Over the past few months since I joined FT, I've come across quite a few posts pointing out how difficult it is to get flight awards.

I've never experienced any real trouble getting flight awards (NW, UA, CO) originating in Tokyo. I should point out that these awards have always been for destinations in Asia (I find this a more efficient use of points), and so have never requested an award to the US (other than Hawaii). So, I guess I haven't had to compete with Stateside FF's for awards.

Could this easier availability of awards be because Asian residents are not yet as "mileage-conscious" as those in America, and so there is not as great a demand for awards? It's only in the past few years that I've noticed that credit cards and airlines here in Japan are starting to offer airline miles and flights as rewards instead of/in addition to the usual handkerchiefs, keychains, clocks, etc. (Actually I find most of the Japanese credit cards companies still only offer these items for your points.)

Has anyone else found it as easy, or more difficult, to get awards here in Asia?