As a loyal DL customer, I have gotten used to either (a) calling 330 days before the trip, or (b) calling with great hesitations and feelings of guilt, requesting "seats from anywhere US to anywhere EU from the week of 6/19 to the week of 7/11," and fully expecting to have my request denied.

Imagine my surprise when I tried to secure an award with KE for mid-May, and the agent admonished me to provide her with exact dates. KE seemed to have seats available on pretty much every flight. Have I been exceptionally lucky, or does KE have amazing award availability?