Wow! This sale could not have come at a better time for me.

Earlier this evening here in Hong Kong I was invited to a wedding in Cork around Easter 2019. I moseyed on over to my meagre Executive Club account (I merely dabble in Economist/Irish Independent subscriptions and redeem them on regional CX/KA so I barely deserve my Blue status!) and saw juuuuuust enough Avios for a non-sale one-way HKG-LHR redemption over my (happily off-peak) holiday period. Then, I thought, I'd use my Aegean miles and do a redemption back from somewhere in Europe I haven't been yet (BRU? ZRH? VIE?) on, like, Thai (A350) or Turkish (new lounge/new airport?) or Austrian (erm...triangular plates?). I was quite content at that point!

And then I thought: 'Let me just see if there's anything going on with FT/HFP before I redeem this...' Reader, within five minutes I had confirmed the - what appeared to be - last Y seat on my desired day and flight, on BA32, spending 12000 Avios + 845 HKD (around £85). I didn't even mind paying 300 HKD/£30 for the seat I wanted (again, this forum is a lifesaver - let's hear it for 81D upstairs on the A380!); keep in mind that a one-way Y redemption on CX/JL to Tokyo is 10000 Avios plus tax from here, so 12000 to London is a ridiculously good deal. I'll work a full day, go home, have a shower, get on board, fall asleep, wake up, be in England. Perfect.

Huge thanks to everyone here who posts news like this!