I am waitlisted on flights with Emirates, from Newcastle to Perth. It's difficult to know whether I should wait much longer ­ the flights are in February ­ and I booked a month ago. Any advice? Francesca Copeland, Sunderland

Sunday Times travel expert, Richard Green, responds: On some fares, usually the higher unrestricted types, it is possible to waitlist for a flight that is already fully booked. This helps passengers to get the flights they originally wanted should there be a cancellation, and it also helps the airlines keep their flights operating as near full as possible.

It's hard to say what you should do, without knowing more detail, but in general the airlines will only waitlist passengers if they feel ­ via their computer modelling of past booking and cancelling behaviour on that flight ­ that there is a reasonable chance. As long as you are holding sensible back-up flights with Emirates; either on different days, or from a different UK departure airport, you are probably best to hang on.

Whether a waitlist clears or not has a lot to do with the type of flight.

Some flights have a high proportion of business passengers booked on them, and they are most likely to cancel their booking as the departure date nears. With less frequent, more holiday type of flights, then more passengers are booked with tickets that can't be changed or cancelled without penalty. I was once 244th on the waitlist for a domestic flight in Egypt, and got on, whereas I was sixth on the list for a flight to Madeira, which didn't clear.

Good luck!

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