Say there is F availability on a route, if you bought a refundable F-ticket, then just before the flight left could you then at that point get a refund and have them release inventory to A? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

hauteboy, if you expect to have the highest priority then maybe this approach would work but it is risky. There is a chance of getting discoverd. They sometimes release the free ticket to a waiting EXP (X, Z) rather than A (which is also available for mileage upgrade).

If you do book a ticket that is cancelled later, do not do it often and try not to use your name and address but have a friend do it.