Something learned from MS today

[RobDoc]

I'm sure others are already aware of this, but I learned something during a call to MS today.

I discovered that I have 14 banked points in one account that would expire without being used and we already have all of our trips reserved thru the end of that Use Year. I called MS to reallocate an existing reservation made using points from one OKW contract with the banked points from one of our HH contracts. The dates for the January trip were not waitlisted, so I was able to use the 14 points (plus 2 current points) to replace the 16 points required for the first night of our stay. This returned the 16 points into the other contract - 2007 Use Year (which has not yet begun as that account is stil in it's 2006 Use Year).

The castmember at MS asked if I wanted to bank those points into the next Use Year and I replied that I thought I had to wait until the UY had started to bank the points. She stated that I could bank the points right now, competed the transaction and gave me the banking number for the transaction - all done. (Thanks, Kelly! ) So - I was able to bank 2007 points, into a 2008 Use Year while still in the 2006 Use Year!

I know I have posted that points cannot be banked until they are "in" the account once the Use Year begins - but they can be banked at any time. Just remember that banking is still an irreversible transaction and those points cannot be returned to their original Use Year.

FYI!

 

[flyerron]

See that, we are always open to learn new stuff, Thx for the info

 

[Granny]

The castmember at MS asked if I wanted to bank those points into the next Use Year and I replied that I thought I had to wait until the UY had started to bank the points. She stated that I could bank the points right now, competed the transaction and gave me the banking number for the transaction - all done. (Thanks, Kelly! ) So - I was able to bank 2007 points, into a 2008 Use Year while still in the 2006 Use Year!

I think I remember a couple of other posters reporting that too. Nice that you don't have to write down a "bring up" note to yourself to remind yourself to bank those points. I don't know why they used to want to wait until the UY started but I guess it is fairly rare for someone to bank points before a UY even starts. Your case would be the exception rather than the rule I would think.

Still, as you point out, it's nice to keep informed on our options. Thanks for sharing!

 

[flyerron]

I think I remember a couple of other posters reporting that too. Nice that you don't have to write down a "bring up" note to yourself to remind yourself to bank those points. I don't know why they used to want to wait until the UY started but I guess it is fairly rare for someone to bank points before a UY even starts. Your case would be the exception rather than the rule I would think.

Still, as you point out, it's nice to keep informed on our options. Thanks for sharing!

Granny, I'm sure? you have Castbill's Planner & Tracker so you don't have to send yourself reminders to bank?

 

[LisaS]

I'm glad you posted about this Doc because I was affected by this today (and not in a good way!) and I'm wondering if the MS CM I was speaking to was giving me correct information.

I called MS today to make a reservation 7 months out. I have an Oct UY, so I am in my '06UY and the reservation dates are in my '07UY. I wanted to use '07 BWV points for the reservation but I'm short one point so I asked the MS CM to borrow one BWV point from my '08UY.

The MS CM said I could not borrow any BWV points because I still have some '07 VWL points available in my account and I would have to use one VWL point instead. I explained that I need to hang on to all of my VWL points to use for my next stay there. She said in that case I would have to bank all of my '07 VWL points today (15 months prior to their expiration!). When I questioned how it was possible to bank the points prior to the start of my '07 UY, she said that MS can now bank points 2 years ahead to help members book cruises on points. I explained again that I did not want to bank them 15 months prior to their expiration because I wasn't sure of my plans for those points, but was told that as long as those VWL points were available, I could not borrow even one BWV point.

I said I had to mull this over and ended the call. I looked at the point charts, came up with a bogus trip plan for the exact number of VWL points I had in my account and called back to book it to tie up my VWL points temporarily. Then I booked my real trip including borrowing one BWV point. Tomorrow I will call back to cancel the temporary reservation. It was a waste of time and resources (and I hate waste!!) but I didn't see any other way around my problem.

So, was the MS CM correct? Does MS not allow you to hang on to points in one add-on contract (that you will need to book at an 11-month window that hasn't opened yet) and borrow points from another add-on contract to complete a different reservation? If so, then being able to bank points 2 years ahead can have some unfortunate consequences.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm glad you posted about this Doc because I was affected by this today (and not in a good way!) and I'm wondering if the MS CM I was speaking to was giving me correct information.

