need advice from the experts

[starbox]

When we bought points (Jan use year), I thought that I'd *never* travel in December due to school/holidays. Well, this year we went for New Years and loved it and it looks like we have the first week of January off again next year.

I'll probably add points sometime this summer, once AKV details are out there and I can make an informed decision, but at this point we've used our 07 points on existing reservations.

I know I need to make a NYE reservation early, but this is where the whole Jan. use year can bite me, right? If I borrow from 2008, I'll effectively lose those points if I need to change plans. Is that right?

So, what should I do to minimize the risk of losing 60 points if my New Years plans change in the next 11 months? I am maxxed-out on my vacation time to planned vacation ratio, so if the points are not used in January, I need to be able to bank them.

Can MS switch the points used for previously made reservations? In other words - can I call and have one of my early summer trips made with borrowed points, and thus have bankable 07 points tied up in the January trip?

Should I try to find someone to try to do a point transfer? Would those points be bankable?

I'm just hesitant to borrow points for a trip right at the end of my UY. When I add-on, I'll definately be looking at a UY that will work better with the option of an added-on annual December/January trip!

 

[LisaS]

There is no January Use Year. Did you mean February?

 

[starbox]

There is no January Use Year. Did you mean February?

Oops - yup - February.

 

[Dean]

Can MS switch the points used for previously made reservations? In other words - can I call and have one of my early summer trips made with borrowed points, and thus have bankable 07 points tied up in the January trip?

The answer is maybe. First any substitution of points is supposed to be a cancellation and rebooking. They are only supposed to do this if the days are available such that you could cancel then book again. But MS can substitute the points without you losing the reservation if they chose to, they are just not supposed to. This is a rule that came into being in the fall of 1999 if I recall, previously it was easy to sub the points while holding the reservation. It's a great tool in certain situations when you have points that are less flexible you want to use and free up other points to bank or use for other reservations. It's also a way to stretch points at a resort that is more difficult to book or to stretch your use year if you own more than one resort and/or use year or master contract.

 

[starbox]

The answer is maybe. First any substitution of points is supposed to be a cancellation and rebooking. They are only supposed to do this if the days are available such that you could cancel then book again. But MS can substitute the points without you losing the reservation if they chose to, they are just not supposed to. This is a rule that came into being in the fall of 1999 if I recall, previously it was easy to sub the points while holding the reservation. It's a great tool in certain situations when you have points that are less flexible you want to use and free up other points to bank or use for other reservations. It's also a way to stretch points at a resort that is more difficult to book or to stretch your use year if you own more than one resort and/or use year or master contract.

Thanks Dean! You rock.

One of my existing reservations is for a studio at SSR, and I'll bet that can be cancelled and re-booked. This should work great for us. By 2008, we ought to have decided whether to add points at VB, HH, or AKV, so I'll be able to make-up the used, borrowed points!

I'm not 100% sure we'll do the NYE trip, but I know I need to reserve it at 11 months if it's going to be an option.

 

[Dean]

Thanks Dean! You rock.

One of my existing reservations is for a studio at SSR, and I'll bet that can be cancelled and re-booked. This should work great for us. By 2008, we ought to have decided whether to add points at VB, HH, or AKV, so I'll be able to make-up the used, borrowed points!

I'm not 100% sure we'll do the NYE trip, but I know I need to reserve it at 11 months if it's going to be an option.

Let me add that if any single day is available but not the entire time, they can and will change that day. You can also wait list if they can't change any days and do so if the wait list comes through.