Originally Posted by mahasamatman
It seems to me it's much easier to get a saver award seat 90-180 days out than it is to get one 330 days out. UA only releases one or two seats at the 330 day limit, then trickles out more as they get a better idea of demand. I suspect most other airlines have a similar scheme, though the details will vary.
Exactly! Part of the problem is that many people (as evidenced by numerous threads on FT) assume that airlines release ALL their award inventory 330 days in advance, and that the best strategy is to jump on and try to book an award that far in advance in hopes of grabbing their piece of that inventory before anyone else gets it.
Well, maybe it used to work that way (though I somewhat doubt it, as I have NEVER booked an award that far in advance -- more like four to six months, absolute tops!), but it definitely AIN'T that way now! Award seats are made available throughout the year, in accordance with yield management algorithms. You just have to be both vigilant in watching for availability, and flexible in making your plans. The last time I booked a "difficult" award flight, biz class SFO-SYD-SFO for May-June 2004, I started looking about two months in advance of my departure date, and availability in the date range I wanted opened up roughly four to five weeks before depature. @:-)
Anyhow, best of luck! ^
P.S.: Be sure always to phone for award availability. The online award booker has its limitations, especially on international itineraries. And it's useless for Star Alliance partner awards.