Flexchange question

[GTLINZ]

I have had a corporate Interval points account for years so I am familiar with many aspects of using II. I am also in the process of aquiring an independent gold crown floating resort week and I plan to open a new account and register this week with II.

So to this point I have no experience with trading a week in Interval. I have been reading the II faq thread below (which is excellent, BTW) and think I have a grip on instant exchange searching (not deposited) vs ongoing search (deposit first or request first). But with a floating week, I may or may not be able to reserve a high TDI week - so I may want to use flexchange some years.

With flexchange I understand that I would be looking at a check in within 60 days. What I don't understand is do you search for flexchange differently, or is it just a matter of what shows up when doing normal searching? I am trying to understand any strategy of when/if I need to deposit my week if it is a year where I think I want to use flexchange.

Any insight is appreciated !

FAQ thread I am referencing:
https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/i...uently-asked-questions-and-information.74057/

 

[dioxide45]

Flexchange is really just a marketing term. There is no different functionality when searching other than the 59 day restriction.

 

[GTLINZ]

So it is just a matter or more inventory possibly showing up within 59 days out assuming i have a lower TDI week?

The FAQ also made it sound like if you deposit your unit, that you only can search like for like unit sizes (with certain exceptions). Does that mean if you want to also see upgraded unit sizes (i.e. 1br to 2br) that it is better to not deposit first? Or does that subtlety dissapear with flexchange?

 

[tschwa2]

If you try to search outside of the window, you will simply get an error message telling you that you can only search between today and 59 days from today. You cannot do an ongoing search when restricted to flexchange- manual searches only.

 

[GTLINZ]

@tschwa2 Thank you for replying .

Are you speaking of my unit being in flexchange? I read if i turn in my unit in late within 60 days that i can only search flexchange. But my questions are centered around my unit being not in flexchange - but what i am searching for is within flexchange.

 

[dioxide45]

So it is just a matter or more inventory possibly showing up within 59 days out assuming i have a lower TDI week?

The FAQ also made it sound like if you deposit your unit, that you only can search like for like unit sizes (with certain exceptions). Does that mean if you want to also see upgraded unit sizes (i.e. 1br to 2br) that it is better to not deposit first? Or does that subtlety dissapear with flexchange?

If you deposit a unit 59 days or less prior to checkin, that unit can only search flexchange. You can also have a regular deposit that you made more than 59 days out and still search for availability inside 59 days. Inside Flexchange certain trade restrictions are removed. Also inside Flexchange any unit size upgrade fees go away. So it is cheaper to trade up in unit size. You won't necessarily see everything and certain system to system (like Marriott to Marriott) priority still applies to new deposits.

 

[GTLINZ]

Thanks. Makes sense.

What I am trying to figure out is are there differences between a deposited unit and a undeposited unit when searching for flexchange inventory - and my unit is more than 2 months out.

 

[dioxide45]

Thanks. Makes sense.

What I am trying to figure out is are there differences between a deposited unit and a undeposited unit when searching for flexchange inventory - and my unit is more than 2 months out.

There could be a difference. The closer your unit gets to its checkin date, the weaker the trade power. Or so II claims.

 

[GTLINZ]

That makes sense. I am trying to figure out which "restrictions are removed " when searching flexchange inventory. Please assume my unit is not in flexchange for my questions.

Is there a difference when looking at flexchange inventory with seeing units larger than yours between a deposited week vs an undeposited one? The FAQ thread says that inventory outside of flexchange cannot see larger units unless it is an "instant search/not deposited" (with exceptions). That seems clear. Flexchange rules are not differentiated in the doc when considering deposits.

This helps me understand whether it is better to deposit my unit that is many months out vs not depositing if my goal is to book flexchange inventory.


Again, thank you for sharing. This is a gold crown unit but the TDI in floating weeks varies wildly up to a TDI of 150 so it will be a crapshoot. It helps to understand my options with flexchange if I get an lower TDI week.

 

[Hindsite]

Again, thank you for sharing. This is a gold crown unit but the TDI in floating weeks varies wildly up to a TDI of 150 so it will be a crapshoot. It helps to understand my options with flexchange if I get an lower TDI week.

What is motivating you to want to specifically book flexchange as opposed to depositing and making a request many months in advance?

 

[GTLINZ]

What is motivating you to want to specifically book flexchange as opposed to depositing and making a request many months in advance?

