This is one of the reason why SQ is making money -- their revenue mgmt department manages to keep everything so tight until the week before departure. It might be the nature of the American market, but SQ manages to anticipate their markets year round (personally, I think it's b'cos fo their equitorial location to maximize peak summer travel for both southern and northern hemispheres). My relatives in SEAsia fly SQ and don't pay unreasonable prices for travel on short notice. They make money on those who can plan ahead as well as making money on short notice travellers.

Nevertheless, I'm still annoyed I could've saved about $300 towards a shopping spree! :-)