AirTran Airways A+ Rewards - What to do with 8 A+ Rewards expiring July 2012?

I have 8 AirTran A+ Rewards that will expire July 2012.

After next week, I have no plans to fly AirTran again before July 2012.

I have had the following thoughts:

1. Upgrade my upcoming flight to business class. However this cannot occur until 24 hours in advance. This rule clearly permits AirTran to try and sell those business class seats at sticker price before having to upgrade A+ Rewards members. That stinks.

2. Trade them on Points.com. Trading in Points.com is pointless. To trade 8 AirTran A+ Rewards for 15,000 American Airlines miles, Points.com tacks on a fee of $230...which could buy 6 A+ rewards in and of itself. That stinks too.

3. Wait until March when the FAA is expected to issue a single operating certificate for Southwest and AirTran and hope the reward programs are integrated before July.

4. Treat yourself to a one-way reward ticket someplace and book the return trip on another carrier with whom your collecting FF miles.

What routing is your next flight? If it is a longer route, I would upgrade both directions.

I have 8 AirTran A+ Rewards that will expire July 2012.

After next week, I have no plans to fly AirTran again before July 2012.

I have had the following thoughts:

1. Upgrade my upcoming flight to business class. However this cannot occur until 24 hours in advance. This rule clearly permits AirTran to try and sell those business class seats at sticker price before having to upgrade A+ Rewards members. That stinks.
.

If you would like to use four credits to upgrade to BC, you have a leg up on those customers who want to upgrade to BC with cash. Paid upgrades must be processed no more than 24 hours before scheduled departure; upgrades to BC with credits may be processed anytime the day before departure. So, for instance, if you are departing on December 5 at 9:00 AM, you may request the upgrade beginning midnight December 4, therefore giving you a nine hour advantage over the paying customers who want to fly BC.

You can also use credits for free magazine subscriptions, but not for much longer. Selections range from SI to Daily Variety, Fortune, Time, and Vogue. Like most of the AirTran partnerships, this option will end after this year. https://subscription.points.com/magazines.htm?execution=e1s1&lp=AirTran

8 credits should get you a BC upgrade in one direction. You can do this anytime.

4. Treat yourself to a one-way reward ticket someplace and book the return trip on another carrier with whom your collecting FF miles.

+1, I had the same problem. Took a look at the most expensive destination from atl and book a free one way to Aruba. I booked the return free as the one way going down was cheaper to purchase than the return.

8 credits should get you a BC upgrade in one direction. You can do this anytime.
I believe that none of this is correct. See post 4 above for the correct info.

Upgrade to BC in each direction.

This is the most effeicient use of those credits.

you could donate them to a homecoming vet to take a vacation with family. my inlaws have a rental condo on the beach in destin, fl, and there is a program to donate days/weeks (unrealated to A+, independent non-profit). they were able to donate some A+ credits + some days on their condo to a vet and his family...