So MEL lounge attendant said J was completely full and I felt really sad. We both walked to the gate where the person that checked us in and customer service agent we spoke with were both standing at the gate waiting. They said they had some good news and both of us would be traveling in Business and handed us a new boarding pass. (I am talking about me and my partner traveling together not me and the check-in agent) Not quite as good as F but it is the New Regional J so not too bad either and we both got to sit together which was kind of a bonus.
So in the end CX came through. There was actually an empty J seat near us yet they still bumped people in Y.
NOW, I voluntarily downgraded HKG - YVR to J from F with no compensation so we could leave a day early and hope to clear the waitlist. Maybe an F PAX won't show up. I have been to HKG way to many times in the past three weeks so another day in HKG would have driven me batty.