Hi, I can confirm a J ticket from North America to HKG. However, it isn't my ideal itinerary. Can I book/confirm the available date first, and then wait-list other dates? If and when the wait-list clears, I can pay the change fee and change to the wait-listed date?

Do I need to have enough miles to wait-list? How many flights can I wait-list for?

Yes. I presume you mean book a redemption ticket and then waitlist other dates. You'll need enough miles as described below.

Yes.

You need to have at least 70% of the necessary miles. If it clears then sometimes they will wait a day or two to allow you to transfer in more points. Or you can buy the balance at about $0.03 per mile.

If you are taking about first booking a redemption ticket, then waitlisting, then you will need enough miles for the redemption PLUS the required miles for the waitlist.

I don't know if there is a limit. But you can do more than one.

There may be a way to do it if you don't have enough points to both book and waitlist. (I'm only speculating this is possible...) You might be able to call them and make a reservation for the available date AND waitlist another flight or two on the same reservation. You'll book and ticket the available date. If the alternative date waitlist clears you could then just pay the change fee. This way you wouldn't need to have so many points. But they will only allow a few alternatives and it can get complicated. For example, trying to travel for a 10-day trip, and book the available dates AND the waitlist dates, you need to understand one of your waitlisted OUTBOUND alternatives might clear, but not the INBOUND. So it could turn into a longer or shorter trip. Make sense?

Thanks!!!

Many of these replies don't match my own experience, which is that if you book and waitlist there is no change fee if your waitlist preference comes up, nor do you need enough miles to cover both your initial confirmed booking AND your waitlist. However, you should speak to Asia Miles / Marco Polo to arrange this.

Your status will definitely make a difference. As CX Diamond I get my preferred flights (eventually) most (but not all) of the time.

Good luck!!

It was just a few months ago that CX changed their policy about miles to waitlist. It used to be that you could waitlist, and then transfer in the miles when it cleared. Now you will be prevented from trying to book a waitlist unless you have at least 70% of the required miles. So my thinking was that if a redemption was made you'd need the miles for that, AND you'd need the additional miles in order to do an ADDITIONAL waitlist. I did speculate it could be done by calling it; I just wasn't sure. I know it can't be done online.

I probably shouldn't have chimed-in.

I almost never call in to do anything; I do it all online. And I know Diamonds get a lot better treatment. :-)