I want to downgrade my AA Exec to the no-AF AA card to keep the account alive so that if I want to, I can go back to having an AA Exec without having to put in a new application/risk said application not getting approved. However, reading this Doctor of Credit comment, I see that due to how long Citi takes to process AF refunds/prorations when doing product changes, that I might get stuck being on the hook for the entire $450 AF due to it extending past the 37 day grace period for an AF refund? Can anyone confirm that's right?

On a related note, does anyone know if Citi's 12-month block on initiating a downgrade is from when you got the card or when the first AF hit? I got the card in mid-January 2019, but the first AF didn't post until mid-February. Because if it counts from when you got the card then if I put in the downgrade request as soon as possible the product change should go through before the 37 day grace period. But that because of how long it takes to process a downgrade, that even if I can put it in next week, I'd still be on the hook for $37.50 (only an 11 month proration instead of a full refund, due to technically still having the card for the better part of a month past the AF posting)?