Expiring Points - What to do with them

[Mikieg]

I found myself in an unfortunate situation where I have 1,500 points expiring on 12/31 in the Holding Account. I can't travel over the next week and was wondering if there is anything I can use them on. I looked into converting them to frequent flyer miles, but the fine print states that Holding Account points are not eligible.

Any ideas, anything at all?

 

[ljmiii]

There are all sorts of ways to use them to travel that starts before 1/1/24 or get resort credits, tickets, and/or experiences to pre-1/1/24 MVC travel already planned.

But to my knowledge, the only non-travel use for them is travel insurance at 800 points per year (you could add 100 other points and get two years).

 

[dioxide45]

The chart in the attached thread may not be fully correct as it has been reported that holding account points can now only be used to book vacation club resorts with points

How to use Expiring, Holding Account, PlusPoints and More - Abound Club Points

I promise, this isn't a duplicate question of the recent few that have popped up in the forum the last few days, but rather a place to consolidate the information. With the help of @kozykritter and @Pamplemousse I have put together the attached chart. It shows the different types of points you...

tugbbs.com

 

[LeslieDet]

I found myself in an unfortunate situation where I have 1,500 points expiring on 12/31 in the Holding Account. I can't travel over the next week and was wondering if there is anything I can use them on. I looked into converting them to frequent flyer miles, but the fine print states that Holding Account points are not eligible.

Any ideas, anything at all?

This late in the year, you are basically stuck with buying travel insurance. And, you are correct, you cannot use holding points for the airline miles or the rental car vouchers.

 

[ljmiii]

The chart in the attached thread may not be fully correct as it has been reported that holding account points can now only be used to book vacation club resorts with points

I don't know how recent this "now" is, but in November I used holding points to buy a resort credit and this month I've had CSRs offer to use my holding points to buy Travel Insurance. Last year I used holding points for an explorer collection hotel stay...but that is likely before the report you are talking about.

 

[Mikieg]

I don't know how recent this "now" is, but in November I used holding points to buy a resort credit and this month I've had CSRs offer to use my holding points to buy Travel Insurance. Last year I used holding points for an explorer collection hotel stay...but that is likely before the report you are talking about.

Wait, you may be on to something. When a resort credit is issued, does it have an expiration date? The reason I ask is because I have a stay coming up in April at the New York Pulse.

 

[LeslieDet]

The chart in the attached thread may not be fully correct as it has been reported that holding account points can now only be used to book vacation club resorts with points

How to use Expiring, Holding Account, PlusPoints and More - Abound Club Points

I promise, this isn't a duplicate question of the recent few that have popped up in the forum the last few days, but rather a place to consolidate the information. With the help of @kozykritter and @Pamplemousse I have put together the attached chart. It shows the different types of points you...

tugbbs.com

Where did you see a report that holding points can only be used for booking a VC resort? The website specifically addresses the inability to use holding points for car rental certificates and for airline miles, both under the T&C. There is no such wording for the travel insurance, resort credit, etc. I'd be surprised if they eliminate that ability without communicating it and without modifying the page on the website to state new T&C. Recall, you used to be able to obtain car rental certificates with holding points, and when that changed, they modified the T&C on the site to state holding points were ineligible.

 

[LeslieDet]

Wait, you may be on to something. When a resort credit is issued, does it have an expiration date? The reason I ask is because I have a stay coming up in April at the New York Pulse.

If you are using MVC Club Points, the resort credit expires when the points do.

Whereas, if you have StarOptions, then it is my understanding you can purchase the resort credit with expiring options, even if the resort credit is to be used at an existing reservation in the following use year. That is how the VSN folks have explained their use of expiring points for resort credit, which is a significant difference than on the MVC side.

 

[VacationForever]

On the chart, I am disappointed that holding points can no longer be used to buy golf certificates. In the past, golf certificates were good for a year, and I had used holding points to buy them.

 

[LeslieDet]

On the chart, I am disappointed that holding points can no longer be used to buy golf certificates. In the past, golf certificates were good for a year, and I had used holding points to buy them.

