Waitlist/Holding Points

[mdsd8700]

Hi,

I was on the phone with member services today changing a reservation and couldn't get exactly what I wanted so I asked to be waitlisted. He did so and then said something to the effect that the waitlist would only be kept on file for 31 days prior to the trip because if the waitlist request stayed on there past 31 days then my points would be put into holding.

I know I have read about the waitlist previously (with the 31 day thing) and people calling to have it extended or was it that they called each day after the 31 days to keep checking? Either way I don't remember the part where the points would go into holding after the 31st day so I am putting it here so I can clarify the answer. Certaintly wouldn't want to mess that one up.

I should have asked him to explain when he said it, but it was only my second reservation. I was trying to keep track of my new add on, those new 2010 points being banked and the reservation for November being switched properly with the new points I added. Only after that all worked out fine and I had him repeat it all back to me and then I hung up did I think about what he said.

Thanks.

 

[CarolMN]

Let me try.

All waitlists expire at the 31 day mark. If you want to stay on the waitlist past that time, you must specifically request to do so.

The reason is that the points from any reservation that is canceled 30 days or less prior to arrival go into holding status. If the waitlisted reservation uses the same or more points than the one being cancelled, this is not a problem. However, if the waitlisted reservation uses less points, the "extra points" will go into holding.

Holding points can be difficult to use. They expire at the end of the use year (cannot be banked) and can only be used to make a reservation that is no more than 60 days in the future. Availability can be very, very limited at the 60 day mark, so it is very possible that holding points will expire before you can use them.

So that's why all waitlists expire at the 31 day mark. MS makes the member request to stay on the waitlist after the 31 day mark. That way, any "holding point " risk is the member's express choice.

All waitlists expire at the 7 day mark. If you still want to try to get something after that 7 day mark, you have to call MS and hope to catch a cancellation.

Hope that helps.

 

[laura-k]

Very good info to know -
Thanks CarolMN

 

[mdsd8700]

Let me say Thanks as well CarolMN! That makes perfect sense the way you explained it. I was aware of pretty much everything you said except if the waitlist reservation was less than the original points used then the extra points is where the holding would come in. Since the waitlist I have is less than the current reservation this is why MS mentioned it to me. I just didn't understand the full meaning at the time. I will definately tuck this information away and use it for future reference. This is why I love DisBoards! Thanks again!