Hi there, I know this has been covered in other airline threads, but not sure if on AS (I couldn't find anything--only a post 2 years ago from someone, but no replies to that post)

Anyway, I have 3 online travel certificates for a total of just over $100 because of a fare drop on a trip I booked back earApril 2014.

Thus I have until early April 2015 to use them. However, I know I will not be taking any trips on AS in 2015 except for a trip I already booked and paid for before I got these certs.

So the earliest I'd use them is probably for summer 2016. Based upon other airlines it seems the best way to prevent these from expiring is buy a refundable ticket (Y or F) and use the certs and pay any difference in fare.

Then when I decide to actually book something (which I probably will know by fall 2015 what dates for summer 2016 I want) , call AS (or do it online) to cancel/change the itinerary and book the new ticket. The full amount (credits + whatever I paid) should be applied, with no penalty to the new ticket?

Does it matter if I book the lowest, cheapest full fare ticket I can find? (which seems to be a OW from SEA-PDX). Even if I am not departing out of either airport? (I'm in the bay area). don't want them to raise any eyebrows. I could book a full fare from SFO-PDX or SFO-SEA, but then I'd have to pay more out of pocket (sure I'll get it back if everything works, but what if it doesn't work?....) . I assume also I should book as far out as possible (331 days from when the certs expire, would be early March 2016)

Not sure if this matters, but I am MVP Gold through 2014, but won't qualify for 2015 so will have no status by April 2015.

Thanks