A Good Explanation on How Points Are Used

[DisneyStarWisher]

I know over the years I've asked lots of questions about reallocating points. For some reason I can't wrap my brain around how points are used. I think it's that when you designate a certain contract to use for a reservation, banked points are used first and then current points, and then points from other contracts are used before points are borrowed. Is that correct? So if I have 190 HHI points (90 banked) and 88 current AKV points and I want to book a HHI reservation for 70 points, then the 70 points will come out of the 90 banked points. But what if I want to book a HHI reservation for 135 points? Would it use the 90 banked points and then 45 current points? Is there anyway I can have it use the 90 banked points and then 45 AKV points? I'm thinking not. I'm just confused, because I always here people say that at 7 months out all of your points are combined and can be used anywhere. I just don't think we really have that much freedom with our points, or do we?

 

[drusba]

When you do an online reservation, you will designate contracts to be used in the order you want them used (the system will list the useable contracts and you can use the order of contracts provided or change the order). The system will then first use any banked and previously borrowed points (ones that came out of a cancelled reservation) from all the contracts listed and then use regular use year points starting with first contract listed, and if all in that contract are used go to second contract listed, etc.

If you do not have any already borrowed points, then you list contracts as above and system will take all banked points first, then regular points in order of contracts listed, but, if you do not have enough total points, it will allow use of the borrow points icon, and if you use it you will then choose contract from which to borrow points or more than one if more are needed.

So as to your question as to what happens if you want to reserve HHI for 135 points, it depends on first listed contract. I assume you mean a reservation made at 7-months out since you cannot combine the resort points before then. If you list the HHI contract first, then all points will come from the HHI contract because it has the banked points and enough other current points. If you list the AKV contract first, it will use all the banked HHI points first and then AKV points to complete the reservation.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

When you do an online reservation, you will designate contracts to be used in the order you want them used (the system will list the useable contracts and you can use the order of contracts provided or change the order). The system will then first use any banked and previously borrowed points (ones that came out of a cancelled reservation) from all the contracts listed and then use regular use year points starting with first contract listed, and if all in that contract are used go to second contract listed, etc.

If you do not have any already borrowed points, then you list contracts as above and system will take all banked points first, then regular points in order of contracts listed, but, if you do not have enough total points, it will allow use of the borrow points icon, and if you use it you will then choose contract from which to borrow points or more than one if more are needed.

So as to your question as to what happens if you want to reserve HHI for 135 points, it depends on first listed contract. I assume you mean a reservation made at 7-months out since you cannot combine the resort points before then. If you list the HHI contract first, then all points will come from the HHI contract because it has the banked points and enough other current points. If you list the AKV contract first, it will use all the banked HHI points first and then AKV points to complete the reservation.

Thank you. This makes sense. What I bolded is the answer to my specific question, but I'm glad to now have a general sense of how it all works. I was trying to figure out how to use AKV points but to use the banked HHI first. Thank again!

 

[dvc_john]

I should know this, but I usually have a good handle on my points, and use them almost exclusively at their home resorts.
But this year with all the cancellations, rebookings, and banking, I'm in the position of having to use up small amount of points from a lot of contacts to make 7-month bookings.

So, do I have this correct.
If I list 5 or 6 contracts for multiple resorts, the system will go down the list using all available banked or borrowed points, then go back to the top of the list and start taking current UY points. It won't touch current UY points until all bankedf/borrwed points from listed contract are used.
TIA

 

[drusba]

I should know this, but I usually have a good handle on my points, and use them almost exclusively at their home resorts.
But this year with all the cancellations, rebookings, and banking, I'm in the position of having to use up small amount of points from a lot of contacts to make 7-month bookings.

So, do I have this correct.
If I list 5 or 6 contracts for multiple resorts, the system will go down the list using all available banked or borrowed points, then go back to the top of the list and start taking current UY points. It won't touch current UY points until all bankedf/borrwed points from listed contract are used.
TIA

That is what should occur. Since I have never attempted to use that many contracts at once and know that the online system always seems to be looking for new ways to screw up, then if, for any reason, you cannot get it done properly online, you can call MS to do the reservation.

 

[myth2001]

How does transferred points fit into this. They show up just like another contract, which you can choose the priority?

PS, can you still call in to MS to reallocate points on existing reservation? (So that you can use later transferred in points to replace current UY points)

TIA!

 

[Sandisw]

How does transferred points fit into this. They show up just like another contract, which you can choose the priority?

PS, can you still call in to MS to reallocate points on existing reservation? (So that you can use later transferred in points to replace current UY points)

TIA!

The system will only use transferred points after any banked or borrowed points are used. Then you can ask the system to use transferred points before your current UY points.

I will say it doesn’t work perfectly online as I have had it leave a few transferred and pull from my own. It didn’t matter as I had a few trips to get them into but it made no sense.

MS has the ability to do something’s the online system can not if you have trouble getting a reallocation done yourself.

