What are my chances ...?

[biged9973]

We had gifted our niece a week at Aulani for her honeymoon. Unfortunately she has had a medical emergency and will not be able to go on the trip. As we were in the 30 day window the points have been put into holding points and will expire Nov 30th. My question is what are the chances of any availability the week of Nov 9th with the very limited 60 day booking window? That is the only time we would be able to travel due to our work/life schedules. Or should we just try to rent the points?

Thanks in advance

 

[Sandisw]

That’s a popular week so I think it could be difficult, However, you might be able to piece things together, even if it means a split stay.

I think SSR is your best chance. With renting, at least you’d have the rolling 60 day window to get them used up.

 

[intamin]

Kind of unfortunate that the points are Dec UY because you won't be able to do the trick that allows you to swap holding points for regular points for a reservation at 60 days out as the regular points would then about to expire and unable to be banked.

Agree with Sandi, you may be able to piece together a couple of nights at SSR/AKV/OKW in a mixture of studios/1BRs.

I would also consider asking member services for a one time exemption to get the points out of holding if it's a significant amount of points that are in holding. Couldn't hurt to ask /shrug

 

[iheartglaciers]

Kind of unfortunate that the points are Dec UY because you won't be able to do the trick that allows you to swap holding points for regular points for a reservation at 60 days out as the regular points would then about to expire and unable to be banked.

How does the swapping trick work? It gives you the advantage of using the holding points earlier?

 

[intamin]

How does the swapping trick work? It gives you the advantage of using the holding points earlier?

It lets you replace normal points with holding points and essentially bypass the 60 day restriction. This is part of the reason why it's beneficial for you to have your trips early in the use year so even if you end up having points going into holding, you'll still have the opportunity to use them later in the use year. If the original trip is later in the use year like in this case, you aren't able to swap the points.

 

[DisTravels]

It lets you replace normal points with holding points and essentially bypass the 60 day restriction. This is part of the reason why it's beneficial for you to have your trips early in the use year so even if you end up having points going into holding, you'll still have the opportunity to use them later in the use year. If the original trip is later in the use year like in this case, you aren't able to swap the points.

Would this be the process: Use normal (non-holding account) points to book 60+ days out, then at 60 day mark call member services and swap holding account points for normal points? WIth the points swap needing to occur between 31 and 60 days prior to checkin?

 

[intamin]

Would this be the process: Use normal (non-holding account) points to book 60+ days out, then at 60 day mark call member services and swap holding account points for normal points? WIth the points swap needing to occur between 31 and 60 days prior to checkin?

Correct, you can have member services do it for you or you can simply do it yourself by clicking modify on the reservation and then clicking all the way through. The system will automatically take your points in holding and replace the normal points.

 

[WLodgeLizard]

Correct, you can have member services do it for you or you can simply do it yourself by clicking modify on the reservation and then clicking all the way through. The system will automatically take your points in holding and replace the normal points.

This post is almost a year old, but it just saved me. MS just told me that they cannot swap out my Holding points, but I tried the modify reservation option and it worked perfectly! Thanks!