I have been using Avios or airmailed for years. The current situation is the worst I have seen and the North Atlantic routes are at an all time low. Booking in advance does not help anymore and there is no rhyme or reason to the release of availability. Where I could previously get to USA and any west coast point booking 4-6 months out I could not last year or this booking 8-10 months out.

It is BA choice and there is definitely a new policy.

BA do fill their cabins with staff who can buy premium tickets on standby basis and the airport upgrades also ensure a further dilution of product.

My advice is to not pay to fly BA. They do not and have not rewarded my loyalty and so I shifted my business, for what it was. My other sources of Avios remain locked away and can be converted to numerous other carriers as and when availability meets my needs.

Over 1. 4 million Avios burned in 3 years and downgraded from gold to bronze in 2 years. I stopped chasing status and focused on best value. Saving a £1000 a seat to get a slider seat rather than CW flat bef has me laughing all the way to the bank. And now with CX AA offering direct aisle access BA stand little chance of getting any money at all.
Shame really they were a decent airline once.