Sometimes there might be
better award availability closer to a flight's departure, but that makes it hard if you are trying to plan a big trip.
Not exact matches
As you point out earlier in the comments,
close - in there is pretty
good award availability, and being willing to pay a change fee on an economy booking is a great way to get there.
Etihad Airways tend to release
good amount of
award availability (even when the travel date is
closer).
It would be
good news for some if the airline was to price Premium Economy
closer to Economy Class than to Business Class (in terms of miles needed for an
award) but it may be bad need for Business Class
award availability if Emirates shrinks Business Class cabins to accommodate the new product.
In fact, I would put Spirit
award availability a tad above Delta Skymiles, but, again, it gets much
better if you are
close to FLL.
Delta seems to add some as the schedule opens but their
best premium cabin international
award availability is much
closer to departure, this is one of the reasons for the outcry over Delta's new 72 hour rule for changes / cancellations, since it prevents members from converting medium or high
availability to low
availability when low space opens at the last minute).
- Cathay First class
award availability is excellent, and it gets progressively
better closer to the day of the flight, so keep on checking!