Waitlisting <30 days from arrival dt for a smaller room

[pwoodham]

If we are not able to get our waitlist request for a 1 bdrm on the last night of our vacation, we will be moving from a 1 bdrm to a 2 bdrm just for that night. We have a 1 bdrm for the rest of our stay. Just for the convenience of not having to move, I'd like to stay on the waitlist for a 1 bdrm after the 30 day cutoff. If it comes thru, I assume the points I "save" will be in the "must use in 60 days or lose" category, correct?
We also rented some points to a family that will be staying the week following our vacation. If the waitlist came thru during the time their reservation was still more than 30 days away, I assume we could "juggle" the points, using those "saved" points from our reservation, apply it to theirs, and have regular points redeposited?
Sorry, one more question. I believe the 30 days is relative to our check-in date, correct? Because the last night is actually a separate reservation (different accomodation), I assume our 30 day window would be just from that date, not from the first day of our stay.
(I used the word assume on purpose, knowing that this whole waitlist business could easily make an *** of me!)
TIA!

 

[PamOKW]

Is this a brain-teaser?

First, let's define the holding account.

"must use in 60 days or lose"

That's not exactly correct. If you have points in a holding account, you can only make the reservation to use them 60 days in advance. They must also be used by the end of your Use Year.

If you change to a reservation that uses fewer points and are 30 days or less from your arrival you are correct, they become "holding account" points.

Possibly you would be able to use the check-in date for the 2-bedroom as the determining point for your 30 day mark. I would question MS about this in advance before you miss a deadline. If the reservations are "linked" you might have to go by your original check-in date.

Now, the "juggle" part. If you cancelled your reservation at less than 30 days and then wanted to use them as "holding" account points for the other reservation I think this is what would have to happen. You would have to cancel their reservation and then make a new reservation 60 days or less from their departure date and use the "holding account". However, when you cancel their reservation, if you are 30 days or less, you will then just have a new set of points that are "holding" account points.

Anyone else have some thoughts? Am I thinking this through right?

 

[pwoodham]

Thanks PamOKW!! Clearing up the "holding account" definition for me actually solves my problem (I think). We are planning a short trip in December, but I thought I had to USE the points in my holding account in 60 days. If it's just that I have to make a reservation 60 days or less in advance (but before the end of our use year), I'll just wait to book our Xmas days until October.
Uhhh, that brings up another question. On our Dec trip, we plan to stay at the Contemporary. Can I transfer the holding account points to "reservation points?"
I would not cancel the second reservation, so that option is not open to me.

 

[CarolMN]

Can I transfer the holding account points to "reservation points?"

Yes, if you are making the reservation 60 days or less before the arrival date, but more than 60 days before the end of your use year.

ref: page 32 of the Member Guidebook