When is the best time to purchase Direct for banking cut off?

[Sandisw]

I'm always fascinated by the different recommendations and experiences expressed! For us, we're almost always done with our travel Jan/Feb/Mar, so with an Aug UY, we have a lot of banking flexibility if plans/reservations change or get cancelled, because we can bank at the end of March. And recently, we've had a lot of plans changing for various reasons! I'd be concerned with August travel and an August UY, the potential lack of banking options during the summer, if plans change, would be a negative.

I can see your point, too. I think my more 'negative' concern about cancellations and banking points recommends a different UY (like December). Your more 'positive' approach towards desired reservations points to an Aug UY! I see pros and cons to both! Like I said, interesting. When we bought, we gave no thought to UY, and were sold Aug. Over the years, that's turned out to be dumb luck and extremely fortunate with our winter travel patterns, and banking opportunities when plans have to be changed!

For travel in an Aug, and Aug UY is ideal...for example, if someone wants to travel in Aug 2024, they would be using 2024 UY points...if they had to cancel the trip in June 2024, they would not be beyond the banking deadline because the banking deadline for 2024 points isn't until March of 2025.....

March 31st, 2024 is the banking deadline for Aug 2023 points...which, would have had to happen well before then in order for those points to have been used to make the Aug 2024 trip in the first place.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

For travel in an Aug, and Aug UY is ideal...for example, if someone wants to travel in Aug 2024, they would be using 2024 UY points...if they had to cancel the trip in June 2024, they would not be beyond the banking deadline because the banking deadline for 2024 points isn't until March of 2025.....

March 31st, 2024 is the banking deadline for Aug 2023 points...which, would have had to happen well before then in order for those points to have been used to make the Aug 2024 trip in the first place.

It really depends on how you travel and use the points. We have found, more than once, that an Aug UY is perfect for us with winter travel - allows us a security blanket for banking points when plans change. I would not want a December UY when most of our travel is December - but that's us. We would have probably lost points in the recent past. I do like listening to, and understanding the other ways of looking at it, though. I do see your point. It makes me realize after 30 years of managing and planning these points, I really don't have it all thought out!

 

[Sandisw]

It really depends on how you travel and use the points. We have found, more than once, that an Aug UY is perfect for us with winter travel - allows us a security blanket for banking points when plans change. I would not want a December UY when most of our travel is December - but that's us. We would have probably lost points in the recent past. I do like listening to, and understanding the other ways of looking at it, though. I do see your point. It makes me realize after 30 years of managing and planning these points, I really don't have it all thought out!

There certainly can be an advantage not to have a UY in the same month of travel if you think that you might start the month before.

And, an Aug UY is great for winter travel…why we have it as one of our UYs…since it covers trips all the way through April.

But, we use both our Aug and Dec UYs to cover our Dec trip since we always go 2nd week, which works out well,

As you mention, travel can be different for everyone and no UY works for all the months but traveling in the beginning of one does give you the best chance to change or cancel a trip and have a long time to use up points!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I'm not sure we've been much help to the OP much! Recommendations are rather broad!

 

[Cupcake232]

If you purchase direct in July for an August UY, they will give you the full allotment for 2022 and they will allow you to bank them. Then you will get the full allotment in 2023