 

[lehrsj]

I wish the reservation system would give us the option of stating the number of points we want to use from each contract. I have a 300 OKW contract and a 100 OKW contract. I have 300 points and 100 points banked. I wanted to make a 9 night stay at OKW in a 3 bedroom unit for a total of 486 points. I wanted it to do the banked points from both contracts first (300 + 100) and then take the remaining 86 points from current year points.

If I list the 300 point contract first it takes the 300 backed points and 186 current year points from the 300-point contract. The backed 100 points from the other contract aren't used.

If I list the 100 point contract first it will take the 100 banked points, then the 100 current year points from the 100-point contact. It will then take 286 banked points from the 300 point contract, leaving 14 banked points.
The convoluted solution was to book 7 nights, for a total of 368 points having the 300 contract first. That left 232 current year points in the 300 point contract. Then I made another temporary reservation that uses 230 points, against the 300 point contract. That left the 300 point contract with 2 points. I then adjusted my 7 night contract, telling it to add two more days. The system forces the 300 point contract to be used first, but it only has 2 points. It used those 2 points and then used the 100 point contract, using up all the banked points. Then I dropped the temporary reservation.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I wish the reservation system would give us the option of stating the number of points we want to use from each contract. I have a 300 OKW contract and a 100 OKW contract. I have 300 points and 100 points banked. I wanted to make a 9 night stay at OKW in a 3 bedroom unit for a total of 486 points. I wanted it to do the banked points from both contracts first (300 + 100) and then take the remaining 86 points from current year points.

If I list the 300 point contract first it takes the 300 backed points and 186 current year points from the 300-point contract. The backed 100 points from the other contract aren't used.

If I list the 100 point contract first it will take the 100 banked points, then the 100 current year points from the 100-point contact. It will then take 286 banked points from the 300 point contract, leaving 14 banked points.
The convoluted solution was to book 7 nights, for a total of 368 points having the 300 contract first. That left 232 current year points in the 300 point contract. Then I made another temporary reservation that uses 230 points, against the 300 point contract. That left the 300 point contract with 2 points. I then adjusted my 7 night contract, telling it to add two more days. The system forces the 300 point contract to be used first, but it only has 2 points. It used those 2 points and then used the 100 point contract, using up all the banked points. Then I dropped the temporary reservation.

Based on previous posts, wouldn't all of the banked points be used before current points?

 

[Sandisw]

I wish the reservation system would give us the option of stating the number of points we want to use from each contract. I have a 300 OKW contract and a 100 OKW contract. I have 300 points and 100 points banked. I wanted to make a 9 night stay at OKW in a 3 bedroom unit for a total of 486 points. I wanted it to do the banked points from both contracts first (300 + 100) and then take the remaining 86 points from current year points.

If I list the 300 point contract first it takes the 300 backed points and 186 current year points from the 300-point contract. The backed 100 points from the other contract aren't used.

If I list the 100 point contract first it will take the 100 banked points, then the 100 current year points from the 100-point contact. It will then take 286 banked points from the 300 point contract, leaving 14 banked points.
The convoluted solution was to book 7 nights, for a total of 368 points having the 300 contract first. That left 232 current year points in the 300 point contract. Then I made another temporary reservation that uses 230 points, against the 300 point contract. That left the 300 point contract with 2 points. I then adjusted my 7 night contract, telling it to add two more days. The system forces the 300 point contract to be used first, but it only has 2 points. It used those 2 points and then used the 100 point contract, using up all the banked points. Then I dropped the temporary reservation.

As long as both contracts are checked, it will pull the banked points from both. The one glitch is that you have to actually complete the booking because the page right before it makes it seem like it I will not do that, but it does,

Once you book and click points summary, all banked points from both contracts should be used with the rest coming from the contract you checked first.

If it is not doing it after actually completing the reservation, then you will have To call because for whatever reason it’s not allowing in your account,

But, the system is set up to take all banked from all contracts, as long as they are checked.

 

[lehrsj]

Based on previous posts, wouldn't all of the banked points be used before current points?

No, they are not. I tried making the full reservation and it used points only from the 300 point contract, the 300 banked and then 186 from the current year of the 300 point contract. I heard it is supposed to use banked points first but it doesn't work that way.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

No, they are not. I tried making the full reservation and it used points only from the 300 point contract, the 300 banked and then 186 from the current year of the 300 point contract. I heard it is supposed to use banked points first but it doesn't work that way.

If I am understanding Sandisw correctly, it should work that way. According to her, you can call after booking and get it corrected. I've never tried but will be soon. I definitely hope I don't have to go to all the trouble you had to!

 

[Sandisw]

No, they are not. I tried making the full reservation and it used points only from the 300 point contract, the 300 banked and then 186 from the current year of the 300 point contract. I heard it is supposed to use banked points first but it doesn't work that way.

If you actually booked, using both contracts, and it left banked points, then it is definitely a glitch in your account. Just give a call...they will fix it for you!