I fully expect a read the damn board response but I haven't flown Southwest since they switched a lot of their policies and was wondering if I could ask a few quick questions. So over the years I have accrued large amounts of Southwest flight credits through penfed, Amex's, Chase etc. None of these have an expiration date.(I think I have like $1600 in various credits) I know now their policy has changed...

1) If I go to add a new credit should I avoid combining it with the one with no expiration date? In the past I would just take an existing $400 credit buy a $500 flight and then refund it for a new $500 credit. Will this now make the whole credit expire in 12 months?

2) Assuming the answer to #1 is yes it will expire... If I just do a new separate flight credit that expires does the 12 months start immediately or will it be whenever I cancel the flight? ie: Book today for a May 28 flight. Cancel closer to May. Is the 12 months up 9-26-26 or sometime in May of 2027?