dirtydrift

So I'm hoping to take the family (2 adults, 1 toddler) to NZ in about 1 year.
I'm an NZ airpoints member with a whopping $180 airpoints.
AA with 55k
AS with 45k

Departing from PDX to AKL (we'll hop around down there, but book that separately). Prefer SFO as our exit point(LAX customs, ugh), but flexible.

My wife and I have done the trip 3-4 times now and are at the stage where more room and comfort are important. So what's my best strategy to get a premium product while mitigating some of the cost?

Ideally at least one of the trips would avoid Syd (avoiding the 5 hours extra travel).

Also, consideration to the lounge access?

Thanks

Mwenenzi

Both AS & AA are Qantas partners, so that is the most likely airline
Will be hard to avoid Australia. Look at BNE & MEL in addition to SYD
AA awards are 37,500 AA miles one way

Airlines that fly USA/Canada to Australia (most from LAX) are
- United [Star Alliance]
- Qantas [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Delta [Skyteam Alliance] (VA & AS partner)
- Virgin Australia (DL partner)
- Hawaiian, via Hawaii (AA DL & VA partner)
- Air NZ, via AKL [Star Alliance]
- Fiji Airways, via Fiji (AA & AS partner)
- Air Tahiti Nui (last segments on codeshares) (AA & DL partner)
- Air Canada [Star Alliance]
And others via Asia & Middle East

Airlines that fly USA/Canada to New Zealand (most from LAX) are
- Qantas via SYD BNE & MEL [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Virgin Australia via BNE MEL & SYD (DL partner)
- Hawaiian (AA DL & VA partner)
- Air NZ [Star Alliance]
- Fiji Airways, via Fiji (AA & AS partner)
- Air Tahiti Nui (last segments on codeshares) (AA & DL partner)
And others via Asia & Middle East

Kiwi Flyer

Air Tahiti Nui flies to NZ (via Tahiti).