Didn't bank and now problems

[MinnieVanMom]

I didn't bank my points because we were so sure we would use them for our spring break. We booked a 1 br at BCV and everything was set until today. I am looking at the airfare and it nearly $900 PP I tried a major hub that is 4 hours from our house and it went down to $600 PP

I just can't justify that kind of money for airfare. We usually go for around $200 from the major hub and a bit over $300 from our small airport.

What options do I have for my points that I didn't bank if we do cancel? Is there a one time, you are so stupid exemption? Or if we don't go are the points just lost?

I am feeling so stupid at the moment and never thought that the airfare would be the deal breaker. 25 March to 3 April is the most expensive time to fly at this point. I am praying it goes down in a few months. We thought with Easter being in late April there wouldn't be a problem but it seems I was very wrong.

 

[erionm]

DVC will make a once in a lifetime exception for a missed banking deadline.

 

[thepops]

Not sure where you are flying from, but would going by train be an option? It certainly will take longer, but might be an interesting change.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Well good news and bad, I have until Nov. 30th to bank so I didn't mess up yet. What happens if I made the reservation already and cancel it? Do the points go back into this UY and then I can bank?

We found airfare for about $250 for when school is out rather than the $900 they want now for end of March.

Train is not an option for us but a super idea.

 

[toniosmom]

Not sure where you are located, but is driving an option? $900/pp is just ridiculous. I got JetBlue out of Newark for $350/pp for next April.

 

[jnsolomon]

Well good news and bad, I have until Nov. 30th to bank so I didn't mess up yet. What happens if I made the reservation already and cancel it? Do the points go back into this UY and then I can bank?

.

Yes.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We are way out west in the mountains and our DS has autism so driving is not an option nor is the train. We must get there quickly or as quickly as possible.

I am glad to know that I am not being cheap on the airfare.

 

[toniosmom]

We are way out west in the mountains and our DS has autism so driving is not an option nor is the train. We must get there quickly or as quickly as possible.

As the mother of a special needs son, I can relate. We get there as quickly as we can, so air is the only option.

You would have had to bank the points anyway to use them in the spring, so unless you are planning to travel between now and 11/30, then just go ahead and bank them before you forget.

Good luck!!!

 

[CandyMandy]

The issue the OP posted here is exhibit A of the very risky game the airlines are playing (reducing capacity to raise loads and prices).

To put the risk in academic economic terms, demand for airline seats is not completely inelastic (plain english translation - if prices rise too high, people won't buy or will pursue less expensive substitutes). At some point, the leisure air travel market is going to shrink if airlines don't slow the price increases.

 

[nolanboys]

Spring Break is still a ways away. If you really want to go over spring break, I would wait a little and sign up on hotwire or a site like that for alerts when the fare drops. We're going over our spring break as well. I had us booked Sun-Sun. I checked air daily, and noticed one day that the Mon to Mon was $1400 for 6 of us, while the Sun-Sun was $2400. I jumped on it and changed the dates of our stay. Make sure to check prices on Tues and Wed - airlines change their prices on those days. Good luck!

 

[jekjones1558]

What happens if I made the reservation already and cancel it? Do the points go back into this UY and then I can bank?

Yes, IF you did not use any points that were already banked and IF you did not borrow any points.

For the record I think the airfares will come down some before spring break but if the alternate dates are okay you can save yourself a lot of hassle by going after school is out. Enjoy, whatever you do!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I called MS and will loose 8 points that I borrowed. That's a number I can live with. $600 not so much. I have most travel sites set already as we love to travel. But we have a little over a month. I know I will kick myself when we cancel and then the price drops but I am not a huge risk taker. I will kick myself and then pat myself for doing so well on the afterschools out trip.

Unless the prices drop by Nov. 30th we will cancel. I like the weather in May and also we would be there for SWW.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well good news and bad, I have until Nov. 30th to bank so I didn't mess up yet. What happens if I made the reservation already and cancel it? Do the points go back into this UY and then I can bank?

We found airfare for about $250 for when school is out rather than the $900 they want now for end of March.

Train is not an option for us but a super idea.

As long as your points are all current use year points, they will be able to be banked. If there were any borrowed or banked points used for the reservation, those points will expire at the end of your use year.

Are you at all within driving distance? We are driving in January because we have 6 of us going, and it's about 31 hours on the road.

 

[maburke]

I like the weather in May and also we would be there for SWW.

If "after school is out" means May rather than June, I recommend it! We love to travel in May. It tends to be less crowded than Spring Break time, and that makes it much more fun with our ASD kids. (And it's in a lower point season, so you may not even miss the 8 points.)