UY Question from Newbie

[P&B's Mom]

We are getting closer to making a decision to buy AKV--not currently owners. I am a teacher, so my vacations are not as flexible as some people.

I will probably travel mostly in the summer, June-August, maybe last week in March (occasionally) because that is always my Spring Break no matter where Easter falls on the calendar, and maybe after Christmas if things fall right and most of Winter Break is in January (this happens every 5 or so years).

What would be the best month to choose for my contact? This is the one area that I am still so confused...

 

[drusba]

First, understand that use year has nothing to do with when you can go, anytime of year, or when you can call to reserve, always 11 months out at home resort and 7 at others.

Next, if you will potentially be going almost any time of year, then do not even get to thinking about what I am about to say because it will not matter what use year you have.

Where choice of use year might be an issue has only to do with the banking rules and the potential that you might have to cancel a trip (never cancel and it is never an issue)

You can bank up to all of your points from one use year into the next anytime on or before the end of the eighth month of your use year. For example, with a Dec use year, you would currently have points issued 12/1/07 that expire 11/30/08, but if you do not intend to use them this year, you can , at anytime on or before July 31, 2008, bank those points into the Dec 08 use year and then use them for a trip between 12/1/08 to 11/30/09.

Now the cancellation point: assume that same Dec use year. Now assume you use those Dec 2007 points to reserve a trip in Nov 2008 (within your 12/1-07 to 11/30/08 use year). However, in September 08, something drastic happens and you have to cancel. Those points go back into your Dec 07 use year. However, you are beyond the banking deadline and thus cannot bank them into the Dec 08 use year. Therefore, they must be used for a trip that ends by 11/30/08 or be lost. Thus, the cancellation effect: you can lose those points because you cannot go before 11/30/08.

Now assume you use those Dec 07 points to make a June 08 reservation. In April 08, you have to cancel. Points go back into your Dec 07 use year. You have plenty of time left (until 7/31/08) to bank them into Dec 08 use year. Thus cancellation effect is nil.

In your case, you might go Jan, March, or June through Aug. Since your possibilities are so spread out over the year, use year might not end up making much difference. However, a Dec use year would give you the cancellation/banking hedge for every one of those possible months -- Aug is tad beyond the eighth month banking date but still within safety range if you also want the hedge for other months.

Note, even if you go for the hedge, it is likely not a permanent thing -- years from now your vacation desires may change and you may want to go in other months, e.g., Oct or Nov for which the Dec use year does not give you the hedge.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Which is the most likely time of year you'd travel? Jun-Aug? If so, I think you might be better off with a June UY, the reason being that you'd have until 5/31 of the next year to use the points...so even if you decided to travel at a different time than summer, you'd still have until 1/31 to bank any unused points.

However, you just need to keep in mind that if you did have that occasional trip at the end of March planned, if for some reason you had to cancel last minute due to an emergency or schedule change, you'd only have a couple of months (Apr-May) to reuse the points yourself or rent them out.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

...so, probably same schedule.

We have an Aug UY and I HATE it. If we carry over points, we have to use them by 7/31, which means we travel by July or lose them. My issue is not as much with having to reschedule, but when it dictates travel.

With that said, if I had it to do over again, I would have purchased Dec or Feb. Let's just run with Dec. With a Dec UY, you can bank 100% of your points through July. Here are my thoughts and our schedule, which I'm sure is similar to yours:
* Summer travel - can cancel and bank points through July. Would give you ample time to use, bank and/or reschedule a vacation if you need to. Worst case scenario is that you have an Aug vacation that you have to cancel. You'd be past your banking window, and would have to reschedule your vacation by the end of Nov or lose the points.
* Thanksgiving - will be the biggest issue with a Dec UY, as your UY ends at the end of November. We don't get enough days in Nov to make it worth a Nov trip, but if you do travel, you'll be traveling on points that will expire Nov 30 no matter what. If you borrow, they expire and if you are using current points, they'll expire (too late to bank).
* Christmas - ideal. You are traveling at the beginning of your UY, and if you have to cancel the trip, you have 7 months to reschedule or bank the points.
* Spring Break - again, early in your UY. Still have several months to reschedule or bank your points.

We ended up purchasing another contract with a Dec UY, and if I wouldn't lose 10%, I would sell and re-purchase my SSR points with a Dec UY. Hope this helps, and good luck with your decision!!!

 

[wildernessDad]

I'd say March.

 

[bookwormde]

For cancellation/banking ability pick a month that you do not plan to travel in the 3 months before.

the shorter answer is you want DEC


bookwormde

 

[P&B's Mom]

Which one would be better if most of the vacations happened in the summer (70% of the time for the next 15 or so years)? March or December?

Eventually, many years down the road after retirement (at least 20 years from now) I could travel more off-season.

 

[bookwormde]

DEC would work for every time you are going now, March would only be a problem for your Christmas and January winter break vacations if you needed to cancel in November or December more than 1 month before your travel dates.

bookwormde