Converting to Bonus Time for Existing Reservation?

[boxer156]

Booked several trips already with my new membership--but keep hearing about booking bonus time (I think its called that), to save some points. I've done direct bookings (cash) with bonus time, BUT I didn't have an existing reservation. I have an existing reservation for next month--and looking like they may offer bonus time--since the resort still has several rooms available. My question is how do you take advantage of the points savings--since I 'think' bonus time is not available until 14-days out--but I'm almost sure you have to cancel before 15-days not to lose your points??? I'm essentially trying to get the same trip, for less points if they offer the bonus time.

I hope I explained that correctly......lol.

 

[CYRUS2400]

What I've done is book 2 reservations using points when the units are available. To safely make the system work, you need 2 reservations.

Then, at 15 days out, I cancel one. If it comes back and I can rebook knowing that I have 24 hours to cancel. Do the same on the second reservation. Again, you need 2 reservations in play.

Then, inside 15 days, cancel one and if it comes back, rebook it at $5/1000. Then just cancel the second one that is less than 24 hours old. Now you have 1 reservation at $5/1000.

The rule is that you always have 24 hours to cancel a booking without penalty. Obviously this strategy may require you to use/purchase HK's. But, you get those back when you cancel. Good Luck, the $5/1000 is a fantastic deal.

 

[elsasmith]

Yeah, that actually makes a lot of sense. I was thinking something similar but couldn’t quite put it into words. Glad you brought it up.

 

[boxer156]

What I've done is book 2 reservations using points when the units are available. To safely make the system work, you need 2 reservations.

Then, at 15 days out, I cancel one. If it comes back and I can rebook knowing that I have 24 hours to cancel. Do the same on the second reservation. Again, you need 2 reservations in play.

Then, inside 15 days, cancel one and if it comes back, rebook it at $5/1000. Then just cancel the second one that is less than 24 hours old. Now you have 1 reservation at $5/1000.

The rule is that you always have 24 hours to cancel a booking without penalty. Obviously this strategy may require you to use/purchase HK's. But, you get those back when you cancel. Good Luck, the $5/1000 is a fantastic deal.

So--if I'm understanding this correctly--I'm making (2) reservations--essentially to ENSURE there is room availability when/if they come out with Bonus time? So, with that said, I'm assuming you cancel the 2nd one right at the 14-day window, so you don't get hit? So it would look like this:

1. Reservation #1 would get cancelled on 15-days out--this one ensures that the room/type will be available when Bonus Time is released
2. Reservation #2 is held until 14-days out--to ensure you have 'some' reservation, if they don't offer Bonus Time
3. I would book Bonus Time the SAME DAY it comes out, to ensure I don't lose Reservation #2 points


Is this correct? This seems similar to 'walking' a reservation like with DVC, so I 'think' I kinda understand........

 

[Floridaman76]

Yeah, it wont work because the cancel window is at 15 days and Bonus time opens at 14 days, i'm 1000% sure this was done by design

 

[CYRUS2400]

2. Reservation #2 is held until 14-days out--to ensure you have 'some' reservation, if they don't offer Bonus Time

That won't work, if reservation #2 is more than 24 hours old, you cannot cancel it. You have to book 2 reservations at 15 days out.

To my knowledge, bonus time is not offered, it's always available at 14 days.......... Got to have 2 reservations if you want to be sure you get what you want.

 

[CYRUS2400]

I'm not familiar with 'walking' a reservation at DVC, but, I think it's the same idea. Cancel and Rebook, if you can, first time at 15 days out and second time within 24 hours of having made the reservations at 15 days out. Gotta stay inside the rules on cancellations. Have to have the 2 reservations in play in case a cancelled reservation does not come back. Cancelled reservations do NOT always come back, in a timely fashion or at all.

 

[Floridaman76]

If you really need to stay somewhere, this seems like not the way to do it, not worth the risk to me, but to each their own.

I've used bonus time a few times for last minute getaways to excellent effect, that's what it's for really. That coupled with VIP discounts and suite upgrades can make it very compelling.

 

[dioxide45]

If you really need to stay somewhere, this seems like not the way to do it, not worth the risk to me, but to each their own.

It seems the only risk is that you wouldn't be able to cancel the reservation within 24 hours? Can you cancel online without penalty in the 24 hour window or does that require a phone call?

 

[CYRUS2400]

You can cancel within 24 hours on line. Now, the system could fail, so I'd not wait until the last minute to do a cancel. And, if the cancel step does not work, I'd call and get the cancellation request on a recorded line.

The system allows owners to cancel/rebook/cancel/rebook at $5/1000. Use the system as designed, if you are so inclined, just know the limits and know the risks associated with not cancelling in time and/or totally losing a desired resort stay.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Just so I'm understanding the sequence, it's:

1. Have two reservations, lets call them 'A' & 'B"
2. At 15 days out cancel 'A'. Keep 'B'
3. Refresh and check again in 30 minutes or something. If 'A" is available to book again immediately, book 'A', now cancel 'B'
4. At 14 days, less than 24 hours from what you just did, book 'B' using Bonus time, then immediately cancel 'A' (which will refund you since you're within 24 hours of booking).

Do I have that right?

 

[Rflow]

This is interesting. Would the 24 hour rule trump the 14 day rule? I’m afraid that you’d lose points even if cancellation is within 24 hours based on the understood 14 day cancellation. Just needing clarification since I know hotels often state the 24 hour cancellation doesn’t count if made too close to check in.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

This is interesting. Would the 24 hour rule trump the 14 day rule? I’m afraid that you’d lose points even if cancellation is within 24 hours based on the understood 14 day cancellation. Just needing clarification since I know hotels often state the 24 hour cancellation doesn’t count if made too close to check in.

Why would the 24 hour rule exist if it didn’t work within 14 days? Outside of 14 days it would be meaningless, since you can always cancel up to 15 days out.

 

[CYRUS2400]

Why would the 24 hour rule exist if it didn’t work within 14 days? Outside of 14 days it would be meaningless, since you can always cancel up to 15 days out.

The 24 hour rule applies if booked 15 or fewer days out. Now, back to your scenario, it works IF there is availability. Since you cancelled 'B' at the 15 day mark (step 3), hoping to get it back at the 14 day mark (step 4), it may not be available for picking it up at $5/1000. But, that's the risk and you still have your trip at regular points. I try to go from 15 to 14 days with both a 'fresh' A and a 'fresh' B. Then on Day 14, cancel A and rebook at $5/1000. Cancel 'B' or hold on to 'B' if 'A' does not come back.

My experience with Cancel/Rebook is that cancelled reservations can come back at any time. It might come back in a couple of minutes, it might come back in a couple hours, or it may never come back. My son recently did this dance and refreshed the cancellation of 'A' for about 30 minutes, then went to work as the canceled time never came back. Since I knew what his goal was with that trip, I logged in to see if his plan worked and found that it had not worked. He still had the 'B' reservation, using points. I looked for the dates he wanted and they were there for the snagging at $5/1000. I called him to check it and then he canceled the second reservation, made at the 15 day mark. He did reimburse me for the money I spent on the reservation for his use. He's on our account BTW.

Now, for clarification, if availability is wide open, there is no reason to do this song and dance. Just book what you want at 14 days and get the reservation at $5/1000. I assumed that the OP asked the question because availability was expected to be very tight at the 14 day mark.

 

[Williambennet]

Yes, Bonus Time opens 14 days out, but point reservations usually need to be canceled 15+ days ahead to avoid losing points. To save points: book Bonus Time once it opens, then cancel your original reservation right after it’s confirmed. Bit of a risk, but doable if rooms are still available.