Interval reservation confirmation timing

[bearkatfan]

We have restricted vistana options in 2024 that we might moved to II if we find something there. We don’t want to transfer them just in case we do find a Vistana reservation within the 60 days restricted window. In the transfer process online, you can’t select the restricted vs non-restricted options so I guess you need to call.

If we book a reservation on II, does any one know how soon after they confirm you have the points needed for your reservation? Last time, the confirmation came a few hours after in the middle of the night. Is there a window of time to get them transferred before they cancel your reservation?

Thanks

 

[dioxide45]

You can’t move StarOptions to II.

 

[kozykritter]

We have restricted vistana options in 2024 that we might moved to II if we find something there. We don’t want to transfer them just in case we do find a Vistana reservation within the 60 days restricted window. In the transfer process online, you can’t select the restricted vs non-restricted options so I guess you need to call.

If we book a reservation on II, does any one know how soon after they confirm you have the points needed for your reservation? Last time, the confirmation came a few hours after in the middle of the night. Is there a window of time to get them transferred before they cancel your reservation?

Thanks

You don't have to transfer options yourself (aka have Vistana assign them to II) in advance of making an exchange. Once you do the booking, II makes the request to Vistana pull the required eligible options from your Vistana account. I have found that you cannot go back after a transaction and have Vistana switch which options were used for that transaction but maybe others have had a different experience. Having Vistana assign/deposit options in advance of doing your exchange is the only way to manipulate which options are used for the transaction. If you don't have sufficient eligible options available with Vistana, Vistana will notify you by email and tell you that you need to correct it within 10 days(?) before the transaction fails, may be 14 days. When you say deposit restricted options, they need to be home options, not StarOptions or they can be the restricted deeded week usage intact. StarOptions don't exist outside of Vistana as they are an internal trading currency for your ownership.

 

[bearkatfan]

Thanks for the replies. KK, you're a guru on here and facebook forums!!! What shows on Vistina for what we own shows them as STAROPTIONS® and RESTRICTED STAROPTIONS 1 in the table showing in the 2024 ownership on the Vistana site. We have some home options still available too for 2024. When I go to My Choice- External Exchange, the next screen combines both home options and star options into 1 total amount available for moving to interval. However, the issue is that you can't pick which points to move. These got restricted because of a Maui cancellation and they were borrowed forward from 2024 into 2023 for our original reservation. I'm pretty sure our 2023 home options from the same cancellation landed in the same restricted staroption bucket for 2023 and we moved all them into Interval through the website. We've already confirmed on II with some of those so I don't think there's an issue using them on II.

Is it possible they made these restricted staroptions available for II whereas they normally aren't?

 

[kozykritter]

Thanks for the replies. KK, you're a guru on here and facebook forums!!! What shows on Vistina for what we own shows them as STAROPTIONS® and RESTRICTED STAROPTIONS 1 in the table showing in the 2024 ownership on the Vistana site. We have some home options still available too for 2024. When I go to My Choice- External Exchange, the next screen combines both home options and star options into 1 total amount available for moving to interval. However, the issue is that you can't pick which points to move. These got restricted because of a Maui cancellation and they were borrowed forward from 2024 into 2023 for our original reservation. I'm pretty sure our 2023 home options from the same cancellation landed in the same restricted staroption bucket for 2023 and we moved all them into Interval through the website. We've already confirmed on II with some of those so I don't think there's an issue using them on II.

Is it possible they made these restricted staroptions available for II whereas they normally aren't?

I'm happy to know that my experiences getting the most out of my home options have helped you! There's a bit of a twist with them when it comes to cancellations of reservations made during the VSN float period 8 months or less before check in. When you use home options during this period, they magically become StarOptions behind the scenes when the reservation is booked. When the reservation is canceled, they come back to the account listed as home options if the cancellation was made before the restricted period or as restricted StarOptions if canceled within the 60 days of check-in. However even though they display as restricted StarOptions they maintain their original home option properties when it comes to II and can be deposited. Technically, restricted home options deposited into II are only good for use there during the Flexchange period for reservations within 59 days of their check-in date. However in reality I'm not certain that II's system is programmed to make the distinction between them and other unrestricted home options deposited in order to place this limitation. I have not ever done this type of deposit myself to know for sure, though I have seen some comments from others that no restrictions were placed on their restricted home options deposit.

I understand what you mean about it all being mixed together in your Vistana account when you look at the external exchange screen which is why you would need to call and have the Vistana agent specifically deposit those restricted options if that is your goal.

 

[bearkatfan]

I hope you’re doing all your replying to messages why enjoying months of time at great places. I feel like there’s some huge flow charts that could be developed to help people navigate all the situations.

The 2023 restricted star options moved to II last year booked an Oct 24 reservation so II must not recognize them as restricted/flexchange. How do people have staroptions not available for going to II? We have bonus staroption and those can’t be banked, transferred or converted. Those also got restricted from the same reservation.

If we haven’t moved enough star options to cover an II resevation, Vistana will automatically move options to II without your input or action upon II asking for points for a reservation? If so, moving options to II should only be done prior to their expiration unless there’s some incentive from II, like I’ve seen people mention despite first incentives like a bonus week or certificate?

 

[kozykritter]

I hope you’re doing all your replying to messages why enjoying months of time at great places. I feel like there’s some huge flow charts that could be developed to help people navigate all the situations.

The 2023 restricted star options moved to II last year booked an Oct 24 reservation so II must not recognize them as restricted/flexchange. How do people have staroptions not available for going to II? We have bonus staroption and those can’t be banked, transferred or converted. Those also got restricted from the same reservation.

If we haven’t moved enough star options to cover an II resevation, Vistana will automatically move options to II without your input or action upon II asking for points for a reservation? If so, moving options to II should only be done prior to their expiration unless there’s some incentive from II, like I’ve seen people mention despite first incentives like a bonus week or certificate?

It's probably best you get your terminology straight first. StarOptions are an internal trading currency for your ownership only used within Vistana (the VSN)...they do not exist elsewhere outside that system. The only thing you can deposit in II, elect for Club Points or exchange for Bonvoy points is either your deeded week usage or your home options usage for a given year. Therefore StarOptions cannot be put into II (or used for those other things I mentioned either).

In your situation, Vistana is displaying your restricted home options as restricted StarOptions in your account on their system for whatever reason but in the end they are still home options which is why you were able to deposit them in II.

Yes, if you do an exchange and you haven't assigned/deposited enough home options to cover it, II will have Vistana pull the remaining amount from your account balance and you will have no say in which ones they choose.

You can deposit any amount of available unbanked home options into II, so indeed many owners wait until near the end of their use year (12/31) to deposit leftover home options into II because by that time they can't be banked, traded for Bonvoy points or elected for Club Points. Every owner moves home options to II based upon their individual travel plans so there is no set right time to deposit.

I hope all my answers have clarified some things for you...good luck with your II adventures!