My girlfriend recently purchased a non-refundable ticket for FAI-CDG this summer on AA. Perhaps foolishly, I was curious and priced the same trip a few days later- fares have come down quite a lot and her trip is now $406 less on DL

She is quite upset at this development and wonders if there is any recourse. AA has a low-fare guarantee, but it doesn't apply to other airlines' fares, itineraries, etc. I called AA and they said she could credit the fare to future AA travel (only good for 12mos), for an extra $250.

Do any of you seasoned veterans have suggestions for recovering value from non-refundable fares? Or suggestions for how I could make her feel better about her purchase? Given the limited lifespan of the credit, restrictions on its use, and the $250 fee associated with canceling the AA ticket, she probably will stick with her original AA ticket.

thanks in advance!