Good point -- on the MVC site the T&C for the golf certificates now states that holding points are ineligible. It did not used to contain that T&C.

 

[dioxide45]

Where did you see a report that holding points can only be used for booking a VC resort? The website specifically addresses the inability to use holding points for car rental certificates and for airline miles, both under the T&C. There is no such wording for the travel insurance, resort credit, etc. I'd be surprised if they eliminate that ability without communicating it and without modifying the page on the website to state new T&C. Recall, you used to be able to obtain car rental certificates with holding points, and when that changed, they modified the T&C on the site to state holding points were ineligible.

Perhaps it was this post in August and sorry, my mistake, it wasn't just limited to VC resorts. It was limited to Resort Credit, Travel Insurance, Resort bookings. This differs from the PDF that @kozykritter helped me work on in May. The green checkmarks on the PDF were based on his conversations with a VC rep and the T&C. Or at least that was my understanding. So it seems something changed between May and August. Or I just had it wrong from the start.

 

[LeslieDet]

Perhaps it was this post in August and sorry, my mistake, it wasn't just limited to VC resorts. It was limited to Resort Credit, Travel Insurance, Resort bookings. This differs from the PDF that @kozykritter helped me work on in May. The green checkmarks on the PDF were based on his conversations with a VC rep and the T&C. Or at least that was my understanding. So it seems something changed between May and August. Or I just had it wrong from the start.

Holding points can still be used to make a booking with II, but only if that booking is within the 60 day period that holding points are able to be used, and of course, not for a MVC or Westin or Sheraton. With II, it is just that holding points cannot be deposited. And, as far as I can tell, holding points are still valid to use externally, ie at a hotel or with a tour or event, but of course, the 60 time frame applies, there must be availability for the requested usage, and the expiration date of the holding points comes into play.

 

[kozykritter]

If you are using MVC Club Points, the resort credit expires when the points do.

Whereas, if you have StarOptions, then it is my understanding you can purchase the resort credit with expiring options, even if the resort credit is to be used at an existing reservation in the following use year. That is how the VSN folks have explained their use of expiring points for resort credit, which is a significant difference than on the MVC side.

I can confirm your Vistana statements about resort credits are accurate.

 

[dioxide45]

Holding points can still be used to make a booking with II, but only if that booking is within the 60 day period that holding points are able to be used, and of course, not for a MVC or Westin or Sheraton. With II, it is just that holding points cannot be deposited. And, as far as I can tell, holding points are still valid to use externally, ie at a hotel or with a tour or event, but of course, the 60 time frame applies, there must be availability for the requested usage, and the expiration date of the holding points comes into play.

Thanks. Just trying to confirm as there was a contradictory report. What the T&C indicate seems to match my chart and I am good with that because I don't wanna update the chart if I don't have to.

 

[ljmiii]

Wait, you may be on to something. When a resort credit is issued, does it have an expiration date? The reason I ask is because I have a stay coming up in April at the New York Pulse.

You can only attach a resort credit to a reservation that starts before the points expire.

 

[klkaylor]

I got this in Oct when I had some hold points to use. Now part of my MVC permanent file of information. But things can change

 

[LeslieDet]

I got this in Oct when I had some hold points to use. Now part of my MVC permanent file of information. But things can change

Its too bad MVC just won't put that in its FAQs, instead of making us go to each option to read the specific T&C. It sums up what I indicated was available.

 

[dioxide45]

I got this in Oct when I had some hold points to use. Now part of my MVC permanent file of information. But things can change

Thanks for this. The only thing I am confused by is this "Hold Points may be redeemed if travel is within 60 days of departure date." where it relates to Owner Events and Cruises. Wouldn't travel date and departure date be the same thing?

 

[LeslieDet]

Thanks for this. The only thing I am confused by is this "Hold Points may be redeemed if travel is within 60 days of departure date." where it relates to Owner Events and Cruises. Wouldn't travel date and departure date be the same thing?

I'm guessing they added that in red letters because folks were ignoring the wording "as long as the travel date is within 60 days" in the into.