, with my husband. Going to Poland is on my list, but now I've got the beginnings of a plan.

Perhaps there's a routing using Alaska miles that will work for you, and you can just keep a hawk eye on the award seats, perhaps on their release date, until you snag what you want. Some of the bloggers keep an updated list of award sweet spots. Maybe you could start there and see if there's anything on list that looks interesting to you. Let us know what you find. Good luck!