hi, aside from waitlisting, you can buy the birkin from the H store if they ever stock one. sometimes, they r not displayed on the shelves. if u make friends with the H staff and be close to them by visiting the H store often, they may take out a birkin from the storeroom. U must show u're a serious customer.
if u often travel or travelling in the future, always visit the H store in the country.
Accessorize*me, a member of tpf here get her brand new orange birkin from Beijing H store. She is not even that familiar with the staff there but by luck, when she ask do you have any birkins at the storeroom, pop, the SA took out a orange birkin.
i'll search her thread for you to read more of her story.