Cancelled Marriott II Exchange Under COVID19 - Replacement AC (First Impressions)

[dioxide45]

Okay, so we had an exchange in to Marriott's Oceana Palms for the second to last week of May. the resort actually called us to day to confirm if we are still planning to travel. We were still on the fence but ultimatly decided to cancel.

Here is what II's current policy is on cancellations due to the pandemic;
EXCHANGE CANCELLATION POLICY ADJUSTMENTS

=== If you cancel an exchange confirmed on or before March 14, 2020, with travel between March 14, 2020, and May 31, 2020** ===

Option 1: Request an instant confirmation for an alternative destination and/or travel date.***

Do I have a booking window? No, as the substitute accommodations are confirmed at the time of cancellation.​

Do I pay an additional exchange fee? No.​

When do I need to complete travel? By December 31, 2020.​

Option 2: Cancel your exchange seven days or more in advance of travel under the standard Interval International Exchange Cancellation Policy, and request substitute exchange accommodations.

Do I have a booking window? Yes. It will be based on how many days in advance of the check-in date you cancel. For example, if you cancel 59 days or less in advance of travel, you can request substitute accommodations through our Flexchange® service — from 59 days to 24 hours in advance of your desired check-in date.​

Do I pay an additional exchange fee? Yes.​

When do I need to complete travel? Within 12 months of the cancellation date.​

Option 3: Request a no-fee Accommodations Certificate.

Do I have a booking window? Yes. It will be open through the travel expiration date, but it may be shortened to 30 days or less from time to time, by Interval in its reasonable discretion.​

Do I pay an additional exchange fee? No.​

When do I need to complete travel? By December 24, 2020.​

Our original deposit expiration was early June 2020, so that kind of threw Option 1 out right away as the rep couldn't do a retrade beyond the deposit expiration. I didn't really consider Option 2 because of the additional exchange fee, but thinking back now I suspect there may not have been one since the initial deposit was Marriott and as long as I exchanged in to a Marriott again, would it have fallen under the no fee trades of an enrolled week? Perhaps not.

I did have another option that I could have done which was to just retrade the week in my account for any other Marriott and add Eplus for $59 and then get three retrades through about November 2020.

I called II and asked a bunch of questions finally landing on taking option 3. The rep was quick to be able to cancel the exchange and they had to send an email to get the AC issued. They said it would only take about 45 minutes. I didn't actually check the time, but the certificate was available pretty quick.

At first look, the options on the grid look GREAT. Pretty much everything is on the grid, though there are restrictions;

Spoiler: Restrictions

All confirmations are made on a space available basis and no guarantee is made that any specific request can be confirmed. The redemption of the Accommodation Certificate is subject to certain terms and conditions. A redemption fee will be required.

This Certificate cannot be combined nor used in conjunction with any other certificate or fee waiver certificate.

All other terms and conditions of individual membership, exchange and flex change must be adhered to.

This certificate must be completed prior to the expiration date DECEMBER 24, 2020.

Certificate not valid for 18DEC to 31DEC travel dates.
Certificate not valid for 01JAN to 06APR travel dates.

Certificate may not be used for the following AREAS.Florida, Fort Lauderdale Coast From:01MAY To:31DEC,Florida, Upper Keys,Florida, Lower Keys,Florida, Key West,Florida, Tampa Bay,California, Kirkwood,California, Southern Coast,California, Big Bear Lake,California, San Diego Area,California, Northern National Forests,California, Napa Valley,Hawaii, Molokai,Hawaii, Big Island,

Certificate may not be used for the following RESORTS.Franz Klammer Lodge,Four Seasons Residence Club Punta Mita,Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara,Four Seasons Residence Club Scottsdale,

This certificate has no cash value.

However, the actual search results are rather disappointing. I can't see any Marriott weeks with this Accommodations Certificate. Contrary to the answer I was given when I asked the rep about this. Given that we had used a Marriott deposit I would have not expected Marriott resorts to be blacked out. I am however able to at least see some Sheraton weeks in Orlando.

I really wish we had of gone with option 2 as I can work within the 60 days restriction, I just wasn't sure if we would be hit with a full exchange fee if trying to trade in to a Marriott. The next best option would have been my own option of re-trading and doing Eplus. I expect we will figure out a way to use the AC, just not all that impressed with it. I may send an email to the TUG II Members Mailbox and at least let them know my displeasure. Worst case, we may end up trying out a non-Marriott somewhere since it won't have an exchange fee. Perhaps we will find a hidden gem.

