Hi, all.
After an extensive conversation with MS today, I believe I have the explanation that will cover all the examples that have been listed here.
You cannot transfer future use year points. Instead, what occurs is a reallocation so that the end result is the same as if you had.
For example, in TexasAggie's case, what probably occurred is that the points were borrowed from next use year and allocated to the current year reservations (freeing up current year points). The current year points were then transferred to the recipient. The MS rep indicated that the a point activity statement would probably show these transactions that were "transparent" to the member--the end result being a processed transfer and a decrease in next use year's point total.
This same scenario would support the examples posted by disneyberry. What would be really interesting to see would be if someone used all their current year points at the beginning of their use year (trip complete, points expended...not just planned with points allocated) and then tried to "transfer next year's points." My guess would be that it could not be done, because the points could be borrowed, but would not free up any current year points to effect the transfer.
I also obtained an explanation that addressed the transfer direction issue. You CAN send and receive points in a given use year. Here is the rule: If you have multiple transactions in a given direction, you can only execute one transfer in the other direction. In other words: you can send once, receive many or receive once, send many. Of course, send once receive once does not break this rule.
I have transferred out twice this year, I can make one transfer in and as many more as I want out.
TexasAggie, disneyberry...let me know if you can contradict these explanations!
Sincerely,
tkmcw