Another exchange question ??

[disgirl]

Hi!! I know recently there was a thread concerning exchanges and having to have the points available when your exchange with II comes in. However, I am still a little confused since I know it is recommended that you try to put in for an exchange atleast 1-2 years before your planned trip to increase your chance of getting what you want.

My question: I have an April use year. In April of 2004, I will have 225 points. I already have a reservation for this summer using 172 of those points, leaving me with only 53 points until April of 2005, when I will get my 150. My question is if I wanted to try for an exchange for 2005 now and by some wonderful luck it came through before April of 2005, would I not be able to do it because I would not have the points available now. I would only have 53 points to use. I would imagine this type of situation happens to others, although I realize many people do have more points than me. If this is true, it would seem someone like me, with only 150 points would have to not plan a trip for the year before the exchange date year so that the points would be available should the exchange come through quickly. I am so sorry if I am not clear in what I am asking. I appreciate your reading it and hopefully, someone understands me and can answer my question. Thanks so much!!

Patty

 

[rocketriter]

You should have a conversation with MS about this, but you probably don't need to worry.

We've already committed all of our 2004 points booking a 2-bedroom at the BCV for next October (see the first countdown clock below). Even so, when our Hawaii booking came in for March of 2005--a different Use Year whose points were not yet committed--we had no trouble locking it in (see the second countdown clock below).

I can't generalize, but our experience was that you commit points from a particular Use Year for travel in that Use Year, and you can bank or borrow into that Use Year in advance if that's what it takes to make the reservation. We definitely did not have enough 2004 points available to cover a 2005 reservation. But we had enough 2005 points and that's what mattered.

 

[disgirl]

Thanks Rocket That is great you got the Hawaii exchange. You are probably right, a conversation with MS would probably help clear things up for me.

Anyone else have experience with this first hand? Thanks!!