Hello Samantha -- in brief --

** Many, many threads on Australia redemptions in the Continental OnePass forum... go over and do a search.

** CO is partners with Qantas for Australia travel. A standard business class award is 105,000 miles. You don't have enough CO miles for two first class awards on QF, which are 135,000 miles each (and they'd be close to impossible to get anyway).

** I do not think you can buy a QF economy ticket and upgrade with CO miles, nor top up your CO account with Amex Membership Rewards points. I don't think you have enough Amex points to be useful in this case.

** Definitely easier to score one award seat than two in a premium cabin, but buying a second seat on the exact same itinerary will set you back multi thousands of dollars. If you don't mind splitting up with your husband for the trip (you fly down on award ticket, he flies on a paid ticket on another route or carrier, obtained via consolidator/bucket shop) it would be cheaper.

** It's getting pretty late to book fall travel to Oz (high season down there). You should call the CO partner desk ASAP.

** You don't book mile redemptions through travel agents, only the airlines themselves or www.awardplanner.com ($100 fee, but worth it).

Cheers and welcome to FT.