It also depends on which program(s) you are currently focusing on.
For example I was focusing on Alaska Airlines program as we all know it is long over due for a major devaluation (because its charts are too generous comparing to other OneWorld members).
Besides, we really really need to make a trip to Hong Kong. AS is the best option for this trip thanks to the CX chart is very favorable comparing to all other programs.
So I check Flyertalk's Alaska Forum every few days to see if there are some developments. Still, I missed the major releases on SFO/LAX/JFK to / from HKG for Oct and Nov at the beginning of Dec 2022. When I saw the DPs it was already too late at Xmas time. Nothing was available. Yet, someone mentioned that it seemed CX released seats in bundles every 4 to 6 weeks. I did find a date JFK-HKG on Nov 30. but I wanted something months earlier. So kept checking.
Lo and behold, 2 weeks into January, there were many seats from Boston to/from Hong Kong for traveling in Sept and October. Needless to say, I called AS to change the JFK-HKG already ticketed to BOS-HKG, HKG-NRT and then booked NRT-HKG, HKG-BOS. There are very inexperienced agents and very experienced agents. You ask for "International Partner Desk" when a human finally picked up the call... Usually you were transferred to the right place with a competent agent. I was very lucky to have a guy who grabbed the availability first, then searched the segment from HKG to Australia, nothing available in business. So I asked to change to TYO. He found several. We worked out the dates, and he was able to even use the same PNR of the JFK-HKG plus the $5.60 paid, to transfer to the new BOS-HKG, HKG-NRT, with additional taxes because of HKG departure taxes and NRT arrival taxes.
2 weeks ago there was a glitch on AS site, LAX or SEA to LHR on BA 57.5K with only $266 cash portion, that was definitely a glitch. Many jumped in to book but I decided to pass. A week later the glitch was repaired, miles went up to the normal 60 / 65K, and the cash portion went back to the more normal nearly $800...
Hence I said news traveled very fast in the "hobby" communities. 
