Switching points for a ressie, can you do this?

[mb168]

Is it possible to switch points for a ressie. ie: I have a Dec ressie for a 1BR at OKW using my BCV points. I also have points at OKW. Can they switch the points to my OKW points so I can then free up and bank the BCV points?

 

[RobDoc]

If there are other members waitlisted for those dates, you probably won't be able to simply switch points. Technically, you will be cancelling the reservation you currently have made with BCV points and rebooking with OKW points. If there are not others waitlisted, they can easily do what you suggest.

Good Luck!

 

[kem330]

What Doc said is correct, but I did have a CM just switch out the points for me when I had a BCV ressie with BCV points and wanted to use my BWV points instead- without cancelling first. So maybe you will get lucky!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by kem330
What Doc said is correct, but I did have a CM just switch out the points for me when I had a BCV ressie with BCV points and wanted to use my BWV points instead- without cancelling first. So maybe you will get lucky!

I'm sure that the CM would not have made the switch for you if there wasn't still availability for the room size and dates you reserved. Or maybe there wasn't anyone on the waitlist for the same days & room size. If there wasn't availability and there was a waitlist, the CM made an error in your favor (which was to the detriment of those on the waitlist).


The 11 month home resort booking advantage wouldn't mean very much if it were possible to "swap" points when there wasn't availability.

 

[kem330]

This did not occur at the 11 month window, it happened when I called at 7 month window to switch a reservation I was already holding with BCV points and wanted to use BWV points instead. I switched a couple of ressies, but one night was sold out. Since I am a BCV owner and had legitmately made the ressie at 11 months, my impression was she saw no problem using the BWV points instead as I would have kept the reservation either way. So I did not cheat someone else out of a room. And I repeat this was at the 7 month window.
So as it also applies to mb, they are going to keep the room either way, they just wanted to use OKW points instead, and since it is after the 7 month window (they couldn't have made it with BCV points otherwise) they are not cheating anyone with home resort priority or on the wait list.

 

[CarolMN]

I agree that if the ressie was made after the 7 month window opens, it doesn't matter.

I assumed that the BCV ressie had been made prior to the 7 month window (Your first post didn't say either way and I made the wrong assumption. Sorry). If the ressie had been made prior to the opening of the 7 month window, it would have made a difference to anyone who may have been on the waitlist.

I don't think mb168 will have any problems switching points around either, based on the info provided in the post.

 

[mb168]

I made the ressie on BCV points in Aug right before my OKW resale closed. I think its a moot point now though because I can't bank all of the freed BCV points to next year because I'm past my window. And I only have 70 OKW points and the ressie is 80. I'd have to borrow 10 from 2003, do the transfer, then bank the BCV points to March 2003. I'm past 100% banking so can only bank 75 points anyway and have already banked 24. Guess I'll leave it be. I haven't had problems booking during FW which I did in Aug at OKW, waitlisted to BWV, and again to BCV. I also made the Dec ressie in Aug originally at BWV in a 1 BR but moved to OKW since MIL was going along and wanted more room and to save a few points, that OKW "secret ". Thanks

 

[Peter Johnson]

I've done this many times less than 7 months out, to use our VB points for OKW visits. I just call and ask MS to switch the VB points onto the ressie and remove the OKW points.

Since we visit OKW in early December, I would assume that there is a waitlist by the time I do this. Last year we didn't switch the points until October or early November. MS has never said they're cancelling and recreating the ressie, and the ressie number does not change.

Incidentally , the first 2 or 3 years we were VB owners, we were allowed to use our VB points for OKW ressies at the 11 month window. We were very surprised the first time we were told we couldn't do that. That's when MS told us to call back after the 7 month window and have them swap the points.

 

[Dean]

To "switch" which points are used for a specific reservation involves basically cancelling a reservation and rebooking with the new points. Regardless of when it was (booking window), where someone is an owner or which points are being used; it is inappropriated to just substitute the points if there is a wait list. If there is no wait list, of course it doesn't matter. Even if there are no rooms but no wait list, you'd be your own wait list so you'd still be ok.

The only time they should ever do this is if there was a mistake on their part where they used the wrong points. No amount of it's my home resort, I'll lose the points otherwise, etc should allow this to happen.

This did not occur at the 11 month window, it happened when I called at 7 month window to switch a reservation I was already holding with BCV points and wanted to use BWV points instead. I switched a couple of ressies, but one night was sold out. Since I am a BCV owner and had legitmately made the ressie at 11 months, my impression was she saw no problem using the BWV points instead as I would have kept the reservation either way. So I did not cheat someone else out of a room. And I repeat this was at the 7 month window.
So as it also applies to mb, they are going to keep the room either way, they just wanted to use OKW points instead, and since it is after the 7 month window (they couldn't have made it with BCV points otherwise) they are not cheating anyone with home resort priority or on the wait list.

I'm not sure I agree. If the one night was sold out AND there was a wait list, MS would have been cheating someone else out of the room. The proper response for MS would have been to change all of the nights except for the one not available using your BWV points and leaving that one night on BCV. They should then have wait listed the one night. They should not have just substituted the points. The fact you would have decided to keep the room with the BCV points if they had not been willing to substitute the BWV points is not applicable.

