Can you get anyone to join the 2 flights on airline in different (or none) alliances? Seems a bit of an uphill task, but the experienced TAs in our midst would likely know.Otherwise, in my opinion the trip is a non-starter, unless you can manage HLO.

I doubt whether one will be a able to buy a vaccination.However, if you have the right friends, or are a Liberal Party donor, you should be able to sail to the head of the line without any problems for the vaccine of your choice, free, I imagine.

The only passable pickup zones (tiny ones) at T1 are the ground level Disabled Zones, which are unknown to 99.99% of passengers, and relatively quiet. Even they are policed by a traffic dalek who is itching to find a reason to move you on :(

PE is a pretty good default option. Assume that will be what you fly, and an upgrade will be a pleasant surprise!

Bronze is as good as the tin can the beans came in. QF PE is good, but not as good as when it was first offered.Upgrades depend on load, but Bronze are bottom of the barrel if allocations are tight, as they are for most flights  these days.