The trips costs more in miles because it is a peak season and probably you are "paying" for an anytime type FF ticket. Most FF seats are released 330 days out and the lowest milage requrements get booked around then. I doubt any seats for less miles will open up. Many times there are extra fees , depending on the airline, for booking last minute FF tickets. It's a bit late to be lloking for cheap anything for July.

If you have the miles and won't/can't spend the money for a paid tickets and really want to go, then using the miles is expensive but fine. If you can buy the ticket then I would pay money and not use miles.

Every person has to decide for themself what is a good use of miles.