Originally Posted by jeremyBA

In my limited experience I find that long haul availability comes up 2/3 days pre the flights ( Barbados is a good example ). Short haul less so as I assume they sell out.

Originally Posted by Geordie405

I have a MAD - LHR - NCL flight the week after next that was upgraded using a GUF2, and a NCL - LHR - ARN flight in December that used another GUF2. Both one-way bookings so maybe not the best use of them according to "received wisdom" but, like you say GM1985, it was getting to the stage of use them or lose them. I definitely agree with the other comments that flexibility of Avios bookings is a real bonus, and that they can been very good value when the equivalent cash booking would be expensive. At the end of the day if you're happy with the value you're getting from your Avios then that should be good enough. For me, I would always use them to upgrade to Club from WTP back in the day but I don't see that as being a good use of them nowadays given the significant increase in YQ. It's often just as "cheap" to book the flight in Club from the get go. I am using some Avios to fly DFW - MAD later this month as that seems a better use of them, and flying back to the USA using Avios and a GUF2 with RFS pricing. I don't think there's a "right" or "wrong" way to redeem them, except perhaps for long-haul flights in Y