I called MS today to make a reservation 7 months out. I have an Oct UY, so I am in my '06UY and the reservation dates are in my '07UY. I wanted to use '07 BWV points for the reservation but I'm short one point so I asked the MS CM to borrow one BWV point from my '08UY.

The MS CM said I could not borrow any BWV points because I still have some '07 VWL points available in my account and I would have to use one VWL point instead. I explained that I need to hang on to all of my VWL points to use for my next stay there. She said in that case I would have to bank all of my '07 VWL points today (15 months prior to their expiration!). When I questioned how it was possible to bank the points prior to the start of my '07 UY, she said that MS can now bank points 2 years ahead to help members book cruises on points. I explained again that I did not want to bank them 15 months prior to their expiration because I wasn't sure of my plans for those points, but was told that as long as those VWL points were available, I could not borrow even one BWV point.

I said I had to mull this over and ended the call. I looked at the point charts, came up with a bogus trip plan for the exact number of VWL points I had in my account and called back to book it to tie up my VWL points temporarily. Then I booked my real trip including borrowing one BWV point. Tomorrow I will call back to cancel the temporary reservation. It was a waste of time and resources (and I hate waste!!) but I didn't see any other way around my problem.

So, was the MS CM correct? Does MS not allow you to hang on to points in one add-on contract (that you will need to book at an 11-month window that hasn't opened yet) and borrow points from another add-on contract to complete a different reservation? If so, then being able to bank points 2 years ahead can have some unfortunate consequences.

Obviously this is a new wrinkle. Glad you found a way around it, but that's crazy that you had to do it that way.

 

[RobDoc]

...
So, was the MS CM correct? Does MS not allow you to hang on to points in one add-on contract (that you will need to book at an 11-month window that hasn't opened yet) and borrow points from another add-on contract to complete a different reservation? If so, then being able to bank points 2 years ahead can have some unfortunate consequences.

No - the CM was not correct. You should be able to bank any points you wish - with the only restriction being the banking deadlines - and still borrow points from another Use Year. I'm glad you found a creative solution which effectively worked around the situation.

I know I've not been allowed to bank points prior to the start of the Use Year in the past - I think the explanation about DCL reservations is the likely cause for that change (and quite honestly can't think of any reason NOT to allow early banking).

I think some of these "special" circumstances require the CM to manually override some automatic restrictions in the system and suspect that some are reluctant to do that based on inexperience ... or ... an unwillingness to take the time to do what you want (it's just easier for them to deny the activity). It sounds like that might be what caused your recent situation.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think some of these "special" circumstances require the CM to manually override some automatic restrictions in the system and suspect that some are reluctant to do that based on inexperience ... or ... an unwillingness to take the time to do what you want (it's just easier for them to deny the activity).

I think that is what happens with the point morphing too. The only way to do it correctly is to do it by hand, and some MS CM's are reluctant to take the time.

 

[LisaS]

Thanks Doc and Diane! It is frustrating when these things occur. Unless they are willing to override the restriction, it takes away some of the benefit of owning at more than one resort. I don't have enough VWL points to spend them on anything other than my VWL stays! I wasn't going to be forced to use them for something else, or worse, to bank them today when I am not sure yet whether or not I will want to use them for a VWL stay some time in the next 15 months.

 

[tor]

I'm glad you posted about this Doc because I was affected by this today (and not in a good way!) and I'm wondering if the MS CM I was speaking to was giving me correct information.

I called MS today to make a reservation 7 months out. I have an Oct UY, so I am in my '06UY and the reservation dates are in my '07UY. I wanted to use '07 BWV points for the reservation but I'm short one point so I asked the MS CM to borrow one BWV point from my '08UY.

The MS CM said I could not borrow any BWV points because I still have some '07 VWL points available in my account and I would have to use one VWL point instead. I explained that I need to hang on to all of my VWL points to use for my next stay there. She said in that case I would have to bank all of my '07 VWL points today (15 months prior to their expiration!). When I questioned how it was possible to bank the points prior to the start of my '07 UY, she said that MS can now bank points 2 years ahead to help members book cruises on points. I explained again that I did not want to bank them 15 months prior to their expiration because I wasn't sure of my plans for those points, but was told that as long as those VWL points were available, I could not borrow even one BWV point.

