Requalified for Diamond for next year and want to give my wife gold again for 2015. (She sometimes travels separately with the kids and want them to have access to the priority lanes, lounge when international etc)

Tried to do that, but it complains that she already has gold. (ie. it's not smart enough to gift her gold for 2015, rather than immediate).

Opened a case and they say either (a) wait until March 2015 or (b) give it to someone else. I want the global upgrade certs now, so I don't really want to wait. I could I guess give it to one of my sons, but that's not as useful.

Seems like a hole in the system to me as surely people want to keep a spouse/partner with status, has anyone found a way around this other than waiting?

Anyway of asking Delta to change their system slightly to be a "Gift for next Medallion year"?