Flexibility, creativity and persistence. Look early and look late. Use those alliances. Last, accept the reality that sometimes none of that will work. I estimate that about 75% of the time I can get where I want to go in the class I want to fly and within time frames close (your definition of "close" may vary) to what I originally wanted.

How about other FTers? What would you say is your success (loosely defined) rate in getting award flights?