Need help with award ticket JFK-SYD
We are looking to go to Oz in either Mar, April, May 2009, and are flexible with dates. We are trying to book business or first class. While in Oz want to visit Ayers Rock and Cairns. The ideal flight would be Qantas JFK-SYD-AYQ
stopover in AYQ and open leg CNS-SYD. Return SYD-JFK. We would then be responsible for AYQ-CNS.
I have been trying to book seats for a week, and was told by one agent that she would rather have root canal than book award travel to Oz, as it is so difficult. I have first checked availability on Qantas, found first and business seats, as advised here and then called AA, only to be told that there are no first class or business available. I have read here that the Qantas site is close to what AA finds. Is this true, and if so why are seats not showing available?
Would appreciate any suggestions and help. Would one world ticket work? We are flexible with dates, and do not care what airline or stops. We do want to fly first or business and not economy.