 

[tomvc]

I see lots of Orlando Marriott's with my no-fee AC which has the same restrictions. If your AC is in your MVC Corporate II account, maybe II is erroneously blocking Marriott's.

 

[VacationForever]

Option 2 sounds like to regular replacement week which is good for 12 months. Does it sound like the restricted grid only applies to Option 3? What about Option 1 and 2, any restrictions?

For me I would have picked Option 2 because it gives me the longest time to use it.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Oh, great. I have two to cancel for the last two weeks of May at Cypress Harbour. I CANNOT travel that soon. This is awful. I am so annoyed.

Is Vistana Villages showing as a possibility?

 

[dioxide45]

Option 2 sounds like to regular replacement week which is good for 12 months. Does it sound like the restricted grid only applies to Option 3? What about Option 1 and 2, any restrictions?

For me I would have picked Option 2 because it gives me the longest time to use it.

Option 1 is just a regular retrade. Nothing special there. I suspect it is still restricted based on trade power though they would override the flexchagne restriction to pull off the trade.
Option 2 is as you say a regular cancellation replacement. I wish I had of taken this instead though I didn't want to have to pay $209 to use it. I don't know if that fee would apply to a trade in to a Marriott property inside of my corporate enrolled II account.
Option 3 is the only one with the grid restriction.

 

[dioxide45]

Oh, great. I have two to cancel for the last two weeks of May at Cypress Harbour. I CANNOT travel that soon. This is awful. I am so annoyed.

Is Vistana Villages showing as a possibility?

Yes, I can see Sheraton Vistana Villages and Vistana Resort with this grid restricted AC.

 

[dioxide45]

I see lots of Orlando Marriott's with my no-fee AC which has the same restrictions. If your AC is in your MVC Corporate II account, maybe II is erroneously blocking Marriott's.

I searched Jun through November in Orlando with this thing, not a single Marriott week shows up. It is inside my enrolled MVC Corporate account.

 

[vmoreno5]

This is exactly why I came to TUG now - to WARN OTHERS! I just cancelled my week under the COVID policy. (It was for May 8 @ Marriott Pulse, Boston - resort is closed). Before doing that, I literally asked the agent, "So, to be clear, is there any reason why I WOULDN'T want to have the cancellation certificate issued, as long as I travel by Dec 24, 2020?" "NO" he said. "It will allow you to immediately search and book online, with $0 fee. It sounds like your best option, to avoid paying an additional fee." Well...he neglected to mention that you do not see all inventory with these certificates! Including the very resort I cancelled. Ugh. Very frustrating.

I can see weeks with another II deposit I have, so I know weeks are available at the Marriott BOS, but those same weeks are not coming up with this cancellation certificate.

Yes, the "cancellation certificate" grids are much more populated than the typical AC certificates...but they do NOT SHOW EVERYTHING, even the very resort you cancelled. That's just wrong.

So, I'm telling you all what the agent I spoke with did not tell me. Know it is possible you will not be able to book the same resort you cancelled at a later date, (depending on the resort), even if it is available to book with a different deposit. They are somewhat restricted.

They should advise agents better. I specifically told him, "this is the ONLY resort we are interested in. Our daughter is having a baby and it's the only resort near her home. First grandchild, we won't be traveling much unless it's to this resort."

Just know before you cancel that those cancellation certificates are not quite as good as your original deposit was. I wish I had not cancelled quite yet, and just searched every day to see if another week popped up to trade into later in the year...at the same resort, then called them to do the trade without a fee. I literally cancelled an hour ago (and I did call back and they were zero help).

 

[VacationForever]

Option 1 is just a regular retrade. Nothing special there. I suspect it is still restricted based on trade power though they would override the flexchagne restriction to pull off the trade.
Option 2 is as you say a regular cancellation replacement. I wish I had of taken this instead though I didn't want to have to pay $209 to use it. I don't know if that fee would apply to a trade in to a Marriott property inside of my corporate enrolled II account.
Option 3 is the only one with the grid restriction.

Thanks.

 

[Lydlady]

I recently canceled two weeks that I had traded into. The first week I was given an accommodation certificate. The second week, I was within a couple weeks of the check-in date. I had someone from Interval find me a week in November. With this, I was able to keep my two ePlus retrades and can now trade all the way out to my original expiration date in May 2021.

