Use Year question

[poj7]

Hi.

We're considering a Vero Beach add-on (150pts) for the purpose of just using it for Vero Beach in Feb every other year We have a BCV contract with an April use year.

All else being equal, should we try to get an April use year so we'll keep one membership and have flexibility in the future to "co-mingle" the points? Should we choose an August use year so we can bank 100% of points all the way up to January in case we can't go to Vero in February as anticipated? Is it true that if two contracts are different use years you can only trade to yourself once per year?

Thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

It may be easier to have one use year but if you know you are going in February, you might want to go with option 2.

I have a separate use year on a contract at the BWV's for exactly the reason you explain. I use that at a certain time of year and if I have to cancel, I will still be able to bank all of my points.

With an April use year and a February trip, you wouldn't be able to.

HBC

 

[Granny]

poj7...you really can't "comingle the points" anyway with the two contracts.

If you want to stay at BCV, you can only use your BCV contract points to gain the 11 month booking advantage. If you want to use VB points for the same trip to add on more days, you'll have to wait for the 7 month window.

Of course, you could do some creative banking and borrowing, but I'm trying to keep the point simple.

We have two contracts at two different DVC resorts with two different use years. I don't think there's any advantage to having the same use year other than it's a little simpler to keep track of.

But there are free tracking software programs offered by the kind members here that make tracking my two contracts a breeze!

And I would go for a use month later in the year for Vero for the reasons you stated.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[poj7]

Thank you both for your comments. I will go with the August use year scenario.

 

[Dean]

To answer your other question, you can trade most than once per year in this situation IF YOU NEED TO. The times you would need to are very limited and mostly occur when you need to get an extra few points transferred to complete the last night. As to use year, August will be better but an even later use year of Dec or Feb might be better still. If your looking at using MB you won't be able to do that with an August use year anyway though you might get a few more points. With December you should be able to use MB if you want. Good luck.

 

[poj7]

Dean,

Let's say I'm traveling every other Feb on half banked points and half current points which is what I plan to do. If I have an Aug use year and cancel in Dec for the Feb trip, I can have use of the banked points until the next Aug. If I had a Feb use year the points would expire in 2 mos. (Feb).

So, keeping it simple, lol, Aug would be better than Feb.
Right?

Paul

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

So, keeping it simple, lol, Aug would be better than Feb.

NO. If you are traveling in February on 1/2 banked and 1/2 current points and you have a February use year, you would have until the following January 31 to use them if you had to cancel. With an August use year you would have until July 31, so the February use year is the best. Since the points are already banked, they can't be banked again so you would have within that year to use them.

Also so that you are aware that having two contracts with different use years can make a difference when you book something outside the DVC resorts. I had to get "special permission" to use my two contracts to pay for a cruise a couple of years ago. It is a lot more seemless when everything is under one umbrella.

HBC

 

[poj7]

My concern is for the points which are already banked. If the reservation is cancelled, the banked points would expire with a Feb use year.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Okay so here is an example: lets say you have a February use year and 150 points.

In February 2003 you have 150 points and bank them to the following year. They can now be used from February 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005.

You make a reservation that uses 200 points for February of 2004. That means you used your 150 banked points and 50 2004 points.

In December you have to cancel. You still have your 150 banked points that you can use between February 2004 and January 31, 2005. You also still have your full 150 points from 2004.

Does this help? If the banked points were to expire in February, that would mean that they couldn't have been used for a February reservation in the first place.

HBC

 

[poj7]

Got it. You are correct. Thank you for the explanation. I stand corrected.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

No need to stand corrected. Use year, banking and borrowing are complicated and it takes time and help to understand. Thankfully we all are in the same boat here on the dis and can help each other. I can't tell you how many times I have been helped here. You are welcome,

HBC

 

[poj7]

Hi.

I have to say that interacting with the people on the DIS Discussion forum has increased the value and enjoyment of my DVC membership in so many ways. Truly a great community. So glad to be part of it.

 

[JOC]

We're just one big happy DVC family...most of the time anyway!

 

[Dean]

As noted, your points would be good much longer if you cancel for a Feb than an August use year. The only complication is if you are trying to use the BCV points, especially banked or borrowed points for part of the trip as they would expire the end or March. This is definitely one situation where you need 2 different use years.