onedog.

I think it's both.

Being self employed, I have no problem flying mid week if need be, but by planning ahead far enough, I almost always get extactly what I want.

I have stayed up to 12:01AM to book award tickets 330 days in advance. But even this doesn't always work. The only time I really had a hard time was booking a Skymiles award NYC to UVF on Air Jamaica. When a partner is involved, it gets complicated. I finally did get 3 seats, and had to purchase one for my daughter.

As you pointed out, two months is unrealistic on a popular route.