Confused about points

[Aviatorjay]

Please forgive me if I am posting this in the wrong area. I'm a bit confused about how points work. Specifically, I looked and I must bank my points by the end of July. Question: What is the downside of banking points? Is there a downside? Can I still book a November trip using them this year even if I bank the points this week?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!
Jay

 

[Sandisw]

Please forgive me if I am posting this in the wrong area. I'm a bit confused about how points work. Specifically, I looked and I must bank my points by the end of July. Question: What is the downside of banking points? Is there a downside? Can I still book a November trip using them this year even if I bank the points this week?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!
Jay

Points are valid for one year and will expire at the end of their UY. If you are not going to use them during that UY, you are allowed to bank them--up until the end of the 8th month--and that will allow you to use them during the next UY.

Once banked, they can no longer be used during their original UY. With a banking deadline at the end of July, I am assuming that you have a Dec UY. Once you bank your 2011 UY points, they will become 2012 UY points and will only be valid for stays from December 1st, 2012 through November 30th, 2013.

So, those points will no longer be available for a November 2012 trip. However, if you decide you still want to go after banking, then you can always borrow your 2012 UY points back into your 2011 UY--when the November 2012 trip happens-to cover that trip.

The downside to not banking the points by the end of the month is that they will expire November 30th, 2012.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The biggest problem you have is finding much of anything between now and Nov 30. If you don't have something already booked, bank those points. You could still waitlist something and borrow from next year if you have enough points in your next UY to pay for this year's possible trip.

 

[Aviatorjay]

That makes much more sense! THANK YOU!!!!