What happens to these points

[jodiey]

Say we have a trip booked with points on 11/15/15 and on 11/1/15 something happens that forces us to cancel our trip. What happens to the points we were going to use? Can they be banked if it is still within the banking window or would they have to be used by 9/1/16 (givin a Sept use year)?

 

[AppleDisneyDad]

I believe they become holding points since the cancellation is within 30 days of check in. I do not know they exact rules off hand, but I believe banking is off the table.

 

[erionm]

Say we have a trip booked with points on 11/15/15 and on 11/1/15 something happens that forces us to cancel our trip. What happens to the points we were going to use? Can they be banked if it is still within the banking window or would they have to be used by 9/1/16 (givin a Sept use year)?

As long as you cancel 31 days or more from check-in, you will still be able to bank any bankable points. Bankable points would be those that were from the same UY in which the reservation was to take place.

 

[jekjones1558]

If you cancel within 31 days of checkin the points become holding points. They cannot be banked regardless of the banking window. They can only be used to book reservations that are 60 days or less until checkin. Because of the restrictions it is much better to cancel before that 31 day window.

 

[jodiey]

If you cancel within 31 days of checkin the points become holding points. They cannot be banked regardless of the banking window. They can only be used to book reservations that are 60 days or less until checkin. Because of the restrictions it is much better to cancel before that 31 day window.

Really? Kind of stinks, the only reason I'd cancel would be due to illness or some unforeseen circumstance which would come up probably within days of the trip.

 

[DebbieB]

That's why they sell travel insurance. Doesn't save your points but you get reimbursed for dues paid. Also covers plane tickets.

 

[LisaS]

Really? Kind of stinks, the only reason I'd cancel would be due to illness or some unforeseen circumstance which would come up probably within days of the trip.

If you cancel at 30 days or less from check-in, chances are the room you reserved will remain empty. Since DVC is designed (based on the number of points sold at each resort) to be fully booked all year round, late cancellations could result in more points in circulation than rooms available to be reserved with those points. Therefore, the points returned from a late cancellation are restricted to booking last-minute availability only, in this case, rooms still available 60 days or less from check-in.

This is one of the reasons why selecting a convenient Use Year is important. If you end up with points in holding and are in the first months of your UY, you would have many months in which to try to use them for a reservation, provided you could find availability within 60 days of check-in.

 

[hjort]

I cancelled our November 2014 BLT the day before our scheduled stay when DW was diagnosed with flu. Points went into holding with February UY. Spent two weeks checking for availability and found two nights with BW Boardwalk View in January. Added two more nights at SSR for a four night split stay. Keep checking for vacancies. Many cancellations occur right before the scheduled stay.

 

[disneynutz]

Really? Kind of stinks, the only reason I'd cancel would be due to illness or some unforeseen circumstance which would come up probably within days of the trip.

Even if you cancel before the 31 day mark, your UY can keep you from banking those points so UY can make a difference. In addition if you use banked or borrowed points for the reservation, those points are stuck in the UY that they were moved to. That's why it's best to vacation early in your UY in case something happens and during your ownership, something will happen.

Bill

 

[Dean]

Really? Kind of stinks, the only reason I'd cancel would be due to illness or some unforeseen circumstance which would come up probably within days of the trip.

It's part of the nature and risk of owning a timeshare and why I think UY can be very important.

 

[Murron]

I never gave much thought about UY except to keep all our contracts with the same UY. But the conversation here has me wondering what you all feel is the best UY to have.

 

[crisi]

I never gave much thought about UY except to keep all our contracts with the same UY. But the conversation here has me wondering what you all feel is the best UY to have.

If you have consistent travel patterns, you want to travel as soon after your use year begins as possible. So if you always travel in April or May, an April use year is great, it gives you the best possibility of being able to cancel and still bank if you want. The worst travel time for an April use year would be March - you'd have almost zero chance to use those points before they expire, and they wouldn't be bankable.

If you travel late in your use year, insurance is a good idea.

 

[OKW Lover]

Really? Kind of stinks, the only reason I'd cancel would be due to illness or some unforeseen circumstance which would come up probably within days of the trip.

Just another thing to think about before you buy into DVC. This is all covered in the material you get when you buy.

If you cancel at 30 days or less from check-in, chances are the room you reserved will remain empty. Since DVC is designed (based on the number of points sold at each resort) to be fully booked all year round, late cancellations could result in more points in circulation than rooms available to be reserved with those points. Therefore, the points returned from a late cancellation are restricted to booking last-minute availability only, in this case, rooms still available 60 days or less from check-in.

Actually, DVC can rent this room to DVC members booking a stay at the last minute or they can sell them through Central Reservations. Its unlikely the room will remain empty unless it happens to be a slow (DVC-wise) time of year.

 

[Dean]

Actually, DVC can rent this room to DVC members booking a stay at the last minute or they can sell them through Central Reservations. Its unlikely the room will remain empty unless it happens to be a slow (DVC-wise) time of year.

Potentially but likely not all. A number of years ago I was talking to one of the DVC VP's about several things including the cash exchange options. He told me at that time that only about 75% of the points exchanged returned value back and that only roughly half of those dollars went to someone other than CRO (either DVC or DVD). Now there have been many changes since including the ability to rent rooms & points to members directly in certain situations but the principles still hold. I'd venture to guess the 75% still isn't far off for the cash type exchanges. I'd bet it's even lower for last minute cancelations.

 

[jodiey]

I cancelled our November 2014 BLT the day before our scheduled stay when DW was diagnosed with flu. Points went into holding with February UY. Spent two weeks checking for availability and found two nights with BW Boardwalk View in January. Added two more nights at SSR for a four night split stay. Keep checking for vacancies. Many cancellations occur right before the scheduled stay.

Yeah and then the price of flights are sky high to book last minute

 

[Sandisw]

Yeah and then the price of flights are sky high to book last minute

That definitely is a concern and one of the drawbacks of having to deal with holding points and booking on such short notice when you have to book flights as well.

As others mentioned, buying travel insurance can help with covering the loss from an unexpected cancellation.

Hopefully, though, for most, these would be few and far between and not something one has to deal with much during the course of membership.

 

[Murron]

If you have consistent travel patterns, you want to travel as soon after your use year begins as possible. So if you always travel in April or May, an April use year is great, it gives you the best possibility of being able to cancel and still bank if you want. The worst travel time for an April use year would be March - you'd have almost zero chance to use those points before they expire, and they wouldn't be bankable.

If you travel late in your use year, insurance is a good idea.

The light went on and that makes complete sense! Thanks!