The gov't doesn't allow you to upgrade using your own miles or do they still not allow you to accrue miles? Then again a free flight to OZ is better than nothing.
I get to keep the miles but you want to hear something really messed up? We are required to fly on American carriers, it's a requirement to use National Science Foundation grant money. For example, around Christmas time I was buying a one-way from Tallahassee to Dunedin, NZ and found a fare for about $1300 but Air New Zealand flew one of the legs so instead I had to take an American Airlines flight that cost $1800.
And they want the government in charge of health care...
Sonny, if you decide on Japan you should definitely plan on getting out of the Tokyo megalopolis. Kyoto and Sapporo are both supposed to be beautiful. Okinawa also has a lot to offer but there is a large American presence with the military and it will probably be pretty warm during the time period you are considering. Also, you can fly direct from Atlanta to Tokyo on Delta. That's about 14 hours if I remember correctly but it'll fly by with the rich folk at the front of the bus.
