Originally Posted by
christep
Sure you can waitlist, but if the cabin would otherwise be empty my expectation is that CX would simply not clear you off the witlist (unless you are Diamond) - they would rather fly with it empty and save cost than have to staff and cater it for a revenue of, in effect, US$1,100 (one way) on which they would make a loss.
Well, I am not sure this is the way that they work normally but what is there to prevent 3~4 of your friends to book themselves in full F on that flight and cancel it less than 24 hours before the flight? Surely, they would have to prepare for the catering (order sent) + staff (personnel called) for the flight already and there is a "sudden" cancellation. So what do they do? My guess is they rather take the payment from you in miles because the they already spent 4X times the cost to prepare for 4 F pax who did not show up and with all the meals and staff already in place and J cabin is not oversold - it would be illogical for them to not clear the list.