+1 for success using the seat spy alerts for award availability on several occasions. I wish it had a functionality to search for the additional I class availability for companion vouchers and the extra space (V class?) that gets opened up for Golds - not that I will be able to use that after April next year anyway!
I have just started dabbling with expert flyer but am not finding it as intuitive at the moment and not 100% sure I am using it correctly all of the time - more to learn there