Hi:

July is not a bad time to travel so your availability should be okay. Call the Elite Dest at 866-698-2006 and negotiate. If you go to Japan during the 2nd week of August, the flights will be packed as it's O-bon season when everyone returns to japan and their hometowns to honor thier dead relatives.

Also try using your miles for a NWA BF ticket, if you don't mind the short hop to DTW you can score the top deck on the 747. I just paid 199 US to do that from HKG=>NRT and it was worth every penny.

Regards,
Hammer