I have not booked rewards redemption on AirNZ in a few years. (this is via Star Alliance I am talking about)

Began to look with the assumption most biz class availability is about 2 months out for 2 seats (2 is the key number)

Was surprised that there is nothing from Vancouver, LAX, or SFO to Auckland not only for 2 months but for the remainder of the calendar year 2012 (biz class speficially, searching on ANA) except for a few Air Canada routes YVR to Sydney, then Air NZ to Auckland in the May - August (and that AC route to Sydney was what I thought was the impossible biz class ticket to get).

Is there something changed in the past few years with how Air NZ releases biz class reward seats? I was used to having multiple choices to pick from so long as I started looking once I got inside the 2 - 3 month to departure window, and now it seems the most on any flight is a single seat.

Is it the time of year? My bad luck? Or has something changed?

Good news is I am planning on flying next year, but wanted to check in to start monitoring and was concerned about lack of availability compared to 2009/ 2010.

Any input welcomed as I begin to ramp up on my next planning regimen to get over the Pacific again.