Thanks G-CIVC, much appreciate your detailed answers. Unfortuantely I am still in the dark as to what happens when I request the upgrade now - with inbound confirmed, and the outbound waitlisted. Is my understanding below correct?

Requesting it now (before 22nd), I would be billed 30k miles for that (HKG-BCN return). If the waitlist doesnt open, I will get 10000 refunded, as the return would then be a one-way upgrade only.

Plus:
If the wailist doesnt open, but a seat is available at the airport, it will be given to me, but I am not getting any refund?
or
It will be given to me, I will pay another 20k miles instant upgrade (and receive a refund of 10k from the previous upgrade booking)?

I find this whole issue incredibly confusing, and even MP (who I just called again) cannot give me a clear answer!

Anyone able to explain this please. Obviously I am not interesteed in wasting mile on some technicality. And If I cannot get the outbound upgrade, then I might of course get a inbound upgrade from BCN all the way to PEK for the same miles instead of only to HKG.

thanks