Etihad are very good, and frequently have Business of First for every flight each day AUH- SYD. In addition, they have Upgrade seats with miles, and you can part pay cash and earn a % on the upgraded class for level and spend miles! You can also bid for one results 48 hrs before, or upgrade at check in also!
If the feedback on the “New Emirates Business seat” is truly so poor, then few people will be willing to pay for these old fashioned 2-3-2 seats. When other Airlines are offering the equivalent of First seats in the Business cabins, such as Etihad, why would you choose a middle 3 seater cabin? No thanks.
Could you try Cathay Pacific who have a solid reputation, great service, and 1 stop Connections to Oz or NZ?
I’ve had the same problem numerous times and it can be misleading. Sometimes taking a less favourable route gives premium seats. Calls to the AA desk can sometimes help too.
