Hotels in Oz and Sin
There is a useful website at wotif.com which offers discount rates at short notice, say the next 28 days. Have used it for Sydney and Sin, the Sydney choice was the Shangri-La overlooking Circular Quay, the Opera House and the Bridge.
Airline choice, well Malaysian gets many accolades, my brother did KL to London a couple of days ago spread out over xxHJK, helps if you take the less popular deparures, most of the airlines do the Kangaroo Route 2 or 3 times a day.