Originally Posted by OttoPiloto
What makes an award (N.AMERICA->S.E.ASIA->AUSTRALIA) into a "three-region award"? A mere fact of just transferring via and catching a connecting flight in the 3rd region (S.E.Asia in this case) or necessarily stopping over there?
Yes just transfer. The only way to avoid in this case is use Austrian's through flight VIE to SYD/MEL (without stopover in SIN/KUL only transit), or NZ's through flight LHR to AKL (again without stopover in LAX only transit).
NZ also has some through flight numbers to Australia (one flight number but connecting service to the LHR-AKL direct flight).
From June 10th, none of these options has First class.