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Might be worth starting another thread (and generating some humblebrag golf club gold at the same time) but read the guides on headforpoints/thepointsguy etc.
there are websites that show peak/off peak dates as reward flights become available 355 days ahead. you have to plan ahead if you want max value from a companion voucher.
there are also reward flight savers where you just pay avios and a fixed amount of tax which can be good value if european flights are expensive at particular times.we spent 114000 points and £1050 on 2 returns to Tokyo business out/Premium back, saved about £5-6k (not that i would ever pay full RRP to fly business ) the money part is all taxes.
You can use a smaller than expected amount to fly ... we just flew business class with BA from Valencia, Spain to Heathrow and back for 1€ and 25,000 miles each. It was only 15,000 for economy I think.