Flying nonstop between the East Coast of Australia and the US or Canada for under $1000 return is always a steal.
With a layover in Vancouver, you can fly onto nearby airports like Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, Seattle and Portland for only $10-100 more, with flights to Toronto adding on ~$150, which is still a great deal.
Air Canada also flies from Melbourne and Brisbane, but prices from those two cities start at the $1600 mark.
Depart: Sydney
Arrive: Vancouver
Stops: none
Dates: late January to late November 2019 (excluding most of April and May); must depart Sydney between Monday and Thursday inclusive
Airline: Air Canada
Cost: From $990 in Economy
Example found:
Where to credit points: A popular choice would be Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, but you can also credit to any Star Alliance frequent flyer program. Read more in our guide to where to credit points
Lounge access: Priority Pass members can access four eateries in Sydney’s international terminal and the Plaza Premium and SkyTeam Lounges in Vancouver on their way home; eligible American Express Card Members can enjoy a relax in the American Express Lounge in Sydney
Booking link: start your search at Google Flights, which offers an excellent calendar view
Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. Fares may disappear quickly, so we suggest booking as soon as you are confident in your travel dates.
I also notice QF have similar pricing via SFO albeit a longer flight time. Are the QF flights upgradeable using points?