Originally Posted by
Mwenenzi
The policy on many(most?) non USA airlines is not to the fill the pointy end with upgrade & award flyers.
If frequent flyers thought they were entitled to (freebie) better seats, sales for real cash money of F & J would likely decrease
I've been at this FF game for 33 years now. It isn't historically uncommon for these premium awards to be available at 2 main points - when the flights are loaded into inventory, and within a few days of travel if there is space. (This provides a good way for airlines to reduce their FF balance sheet and/or get $ from partner airlines on seats that would go vacant).