Fly Air China, China Eastern and China Southern, even Cathay Pacific. Cheap, short travel time to Europe via Russia and no disruption from ME crisis. 

So say $10,000 per month, it equals to 5,200 points. The conversion rate is only a bit higher than 0.5. The only merit is gold status. But I have to fly a SA member when most of the destinations are covered by Oneworld. Thank you very much. Next please. 

Head-on-head competition against Delta? DL has KL and MU to connect the rest of Asia and China mainland.

Fly to Canberra, then drive. It's at least 6 hours drive from Jinderbine to Sydney.

Totally agree.Better choice is Canberra, then rent a car to Thredbo or Perisher.Much more flexible than Cooma.