Yet another Banking/Borrowing Question

[lark]

Assume a June UY, 160 points. Also assume I want to make a reservation for July 2010 right at the 11 month window for 250 points, but also may wish to use a small number of points for a more proximate vacation (say, in January 2010), but the first priority is getting that July 2010 vacation.

So, it seems I have two options. One is that I can bank all of my 2009 points, and then use those banked points, plus 90 of my 2010 points to make the reservation. That leaves me with 70 2010 points. If I want to make another reservation for before July 2010, can I then borrow those 70 points, or some of them? Suppose I don't end up using those 70 points in 2009 or 2010? Can I bank them to 2011?

Second option would be to only bank 90 points. That leaves me with 70 2009 points and no 2010 points. If I can use the 70 points for a 2009 vacation. What if, though, I don't end up doing that? Can they still be banked to 2010?

Of these two options, which is better?

Ok, last question -- what if, in addition to the July 2010 vacation I think I'm going to want more than 70 points in the interim? Do I have any options here?

For example, could I borrow all 160 of my 2011 points NOW into 2010? Then use those, plus 90 of my 2010 points to make my July 2010 vacation? This leaves me with 160 2009 points, and 90 2010 points, so if I wanted a 2009 vacation, I could borrow those 2010 points. Or if I wanted another 2010 vacation, I could bank my 2009 points and use 250 points in 2010. Or I could also bank the 90 2010 points into 2011, right?

Sorry for so many questions. It's all so very confusing.

 

[chalee94]

So, it seems I have two options. One is that I can bank all of my 2009 points, and then use those banked points, plus 90 of my 2010 points to make the reservation. That leaves me with 70 2010 points. If I want to make another reservation for before July 2010, can I then borrow those 70 points, or some of them?

yes, you can still borrow whatever you need to book a jan 2010 vacation - assuming you have enough 2010 pts left in your use year.

Suppose I don't end up using those 70 points in 2009 or 2010? Can I bank them to 2011?

you can bank or borrow pts one time. then they are stuck in that new UY and will expire at the end of that UY.

so no. borrowed pts cannot be banked, nor can banked pts be banked again.

Second option would be to only bank 90 points. That leaves me with 70 2009 points and no 2010 points. If I can use the 70 points for a 2009 vacation. What if, though, I don't end up doing that? Can they still be banked to 2010?

prior to your banking window closing at the end of january, yes.

Of these two options, which is better?

i'm stumped. depends on what the odds are that you will want to book something for jan 2010. if you cancel that jan 2010 trip more 31 days in advance, you could still bank current UY pts to the next UY. borrowed pts would be stuck in UY 2009 and would expire at the end of may 2010.

For example, could I borrow all 160 of my 2011 points NOW into 2010?

sorta. you could borrow all of your 2011 pts into 2010 when you call in aug 2009 to make your july 2010 reservation. you don't borrow pts just to have them available, though...you'd only borrow when making a reservation.

Then use those, plus 90 of my 2010 points to make my July 2010 vacation?

yes.

let's start with that and see where we are...

 

[lark]

Suppose I don't end up using those 70 points in 2009 or 2010? Can I bank them to 2011?

you can bank or borrow pts one time. then they are stuck in that new UY and will expire at the end of that UY.

so no. borrowed pts cannot be banked, nor can banked pts be banked again.

Awesome -- thanks Charles. This is exactly what I needed to know.

Looking back at my original post, I see that it was pretty confusing, so let me clarify to make sure I have this right.

I call tomorrow when my 11 month window starts and bank all 160 2009 points. I make a reservation for July 2010, using 250 points. I now have 70 points left in 2010. Will these be "deemed" to be 70 of the points that I banked, or 70 of my 2010 points? Do I have to specify when I book, or will there be some assumption made that I want to use all the banked points first.

Now, assuming I can use the 160 banked points and only 90 of the 2010 points, I'm sitting on 2010 points. I take at this point I can just wait and see if I want a vacation in this use year. If I decide I do and I can get a good reservation for, say, February 2010, at that point, I can still borrow them, right? Or, I could bank them to 2011 if I wanted to. What I can't do is borrow then bank them.

Finally, going back to my July 2010 reservation to make sure I have this: Even if I have 2009 and 2010 points, I can still borrow 2011 points to make a July 2010 reservation?

 

[chalee94]

I call tomorrow when my 11 month window starts and bank all 160 2009 points. I make a reservation for July 2010, using 250 points. I now have 70 points left in 2010. Will these be "deemed" to be 70 of the points that I banked, or 70 of my 2010 points? Do I have to specify when I book, or will there be some assumption made that I want to use all the banked points first.

i would be very clear with MS which way you want to go. only you know if you are more likely to want to borrow some 2010 back into 2009 or what.

Now, assuming I can use the 160 banked points and only 90 of the 2010 points, I'm sitting on 2010 points. I take at this point I can just wait and see if I want a vacation in this use year. If I decide I do and I can get a good reservation for, say, February 2010, at that point, I can still borrow them, right?

yes. you can borrow those 70 pts at any time.

Or, I could bank them to 2011 if I wanted to.

yes.

What I can't do is borrow then bank them.

yes.

Finally, going back to my July 2010 reservation to make sure I have this: Even if I have 2009 and 2010 points, I can still borrow 2011 points to make a July 2010 reservation?

yes. it's up to you. it would limit you though, and it can be riskier to try to save the more current points for reservations on shorter notice. but if you are sure that's the way you want to go, it's an option.

 

[lark]

Good. I think I got it. Thanks again.

If you bank all of a current year into the next year to make a reservation that will leave some points over, it seems to me there would be little reason not to use the banked points first to make the reservation before using that year's regular points, but I hear you about making your intentions clear to member services.