Originally Posted by
aeb259
Does anybody have any suggestions for finding a nice M+ agent, or getting them actually to be helpful?
Everyone I've talked to so far has told me "No" within 2 seconds, chided for being so late to book, and then essentially hung up on me.
Sorry but not shocked to hear this. How soon are you hoping to fly?
I suggest you just keep trying until you get someone who sounds both helpful and knowledgable. Also, it helps a lot if you in effect do part of their work for them: Have all the possible routings/airlines available involving UA and its Star Alliance partners Singapore, ANA, Thai, and Asiana. (There's also Air New Zealand, which flies from LA to Auckland and I think then on to Singapore, but you probably have to pay more miles for that routing.) Be flexible re the dates if you can.
If in fact you go the award reservation route, you have three days before you have to ticket. During that time you can check for alternatives if the routing or schedule you get isn't great.
If by some chance you do have a choice, try to fly Singapore. It's the best, even if the final short hop from Singapore to Bali is in Y class.