Changes to StarOptions Banking

[DanV]

One reason I was thinking I may not elect to deposit my Vistana VOI into Abound is because, if I understand correctly, if you chose to bank Club points, you only have one year to use banked Club points vs. the 2 years with banked StarOptions. However, I read in the Abound FAQs that the two years of use for banked StarOptions is eventually going away (unless you are Chairman level). Wanted to be sure others were aware of this change. From FAQs (emphasis added):

Owner Benefit Level	Current StarOptions Banking Deadlines	2023 Banking StarOptions Deadlines	Current Timeframe to Use Banked StarOptions	Beginning in 2025 timelines for using banked StarOptions
Owner or Select	July 1st of current Use Year	June 30 of current Use Year	Within the following 2 Calendar Years	Within the immediately following Calendar Year
Executive	October 1st of current Use Year	August 31 of current Use Year	Within the following 2 Calendar Years	Within the immediately following Calendar Year
Presidential	October 1st of current Use Year	August 31 of current Use Year	Within the following 2 Calendar Years	Within the immediately following 1.5 Calendar Years
Chairman’s Club	December 31st of current Use Year	October 31 of current Use Year	Within the following 2 Calendar Years	Within the immediately following 2 Calendar Years

Currently, all VSN members are given 2 calendar years to use banked StarOptions. This policy and timeframe will continue for 2 calendar years (for 2023 and 2024 use) and then align with the above new use periods (which depend on an Owner’s benefit level) starting for StarOptions banked in 2025.


Also mentioned in the FAQ, below the chart is the follow "tip" although it isn't fully explained. Does anyone know exactly what they are referring to? Is it the earlier booking timeframe depending on your elite level? A little misleading, especially for less than full week bookings, if you are not high up in elite level, I think.
"Tip: there is an advantage for VSN Owners with when they can use their banked Club Points (vs when they can use their banked StarOptions which is not until 8 months prior to their check-in date)"

 

[timsi]

They tell us that Abound is just an option and that if we like what we have we can keep it. If that's the case, why did they change the Vistana rules?

 

[kozykritter]

What they mean is you can use Club Points to book Vistana inventory within Abound as early as 12 months out versus booking VSN inventory 8 months out with StarOptions. The catch is the pool of inventory in Abound is limited mainly to the Vistana inventory given up by owners when they elect Club Points for a given use year. Comparatively, the VSN inventory will be significantly larger for the foreseeable future and maybe forever.