How to choose a "use year"

[psu1978]

I'm sure this question has been asked and answered before, but I could not locate this info.

How do I decide on a use year. For example, I am a teacher, so most of my vacations are planned for the summer...usually August. Does this make a difference?

I may be looking at resales and have no idea if the use year should be a big consideration (after location of course).

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

The only time use year matters is when you have to cancel a vacation. It is best to have a use year that is just before you normally vacation. That way, if you have to cancel, you can still bank your points from the cancelled trip into the next year. You can bank all of your points in the first 6 months of your use year.

If you had an August trip planned and a June use year. You could easily bank. But if you had an August use year and a June trip planned that you cancelled at the last minute, you could end up losing your points if you couldn't use them by the end of July.

HBC

 

[erikthewise]

I think a June use year would be ideal for your situation. It's not essential to have your trip early in your use year, but it is simpler.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have always wondered why the fuss about use year. We have been members for over 7 years, and NEVER have I had to completley cancel a ressie where I would lose points, and our use year is past our banking deadline for our usual travel dates. That isn't to say it would never happen, but I really don't think it is an issue that is big enough to worry about.

 

[psu1978]

Thanks...I am thinking that if the option presents itself...June would probably be the best choice for us!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Good choice, but don't obcess too much if you don't get it.

 

[icydog]

I guess I don't understand this very well. If you had a June UY wouldn't you have to finish vacationing by June to use that year's points? How would an August vacation be advantageous using a June UY. This is probably something simple but I'm sorry I just don't get it.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by icy-dog
I guess I don't understand this very well. If you had a June UY wouldn't you have to finish vacationing by June to use that year's points? How would an August vacation be advantageous using a June UY. This is probably something simple but I'm sorry I just don't get it.

You get your points 1 June and use them for the reservation in August and anytime before June of next year. If you had to cancel you need 6 months out to bank 100% of the points eligible. If your use year is shortly before your travel, you simply have more time to use any points whether it be rebook, rent, CC, etc.

 

[flexsmom]

One piece of info I wasn't fully aware of when we bought was that there is a limitation on when you can do exchanges based on your use year. Based on what I read in the Member Guidebook, you cannot execute an exchange through II within 60 days of your use year. I bought an August use year, so I interpret that as being out of luck for doing II exchanges all through June and July. The good news is that with two small kids, I doubt we'll try to exchange any time soon, but when we do, it would have been nice to have summer school vacation time as an option! On the other hand, it's probably next to impossible to do II exchanges during those prime summertime months, so maybe I didn't really screw up after all!

 

[icydog]

Originally posted by Dean
You get your points 1 June and use them for the reservation in August and anytime before June of next year. If you had to cancel you need 6 months out to bank 100% of the points eligible. If your use year is shortly before your travel, you simply have more time to use any points whether it be rebook, rent, CC, etc.

I get it so far, but why wouldn't you get a July UY instead of June for an August vacation??
I know this is not complicated but I don't get it and I simply want to know.
Thanks.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by icy-dog
I get it so far, but why wouldn't you get a July UY instead of June for an August vacation??
I know this is not complicated but I don't get it and I simply want to know.
Thanks.

There are June and August but no July use years.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by flexsmom
One piece of info I wasn't fully aware of when we bought was that there is a limitation on when you can do exchanges based on your use year. Based on what I read in the Member Guidebook, you cannot execute an exchange through II within 60 days of your use year. I bought an August use year, so I interpret that as being out of luck for doing II exchanges all through June and July. The good news is that with two small kids, I doubt we'll try to exchange any time soon, but when we do, it would have been nice to have summer school vacation time as an option! On the other hand, it's probably next to impossible to do II exchanges during those prime summertime months, so maybe I didn't really screw up after all!

You just can't book AND travel within the last 60 days. You can book ahead and travel during the last of the use year or you can book for later during that 60 day period.

 

[flexsmom]

I get it now! Thanks, Dean! I appreciate the clarification....

 

[icydog]

Originally posted by Dean
There are June and August but no July use years.

Now I don't feel so stupid. Are there any other months that are not available for UYs?

 

[Dean]

I think it's Jan, May, July and November that aren't use years.

 

[icydog]

Thanks for the info. My computer is working again. We were in total darkness for awhile due to the hurricane and high winds in NJ.
Do you know why these months were singled out? If you don't know or actually don't care, that is ok too. I was just wondering

 

[psu1978]

Thanks to all for the great information... I didn't realize that there was so much to this. Based on these discussions it really looks like a June use year would be the best for our family when you consider that we travel mostly in the summer.

 

[timC]

We're a June use-year family, and we normally take our main summer vacation in June. When we bought, we thought our primary vacation season would be August, but that changed when we switched school districts. Now our summer trips are in June

Life is like a box of chocolates

And next year, without even thinknig about it, I booked our trip to start on May 30. Now, if I even have to cancel this trip, those points used for May30&31 are toast.

Live and learn.