The tool seems to be really buggy on direct flights at the moment, any ideas... or do I just need to take collective wisdom here and then call up Qantas (my first flight). I have been trying to flights on Qantas, Cathay, American direct and the tool isn't finding me any routes on dates that should have lots of availability months out. e.g. BKK-SYD, SFO-LHR, MEL-HKG . Instead I am always offered 1+ stop flights that use up segments and aren't the route I want to take. I remember in the past it didn't like it when Qatar was the first flight, but now it seems to be covering way more.

Is there a recommended booking route when the tool breaks, I didn't see it mentioned in the sticky, but am really looking to sanity check the route against the rules and then to purchase, ideally self servicing online as far as possible.