 

[Dean]

To "switch" which points are used for a specific reservation involves basically cancelling a reservation and rebooking with the new points. Regardless of when it was (booking window), where someone is an owner or which points are being used; it is inappropriated to just substitute the points if there is a wait list. If there is no wait list, of course it doesn't matter. Even if there are no rooms but no wait list, you'd be your own wait list so you'd still be ok.

The only time they should ever do this is if there was a mistake on their part where they used the wrong points. No amount of it's my home resort, I'll lose the points otherwise, etc should allow this to happen.

This did not occur at the 11 month window, it happened when I called at 7 month window to switch a reservation I was already holding with BCV points and wanted to use BWV points instead. I switched a couple of ressies, but one night was sold out. Since I am a BCV owner and had legitmately made the ressie at 11 months, my impression was she saw no problem using the BWV points instead as I would have kept the reservation either way. So I did not cheat someone else out of a room. And I repeat this was at the 7 month window.
So as it also applies to mb, they are going to keep the room either way, they just wanted to use OKW points instead, and since it is after the 7 month window (they couldn't have made it with BCV points otherwise) they are not cheating anyone with home resort priority or on the wait list.

I'm not sure I agree. If the one night was sold out AND there was a wait list, MS would have been cheating someone else out of the room. The proper response for MS would have been to change all of the nights except for the one not available using your BWV points and leaving that one night on BCV. They should then have wait listed the one night. They should not have just substituted the points. The fact you would have decided to keep the room with the BCV points if they had not been willing to substitute the BWV points is not applicable.

 

[DebbieB]

There is information regarding this on page 35 of the new guidebook. It says you cannot "switch out" points inside the 7 month window, you must cancel & rebook subject to availability. If they allow the "switch out" when there is a waitlist, the net effect is making an 11 month reservation with non-home resort points by "holding" the reservation with home resort points but in the end using non-home resort points.

 

[kem330]

I beg to differ- In my situation I had home resort points which I was perfectly willing to use. Her changing the points did not change my reservation, I would keep it either way. I did not ask the CM to do this and I was quite surprised. I know I got lucky but I certainly am not a cheat. No one should make an 11 month ressie and count on changing it at 7 mos especially at the holidays. I understand your point , but in this situation the net effect was the same I had a ressie for BCV that I would keep no matter what. Yeah it gave me a little convenience to use up BWV points so I'll have more BCV available next year but that also benefitted someone else who wanted BWV and was now getting a reservation that I might have made with my points there. Since BCV is not sold out yet, I would dare to say I have not disturbed anyone there either.

 

[Dean]

kem330, it's not your fault but as you described it MS should not have done this. No one blames you for asking, only that MS gave you a benefit that was against the rules. They effectively allowed you to bypass the 11 month window using non home resort points. Sure you can say that using the BW points freed a room up at another time for someone else but it's unlikely that would have been a sold out night.

 

[kem330]

Anyone with 11 month home priority WAS NOT Hurt by this! It's only affect was after the 7 month window,when I called to use different points, so the only ones possibly affected by this would be non BCV owners. And since I had no intention of cancelling this reservation it didn't make a difference to them either. No it probably shouldn't have happened, But Really, nothing was changed- if it didn't happen, I'd still have the room.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by kem330
Anyone with 11 month home priority WAS NOT Hurt by this! It's only affect was after the 7 month window,when I called to use different points, so the only ones possibly affected by this would be non BCV owners. And since I had no intention of cancelling this reservation it didn't make a difference to them either. No it probably shouldn't have happened, But Really, nothing was changed- if it didn't happen, I'd still have the room.

If it was home resort points used originally before the 7 months window, it doesn't matter if this was changed after the 7 month window. Regardless, they shouldn't have substituted the points. I realize that you would have just kept it with the BCV points which is what should have happened had MS not messed up. They should have cancelled the reservation and given it to the first one on the wait list or not let you change the reservation. Still, not your fault.

 

[DebbieB]

Say another BCV member called at 8 months for a BCV room and there was no availability and they got on the waitlist. The waitlist never came up and they didn't get their room. Meanwhile, you have a BCV room using BWV points and still have your banked BCV points for next year to make a reservation again at 11 months.

I'm certainly not saying you cheated, member services allowed it.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by DebbieB
Say another BCV member called at 8 months for a BCV room and there was no availability and they got on the waitlist. The waitlist never came up and they didn't get their room. Meanwhile, you have a BCV room using BWV points and still have your banked BCV points for next year to make a reservation again at 11 months.

I'm certainly not saying you cheated, member services allowed it.

Perfect example.

 

[luckytso]

Interesting thread. I thought the answer is a straightforward one, but did not expect the twist.

I tried to switch points for a ressie at BCV made within the 11-month window by using some of my banked BWV points and was told the standard answer by MS that I could not do it unless there was availability, if so, then they need to cancel and rebook.

I am surprised that some MS would let people do it. Hmmmm, maybe I just need to reach a different MS next time , just kidding. , no flaming please.

 

[kem330]

A lot of fuss over 19 points

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

We have done the point "switch-a-roo" thing but only within the seven month window and there has to be availability. I like the ability to do this. It helps clear your books of those straggler points that make bookeeping difficult.