2 Waitlist strategy - OTUP & how to book 1 before the other?

[Jperiod]

I have 2 waitlists. And I know full well how a WL will match without knowing unless you call in (just happened to me yesterday!!). One of my WL is to replace an existing reservation (that is using OTU points), the other is for a missing night. I really need to match/replace the existing reservation to free up points that I can use for the missing night.

3 questions...
1. How does OTU points work with WL? Will this be a problem for them to apply the OTU points to the new matched reservation?
2. If I call in to check on the WL and they tell me the missing night has matched (but the other has not), do I have to make a decision then? Is there any way to keep that held for a little longer? Until MS would've gotten around to contacting me anyway?
3. What happens when a WL matches and you don't have points available (I chose "do not borrow")?

 

[CarolMN]

I have 2 waitlists. And I know full well how a WL will match without knowing unless you call in (just happened to me yesterday!!). One of my WL is to replace an existing reservation (that is using OTU points), the other is for a missing night. I really need to match/replace the existing reservation to free up points that I can use for the missing night.

3 questions...
1. How does OTU points work with WL? Will this be a problem for them to apply the OTU points to the new matched reservation?

MS can see that OTUP were used to make the existing reservation and will apply them to the new reservation. You can always call to check after the new reservation is made to be sure it was done as expected.

2. If I call in to check on the WL and they tell me the missing night has matched (but the other has not), do I have to make a decision then? Is there any way to keep that held for a little longer? Until MS would've gotten around to contacting me anyway?

Yes, you would have to decide to accept the match or cancel it to keep the other waitlist. If it matches and MS completes the new reservation (assume you don't call), the other waitlist would be cancelled. You would have to re-submit it. I assumed the waitlists were both for the same dates and set up to replace the same reservation.

3. What happens when a WL matches and you don't have points available (I chose "do not borrow")?

Waitlist is just cancelled. Do not think you even get notified.

 

[Marionnette]

I have 2 waitlists. And I know full well how a WL will match without knowing unless you call in (just happened to me yesterday!!). One of my WL is to replace an existing reservation (that is using OTU points), the other is for a missing night. I really need to match/replace the existing reservation to free up points that I can use for the missing night.

3 questions...
1. How does OTU points work with WL? Will this be a problem for them to apply the OTU points to the new matched reservation?
2. If I call in to check on the WL and they tell me the missing night has matched (but the other has not), do I have to make a decision then? Is there any way to keep that held for a little longer? Until MS would've gotten around to contacting me anyway?
3. What happens when a WL matches and you don't have points available (I chose "do not borrow")?

1. The system should use the most restricted points first (banked, borrowed, OTUPs), followed by the current UY points.​

​

2. & 3. If a WL matches and you do not have enough points, you will miss out on getting that WL. If the system matched it before you called, and you did not allow borrowing, then the villa will go to the next Member on the waitlist that does match. If you happen to call while the WL is in the process of being filled, you might be able to alter the one reservation in order to free up points for the other. The operative word is “might”. A lot can depend on the CM you get but they’re not going to hold that WL while you wait for the other WL to come thru. It wouldn’t be fair to the other members who also waitlisted the night that you had matched.​

 

[Jperiod]

Wow! So if I don't have points available now, they won't even bother calling me so I can cancel something to free up points? My 2 waitlists are for different dates. 1 is to change 3 nights to a different resort. I found 1 night, so I booked it and WL the other 2 nights. The problem is, if I don't match the other 2 nights, I want to keep my original resort for the entire 3 nights, so I'm currently double booked for one night just in case. My other WL is for 1 missing night I have nothing reserved. I used the last of my points to book the double-booked night, hoping that WL comes through first. But if the missing night matched first, I would cancel.

So what if I called MS, could they modify my second WL to cancel my double-booked night so there would be points to use? It didn't look like I could do it myself online.

 

[Marionnette]

Wow! So if I don't have points available now, they won't even bother calling me so I can cancel something to free up points? My 2 waitlists are for different dates. 1 is to change 3 nights to a different resort. I found 1 night, so I booked it and WL the other 2 nights. The problem is, if I don't match the other 2 nights, I want to keep my original resort for the entire 3 nights, so I'm currently double booked for one night just in case. My other WL is for 1 missing night I have nothing reserved. I used the last of my points to book the double-booked night, hoping that WL comes through first. But if the missing night matched first, I would cancel.

So what if I called MS, could they modify my second WL to cancel my double-booked night so there would be points to use? It didn't look like I could do it myself online.

You want to keep your cake and eat it, too. You’ve double-booked a night “just in case” and you want to hold onto that night until your WL comes thru. You’re basically denying another member access to that night but you’re hoping that another member gives up the night you really want.

Any modifications to a WL puts you at the back of the line because it’s a cancellation and re-request. I don’t know how long ago you created the WL but if it was recently this won’t make much of a difference.

 

[Sandisw]

Wow! So if I don't have points available now, they won't even bother calling me so I can cancel something to free up points? My 2 waitlists are for different dates. 1 is to change 3 nights to a different resort. I found 1 night, so I booked it and WL the other 2 nights. The problem is, if I don't match the other 2 nights, I want to keep my original resort for the entire 3 nights, so I'm currently double booked for one night just in case. My other WL is for 1 missing night I have nothing reserved. I used the last of my points to book the double-booked night, hoping that WL comes through first. But if the missing night matched first, I would cancel.

So what if I called MS, could they modify my second WL to cancel my double-booked night so there would be points to use? It didn't look like I could do it myself online.

Yes, you can call MS and have them adjust the waitlist to say you want it to cancel that double booked night and it should not adjust your place in line.

As others have mentioned, if you say “do not borrow” and there are no points to book the matched room, it is released, So calling and having them add that you want it to replace what you have booked is what you need to do.

In terms of double booked, I have done that many times to give myself a chance to fill one missing night. I just did this for Dec. I had night 1, 3 and 4 at BLT LV studio but was missing night 2. So I booked a 1 bedroom at BRV for night 1 and 2, while I wait listed night 2. I figured I’d give it to 31 days before. If it didn’t match, I’d cancel the BLT studio for night 1 and simply do a split stay. But, I knew getting 1 night via wait list was much easier than 2! And sure enough, it matched and the CM simple canceled the BRV one.

Good luck!

 

[Jperiod]

Yes, you can call MS and have them adjust the waitlist to say you want it to cancel that double booked night and it should not adjust your place in line.

As others have mentioned, if you say “do not borrow” and there are no points to book the matched room, it is released, So calling and having them add that you want it to replace what you have booked is what you need to do.

In terms of double booked, I have done that many times to give myself a chance to fill one missing night. I just did this for Dec. I had night 1, 3 and 4 at BLT LV studio but was missing night 2. So I booked a 1 bedroom at BRV for night 1 and 2, while I wait listed night 2. I figured I’d give it to 31 days before. If it didn’t match, I’d cancel the BLT studio for night 1 and simply do a split stay. But, I knew getting 1 night via wait list was much easier than 2! And sure enough, it matched and the CM simple canceled the BRV one.

Good luck!

Yes, that's exactly what I'm trying to do, thanks, I'll give them a call in the morning!