I will be owning a floating week. If I can reserve a high TDI week I will not care about using flexchange. I want to understand my options if that does not happen.

 

[Hindsite]

I will be owning a floating week. If I can reserve a high TDI week I will not care about using flexchange. I want to understand my options if that does not happen.

Thanks.
Depositing and requesting early is a way of getting decent inventory with a lower TDI week, as well as the relaxation in trading power of flexchange inventory.
TDI is just one of the trading power elements for weeks. There are also variable elements of supply and demand on both the deposit and exchange sides.
If your TDI is lower by 20-30 points may make no difference to what you can get, particularly if you are depositing and requesting across different areas.

 

[GTLINZ]

Depositing and requesting early is a way of getting decent inventory with a lower TDI week, as well as the relaxation in trading power of flexchange inventory.

Thanks again. I sure see advantages to searching rather than living online (as some apparently do).

I read in the FAQ that i cannot upgrade unit size if I deposit first (i.e. a 1br see a 2br). Does that restriction relax with flexchange inventory so that might start seeing larger units?

 

[Hindsite]

Thanks again. I sure see advantages to searching rather than living online (as some apparently do).

I read in the FAQ that i cannot upgrade unit size if I deposit first (i.e. a 1br see a 2br). Does that restriction relax with flexchange inventory so that might start seeing larger units?

You most certainly can deposit first and request a larger size unit as long as you agree to pay the upgrade fee. You will aso see larger units if you manually search and the upgrade fee will show.
In flexchange the unit size upgrade fee is waived and the relaxation (not elimination) of trading power requirements would mean you could see more larger inventory, if there was any available.
I've not seen any data volume info, but I'd expect the choices in flexchange to be less than what would come up with a request made at 12 months and running for at least 6 months. Some good stuff does come up in flexchange and you could get e-plus once a request is filled so you can then manually search for a bigger unit or better resort. My hit rate on that is less than 50% so I wouldn't rely on flexchange to get something better than a request would. With the recent changes to e-plus, where it ends 14 days before check-in I wouldn't bother paying for it if I was just after boosting and existing reservation.
Some people do very well with flexchange so it may depend on what location and resort you are looking for. @Dean and @dioxide45 , do you have any view on the probability of success with a request inside vs outside of flexchange?

 

[GTLINZ]

You most certainly can deposit first and request a larger size unit as long as you agree to pay the upgrade fee. You will aso see larger units if you manually search and the upgrade fee will show.

Glad to hear that. That was my main concern, and I can now understand that my questions could have sounded odd. I was operating on a bad assumption. Thank you for pressing thru ...

Here is the FAQ excerpt:
• With an ““Ongoing Search" / "Pending Request" exchange, you can only search for a size unit which is the same as your unit size ( or less). EXECPT: If you are using a 1 bd unit and want a 2 bd unit, you can get a 2 bd unit by requesting an exchange into a resort which have only 2 bd units.

 

[GTLINZ]

Some people do very well with flexchange so it may depend on what location and resort you are looking for. @Dean and @dioxide45 , do you have any view on the probability of success with a request inside vs outside of flexchange?

If i need to use flexchange, i plan to be what i think is reasonable (the goal isn't killer trades in Hawaii, etc). A 2br in Orlando will do nicely. I am hoping that the excess inventory there will provide upgrade opportunities. We are in FL often and it is a reasonable drive and it would be nice to be able to invite friends and relatives that live in FL.

 

[Hindsite]

Glad to hear that. That was my main concern, and I can now understand that my questions could have sounded odd. I was operating on a bad assumption. Thank you for pressing thru ...

Here is the FAQ excerpt:
• With an ““Ongoing Search" / "Pending Request" exchange, you can only search for a size unit which is the same as your unit size ( or less). EXECPT: If you are using a 1 bd unit and want a 2 bd unit, you can get a 2 bd unit by requesting an exchange into a resort which have only 2 bd units.

Ah got it. That is a misdirect. What does happen with instant searching is you can only put in the number of people that your unit holds. e.g if you are searching with a unit that holds 4 people you can't put 6 people in the search parameters. Why they do that is beyond me, as the search results will show you larger units if you have the trading power. I just put in 1 adult and then at least I can see everything and decide from there.

Accom certs and getaways are worth looking at for Orlando as there is a lot of surplus inventory and those can be cheaper than using and exchange.

