Not able to use apple gift card to purchase applecare+

I have a new gift card balance and an older Apple Store gift card. I wanted to add applecare+ to a new macbook air, but I am told by apple that apple gift cards ("for everything Apple") can only be used for applecare+ if done at the time of purchase. So even though Applecare+ is an apple product I can't use gift cards to buy it. They want me to take my brand new Macbook Air into a store, return it and then buy a new computer and applecare+. They will actually provide me with a new computer. This is absurd. Anyone know a work around?