 

[pedro47]

Did the II agent explain to you what are your options if you purchase their travel insurance and if you did not purchase ePlus ?

 

[Lydlady]

Did the II agent explain to you what are your options if you purchase their travel insurance and if you did not purchase ePlus ?

The agent didn’t mention about their insurance and I didn’t I ask about it because I had the ePlus for both weeks.

 

[vmoreno5]

Did the II agent explain to you what are your options if you purchase their travel insurance and if you did not purchase ePlus ?

I think if you had purchased their travel insurance you would have had more options. I didn't purchase it, unfortunately. I've never needed it...until now apparently.

 

[dioxide45]

Did the II agent explain to you what are your options if you purchase their travel insurance and if you did not purchase ePlus ?

My exhanges did not have ePlus or insurance. I doubt the reason for cancelling would have been covered by the insurance. The resort is still open to II guests. I never buy ePlus since I can get free retrades when trading Marriott to Marriott. I could have retraded and added ePlus to the new exchange confirmation which would have given me more options.

I wouldn't be bothered by the Accommodation Certificate if it didn't black out all Marriott resorts. In the end, we will likely be able to make use of this and we have always been happy with our ability to trade, almost always what we consider uptrades. with II. If I can salvage a reservation from this, which we likely will, we still consider ourselves ahead in the long run.

 

[rickandcindy23]

My exhanges did not have ePlus or insurance. I doubt the reason for cancelling would have been covered by the insurance. The resort is still open to II guests. I never buy ePlus since I can get free retrades when trading Marriott to Marriott. I could have retraded and added ePlus to the new exchange confirmation which would have given me more options.

I wouldn't be bothered by the Accommodation Certificate if it didn't black out all Marriott resorts. In the end, we will likely be able to make use of this and we have always been happy with our ability to trade, almost always what we consider uptrades. with II. If I can salvage a reservation from this, which we likely will, we still consider ourselves ahead in the long run.

A great attitude. I actually really like SVV, so if I can get trades into SVV, I would be happy.

I couldn't add eplus to a replacement week I got from II directly. She said I wouldn't be able to get re-trade added. I was so disappointed to not be able to do that. She was quite nice about it, but at least I was able to get a Marriott for 12/6. I just hope Disney World will be open by then.

 

[Monykalyn]

Oh, great. I have two to cancel for the last two weeks of May at Cypress Harbour. I CANNOT travel that soon. This is awful. I am so annoyed.

Is Vistana Villages showing as a possibility?

I recently canceled two weeks that I had traded into. The first week I was given an accommodation certificate. The second week, I was within a couple weeks of the check-in date. I had someone from Interval find me a week in November. With this, I was able to keep my two ePlus retrades and can now trade all the way out to my original expiration date in May 2021.

My non MVC trader that I traded on II for Marriott outside Paris France-I have the etrade (have used one to get a better date earlier this year). It is for the very end of May-obviously now we won't be going. This was to be a graduation trip-and the only time we can reschedule will be May of next year. Resort is closed at this time.
Better to wait and try a retrade with etrade? Call and see if there is booking available for next year? I have other weeks on deposit so don't really need to use this one this year...

 

[dioxide45]

My non MVC trader that I traded on II for Marriott outside Paris France-I have the etrade (have used one to get a better date earlier this year). It is for the very end of May-obviously now we won't be going. This was to be a graduation trip-and the only time we can reschedule will be May of next year. Resort is closed at this time.
Better to wait and try a retrade with etrade? Call and see if there is booking available for next year? I have other weeks on deposit so don't really need to use this one this year...

I think you can only Eplus retrade through 60 days after current checkin. You may be able to call and have them trade for something furhter out, but I think you can only do that through December 2020 based on their current polices.

 

[Monykalyn]

I think you can only Eplus retrade through 60 days after current checkin. You may be able to call and have them trade for something furhter out, but I think you can only do that through December 2020 based on their current polices.

Thank you that was my understanding too. I may just search for the same resort in our time frame next year with my other weeks and just eat the exchange fee. Seems less hassle way to go....