 

[GTLINZ]

Ah got it. That is a misdirect. What does happen with instant searching is you can only put in the number of people that your unit holds. e.g if you are searching with a unit that holds 4 people you can't put 6 people in the search parameters. Why they do that is beyond me, as the search results will show you larger units if you have the trading power. I just put in 1 adult and then at least I can see everything and decide from there.

Accom certs and getaways are worth looking at for Orlando as there is a lot of surplus inventory and those can be cheaper than using and exchange.

Thanks for the tip.

I do get ACs but have never used one. When I do see Marriotts or Sheratons in Orlando it tends to be smaller units.

I use getaways for lower demand weeks and have enjoyed them. This likely won't be cheaper, but at least the deposit will get used. Or maybe i will get to use flexchange with some higher demand weeks.

 

[Lakeshore]

I just realized I am 59 days out on a reservation for NCV, but we have a ton of travel coming up and I don’t know if we will want to use it then…when I use the vacation exchange, it only allows me to see trades that are in the next 59 days. Can I book something, then purchase e-plus, and then book something I later than 59 days? Or will I still be restricted with e-plus to only use the e-plus retrades in the next 59 days? For example, can I trade for an April date then eplus and then book something in September!
Or is there a way to extend my deposit now that I’m 59 days out? Thanks so much!

 

[dioxide45]

I just realized I am 59 days out on a reservation for NCV, but we have a ton of travel coming up and I don’t know if we will want to use it then…when I use the vacation exchange, it only allows me to see trades that are in the next 59 days. Can I book something, then purchase e-plus, and then book something I later than 59 days? Or will I still be restricted with e-plus to only use the e-plus retrades in the next 59 days? For example, can I trade for an April date then eplus and then book something in September!
Or is there a way to extend my deposit now that I’m 59 days out? Thanks so much!

You can retrade for something and add Eplus. This will then allow you to retrade out 59 days from the checkin date of your, then, current exchange. So if you retrade for something for the end of May or early June, you can then Eplus retrade for something end of July or early August. Your Eplus expiration will still be 12 months from the checkin date of the initial exchange you add Eplus to but using all three retrades can effectively only get out to late November.

Is the week you are trading an enrolled Marriott week?

 

[Lakeshore]

You can retrade for something and add Eplus. This will then allow you to retrade out 59 days from the checkin date of your, then, current exchange. So if you retrade for something for the end of May or early June, you can then Eplus retrade for something end of July or early August. Your Eplus expiration will still be 12 months from the checkin date of the initial exchange you add Eplus to but using all three retrades can effectively only get out to late November.

Is the week you are trading an enrolled Marriott week?

Thanks so much. Our week is a week, not points so I don't think it’s enrolled. We purchased it a couple of years ago, so not before 2010.
Is there a way to extend it with a deposit? Or will depositing it only allow us to book something in next 59 days?

 

[dioxide45]

Thanks so much. Our week is a week, not points so I don't think it’s enrolled. We purchased it a couple of years ago, so not before 2010.
Is there a way to extend it with a deposit? Or will depositing it only allow us to book something in next 59 days?

I'm not sure what you mean by extending it with a deposit. You could potentially retrade, add Eplus then retrade to outside the 59 day window and take a cancelation replacement deposit. That cancellation replacement then won't have any Flexchange restrictions. It will however cost two exchange fees when you do another trade. One for the retrade then another when you exchange with the cancellation replacement. Then you also have the $89 Eplus fee.

 

[drinkish]

Can I jump in with a quick question on Flexchange as well?

If I split my 3BR into a 2BR and a studio, does that mean that for any dates in the next 2 months both exchanges would show me the same availability and the higher TDI of the 2BR doesn’t apply at all?

 

[tschwa2]

Can I jump in with a quick question on Flexchange as well?

If I split my 3BR into a 2BR and a studio, does that mean that for any dates in the next 2 months both exchanges would show me the same availability and the higher TDI of the 2BR doesn’t apply at all?

No. During flexchange trading power is relaxed and continues to further relax as you get closer to check in. At 59 days, you may see some of the same inventory. By 5 days to check in you probably will see the same inventory for both.

 

[drinkish]

No. During flexchange trading power is relaxed and continues to further relax as you get closer to check in. At 59 days, you may see some of the same inventory. By 5 days to check in you probably will see the same inventory for both.

Ah that makes sense. Thanks!