Perhaps it is a realisation that they can actually SELL the seats for $$$$ (rather than points) which makes the U and Z seats hard to get?

(Can't say I am complaining, I am a shareholder afterall).

As has been mentioned, there is a capacity drain at the moment, the A380's should be online by now (but instead are running two years late) and this is putting all sorts of pressure on capacity, particularly in the premium cabins.

With the demand for premium space, I am not surprised that award seats in U/Z are hard to come by - it will become easier though.

Dave