 

[Lydlady]

My non MVC trader that I traded on II for Marriott outside Paris France-I have the etrade (have used one to get a better date earlier this year). It is for the very end of May-obviously now we won't be going. This was to be a graduation trip-and the only time we can reschedule will be May of next year. Resort is closed at this time.
Better to wait and try a retrade with etrade? Call and see if there is booking available for next year? I have other weeks on deposit so don't really need to use this one this year...

I don‘t know when your week expires but if it’s next year, have someone from Interval find a week toward the end of the year. And then you should be able to still use your retrades. I did this and my account shows two retrades till May of 2021. I didn’t lose a retrade when they got me a week in November.

 

[Monykalyn]

I don‘t know when your week expires but if it’s next year, have someone from Interval find a week toward the end of the year. And then you should be able to still use your retrades. I did this and my account shows two retrades till May of 2021. I didn’t lose a retrade when they got me a week in November.

I will look-thank you for the reply!

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am waiting to cancel our 5/17-5/31 confirmations at Cypress Harbour until inventory at the nicer Marriott resorts appear for January. That is a definite trip we have planned with our three-year-old granddaughter (and her parents, who insist on going with us). We need two units, two weeks, so four units. If I can get a couple of Marriott resorts with my cancelled weeks, I would be thrilled to do it. But I cannot use anymore travel for 2020. Our trips keep getting cancelled. I need to book into 2021 to be safe. I do still have a trip going for early December. We will see how that goes.

 

[dioxide45]

I am waiting to cancel our 5/17-5/31 confirmations at Cypress Harbour until inventory at the nicer Marriott resorts appear for January. That is a definite trip we have planned with our three-year-old granddaughter (and her parents, who insist on going with us). We need two units, two weeks, so four units. If I can get a couple of Marriott resorts with my cancelled weeks, I would be thrilled to do it. But I cannot use anymore travel for 2020. Our trips keep getting cancelled. I need to book into 2021 to be safe. I do still have a trip going for early December. We will see how that goes.

I think the problem that you will have is that only one of the options that II is currently offering will give you the ability to exchange for a new week in 2021. That being option 2 below. The problem with that option is that it can only be used for trades inside of 60 days and would have an additional exchange fee. So what you see now may be far different from what you will be able to see inside of 60 days. Perhaps they will extend the date you need to travel by for option 1, but probably not for other May checkins. Don't bother with Option 3, that AC can't see most Marriott deposits.

Interval Policy Options for Cancelling an Exchange;

EXCHANGE CANCELLATION POLICY ADJUSTMENTS

=== If you cancel an exchange confirmed on or before March 14, 2020, with travel between March 14, 2020, and May 31, 2020** ===

• Option 1: Request an instant confirmation for an alternative destination and/or travel date.***
  • Do I have a booking window? No, as the substitute accommodations are confirmed at the time of cancellation.
  • Do I pay an additional exchange fee? No.
  • When do I need to complete travel? By December 31, 2020.
• Option 2: Cancel your exchange seven days or more in advance of travel under the standard Interval International Exchange Cancellation Policy, and request substitute exchange accommodations.
  • Do I have a booking window? Yes. It will be based on how many days in advance of the check-in date you cancel. For example, if you cancel 59 days or less in advance of travel, you can request substitute accommodations through our Flexchange® service — from 59 days to 24 hours in advance of your desired check-in date.
  • Do I pay an additional exchange fee? Yes.
  • When do I need to complete travel? Within 12 months of the cancellation date.
• Option 3: Request a no-fee Accommodations Certificate.
  • Do I have a booking window? Yes. It will be open through the travel expiration date, but it may be shortened to 30 days or less from time to time, by Interval in its reasonable discretion.
  • Do I pay an additional exchange fee? No.
  • When do I need to complete travel? By December 24, 2020.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't know if my success will continue with II in talking them into what I consider equal exchanges. I call the number that calls me all of the time and seem to get better responses from the people that answer the phone, so the 800-822-2920 number. I have better success with this number. They are so nice to me and acknowledge that we have been members of II for nearly 40 years.

Admittedly, I have not had success in getting anything for 2021 yet, but nothing has been there to request. I was able to talk II into straight-across trades to Marriott's Cypress Harbour and Sabal Palms for late November and early December of 2020. I also got a week that I could actually add eplus to, and the woman said I would not be able to add the retrade. Then there was the box that gave me the option to add eplus retrade. I was thrilled with that because I know I can move that one to January, when the inventory shows up.

I think II will have to extend the expiration date of that option that expires at the end of December.