I said I had to mull this over and ended the call. I looked at the point charts, came up with a bogus trip plan for the exact number of VWL points I had in my account and called back to book it to tie up my VWL points temporarily. Then I booked my real trip including borrowing one BWV point. Tomorrow I will call back to cancel the temporary reservation. It was a waste of time and resources (and I hate waste!!) but I didn't see any other way around my problem.

So, was the MS CM correct? Does MS not allow you to hang on to points in one add-on contract (that you will need to book at an 11-month window that hasn't opened yet) and borrow points from another add-on contract to complete a different reservation? If so, then being able to bank points 2 years ahead can have some unfortunate consequences.

I have run into this and I believe the cast member is correct. If you have any points in your current use year you can not borrow from the future just because you want to save them for the 11 month window res you may or may not make. I understand the reason for wanting to preserve the points but the paper stop res you made is the only way around it.

 

[dis-happy]

Frustrating experience Lisa! Glad it worked out for you.

Any chance that this is a new twist due to the way the waitlists are being modified? With the automatic w/l, MS may have no idea if you want to borrow from different contracts to complete the reservation. This way they would be using up whatever current points you have available first.

 

[tic-toc-croc]

I discovered that I have 14 banked points in one account that would expire without being used and we already have all of our trips reserved thru the end of that Use Year. I called MS to reallocate an existing reservation made using points from one OKW contract with the banked points from one of our HH contracts. The dates for the January trip were not waitlisted, so I was able to use the 14 points (plus 2 current points) to replace the 16 points required for the first night of our stay. This returned the 16 points into the other contract - 2007 Use Year (which has not yet begun as that account is stil in it's 2006 Use Year).

Glad things worked out for you. Would like to get some info about reallocating banked poiints.
I cancelled a reservation and freed up some banked points. MS would not reallocate my banked points toward an existing reservation later in the use year unless I cancel and rebook. The resort is already full, so I couldn't cancel. All points are from same home resort. What's the reason behind this rule of not allowing us to use banked points toward an existing reservation unless I cancel and rebook? I feel as long as points are from same home resort, I should have a choice of using banked or current year points regardless if the resort is full or not. Would like to hear your opinions.

 

[RobDoc]

Glad things worked out for you. Would like to get some info about reallocating banked poiints.
I cancelled a reservation and freed up some banked points. MS would not reallocate my banked points toward an existing reservation later in the use year unless I cancel and rebook. The resort is already full, so I couldn't cancel. All points are from same home resort. What's the reason behind this rule of not allowing us to use banked points toward an existing reservation unless I cancel and rebook? I feel as long as points are from same home resort, I should have a choice of using banked or current year points regardless if the resort is full or not. Would like to hear your opinions.

In this case, I had to cancel and rebook - but all of my dates were still available to reserve. Since I was using points from a different contract, it required a new reservation number anyway and they just linked everything together. This reservation now has one nite made using HH points and the rest using OKW points.

 

[mathgeek]

I know this thread started with banking, but I'm concerned about the borrowing aspect that has been brought up.

In looking at LisaS's situation, I assume this is something that would only occur at the 7-month window. Would that be correct? We own at both BWV and SSR, and I am concerned b/c I know that we will have to borrow BWV points this year to make our BWV ressie for next summer that I am planning on making day by day at 11-months (to get that coveted standard studio). So I am hoping that I will be able to make that ressie through borrowing and not be forced to use some of my SSR points, which I assume wouldn't be available for a BWV transaction at that time anyway. Does this make sense?

Maybe I should have done 2 separate contracts and not an add-on so I wouldn't have to worry?

 

[LisaS]

In looking at LisaS's situation, I assume this is something that would only occur at the 7-month window. Would that be correct? We own at both BWV and SSR, and I am concerned b/c I know that we will have to borrow BWV points this year to make our BWV ressie for next summer that I am planning on making day by day at 11-months (to get that coveted standard studio). So I am hoping that I will be able to make that ressie through borrowing and not be forced to use some of my SSR points, which I assume wouldn't be available for a BWV transaction at that time anyway. Does this make sense?

