I'm saving for when I semi-retire to Australia in 2015. I've acquired over 500k Avios in 18 months (and only flown once on BA, and that was MFU'd to Club). To be honest, BA is far from ideal for me given the lack of availability and high miles cost of premium cabin flights to Australia, but the miles have proved so easy to earn, mainly via Amex Platinum sign up and referral bonuses and the double miles offer, it was impossible to turn them down. Star Alliance is much, much better for me (if only BMI was healthy and offered similar opportunities to rake in the points).

Only now I want to fly to Faro in March/April there's no sign of any availability. Spending them is proving even harder than I antipated. Back to Easyjet for me I think. Still, at least they now take Nectar....