Refund Question
 

Hi All,

I'm new to this forum here.

I have approximately ~$450 credit from KLM and Alitalia (Delta affiliates) expiring on May 22nd 2015. I was told I can use this credit on Delta flights. Is there anyway I can extend that credit?

I've done some reading and it seems like I should buy a refundable ticket with the credit first to buy myself some more time. And refund it at a later date.

Are the following steps correct?
1. My original non-refundable ticket purchased/cancelled
2. ~$450 credit remaining after cancellation fees
3. buy refundable ticket
4. get full $450 refunded at a later date if I want to cancel again

4. will work sometimes. If the refunds department notices it is an exchanged ticket the original non-refundable amount would stay non refundable and you'd be refunded the amount you paid over the original $450.

Almost certainly will no longer work with better internal controls in place. The $450 remains non-refundable. Thus, if you purchase a $600 ticket, you will pay $150 in new money and that will be refunded. The $450 will remain a credit, but on 5/22, will expire.

Thanks for the reply guys. I had a feeling it wouldn't work anymore... all the posts that say it worked were from 2011 :(

Nothing that's likely to work. You can buy a ticket through next April or so. If it's a fully refundable ticket you can probably change it later, to some degree (and depending on which agent you ask).

So you're suggesting to buy a fully refundable ticket to say Panama and to change the date of the ticket later due to the fare class of the ticket?

Buy one to someplace you'll actually be flying, on your best guess as to when. If you have to change it later you probably can.