Yes you are correct that it only comes up when booking at the 7-month window. Since you will be booking in the 11-month window, you will be able to borrow your BWV points. At the 7-month window, it sounds like MS doesn't willingly allow people to borrow points if you have other points available.

Maybe I should have done 2 separate contracts and not an add-on so I wouldn't have to worry?

You will be OK with what you want to do. Just be aware of this quirk in the system if you are booking at the 7-month window and want to use specific points for your reservation.

Initially I thought the 2-year banking option that Doc talked about in his OP was a problem for people in my situation. But after thinking about it some more I realize it offers people another option they didn't have before. If I weren't so unsure about whether I might need those VWL points for something in the next 15 months, then I would have taken advantage of the early banking option for those points and would have been all set. So I take back what I said in my first reply -- this could actually be a good thing, provided your plans are solid for the next 13-24 months. It's the silly policy about not being able to borrow points in this situation that flies in the face of "adding on where you want to stay".

 

[Tabetha]

Glad things worked out for you. Would like to get some info about reallocating banked poiints.
I cancelled a reservation and freed up some banked points. MS would not reallocate my banked points toward an existing reservation later in the use year unless I cancel and rebook. The resort is already full, so I couldn't cancel. All points are from same home resort. What's the reason behind this rule of not allowing us to use banked points toward an existing reservation unless I cancel and rebook? I feel as long as points are from same home resort, I should have a choice of using banked or current year points regardless if the resort is full or not. Would like to hear your opinions.

That's weird. I sent an email to MS a couple weeks ago asking them to re-allocate some banked points from one reservation to another, so that if I decided to cancel the "iffy" Christmas reservation, I'd be left with current points and the banked points would be used up in my "for sure" October trip.

Wasn't a problem, and I didn't have to cancel anything. She just sent a request for the points to be manually re-allocated.

 

[kimberh]

That's weird. I sent an email to MS a couple weeks ago asking them to re-allocate some banked points from one reservation to another, so that if I decided to cancel the "iffy" Christmas reservation, I'd be left with current points and the banked points would be used up in my "for sure" October trip.

Wasn't a problem, and I didn't have to cancel anything. She just sent a request for the points to be manually re-allocated.

I pretty much did the same thing with a VWL reservation, after reading here on the Dis about reallocation. I called MS for other business... I had 12 points that I really needed to do something with, The MS rep applied them to a existing reservation, freeing up newer points. I did not cancel and rebook anything to do it.

 

[MissMet]

Now I'm confused.

Is there a downside to banking your points early? 'Cause to me this sounds like great news.

 

[LisaS]

Now I'm confused.

Is there a downside to banking your points early? 'Cause to me this sounds like great news.

Banking is a final transaction. Once you bank your points into the next UY, you cannot move them back into their original UY. I wouldn't bank my points more than a year ahead of their expiration date unless I needed them for something like a cruise. That's just too early for me to be 100% certain about our travel plans. For example, if I planned to go the last week of January but had to move that trip to the first week of Feb, it would cost more points. If I had banked the expected number of excess points for that UY before I could even make that reservation, I would then have to borrow points to cover that trip. My DH doesn't usually know for sure when he can take time off more than a year in advance, so I wouldn't want to bank any points before being certain of our travel dates.

 

[tic-toc-croc]

That's weird. I sent an email to MS a couple weeks ago asking them to re-allocate some banked points from one reservation to another, so that if I decided to cancel the "iffy" Christmas reservation, I'd be left with current points and the banked points would be used up in my "for sure" October trip.

Wasn't a problem, and I didn't have to cancel anything. She just sent a request for the points to be manually re-allocated.

Were the 'for sure' October dates still available when you asked MS to reallocate that reservation with banked points?
The CM and a supervisor said there's absolutely no other way to reallocate banked points or any points to an existing reservation besides canceling and rebooking. Now hearing that you and kimberh were able to reallocate without canceling, I'll try again and see if MS gives me a different answer. This happened to me in April, and I thought it was a new rule. Thanks for posting.