How do I search II without depositing in advance?

[RLG]

When I had weeks deposited in my II account, I was able to use the website to browse what was available for exchange.

Currently, I have commited all the weeks deposited in my II account to exchanges and I find I can no longer browse.

Is there a way to browse the exchange offerings without depositing a week first?

My week are all starwoods purchased resale, if that matters.

 

[Bill4728]

to browse the exchange offerings without depositing a week first:

1. Log in to your II account.

2. Select "Exchange".

3. Fill in the areas and weeks you want to browse:

4. Then, Choose the week you want to search with by making up the info that II asks for about your fake "Unit" & "Check-in Date". Then click on "Continue".

6. The next screen will show the weeks currently available for your fake "Unit" & "Check-in Date".

7. You can view the areas, resorts and dates which your fake deposit pulls, but do not click on "Continue" unless you really want to continue!

Hope that helps

 

[RLG]

That's what I already tried but it didn't work for me.

I suspect it's because II does things differently for Starwood owners. (That's why I posted in the Starwood forum instead of the Exchanging forum.)

I select one of my resorts and choose a fake week. (I even used a week that I have reserved.) I get an error message that:

"The unit information submitted is not found in our records. Please contact your home resort."

Has anyone done this succesfully with a Starwood property?

 

[GrayFal]

That's what I already tried but it didn't work for me.

I suspect it's because II does things differently for Starwood owners. (That's why I posted in the Starwood forum instead of the Exchanging forum.)

I select one of my resorts and choose a fake week. (I even used a week that I have reserved.) I get an error message that:

"The unit information submitted is not found in our records. Please contact your home resort."

Has anyone done this succesfully with a Starwood property?

Yes, all the time - let me go and look to see if I get an error message.

Just checking - but is the 'fake week/check-in date' more then 60 days in the future?
And if you have already used your 2008 week - search with a 2009 week instead.

BRB....

 

[GrayFal]

to browse the exchange offerings without depositing a week first:

1. Log in to your II account.

2. Select "Exchange".

3. Fill in the areas and weeks you want to browse:

4. Then, Choose the week you want to search with by making up the info that II asks for about your fake "Unit" & "Check-in Date". Then click on "Continue".

6. The next screen will show the weeks currently available for your fake "Unit" & "Check-in Date".

7. You can view the areas, resorts and dates which your fake deposit pulls, but do not click on "Continue" unless you really want to continue!

Hope that helps

I was able to use my PGA 2009 week and do a search....and get results - best to call II Starwood desk in the morning.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Are you using a reservation # that begins with the number 8 and is 8 digits long? I use 88888888.

 

[GrayFal]

Are you using a reservation # that begins with the number 8 and is 8 digits long? I use 88888888.

That is only relevent to a Marriott Reservation - with Starwood weeks, you only need to pick the date within your season....

 

[RLG]

Ok, here's an update.

It looks like the problem is limited to my Sheraton Mountain Vista weeks.

I realized that I had only attempted the method that works for GrayFal on SMV. So I tested it using my Sheraton Broadway Plantation weeks and it worked perfectly. I can fill in any week I want. I chose July 4 week, although I suspect Starwood won't be depositing that week at II

Interesting that it doesn't require that the fake deposit actually be in my season.

Sheraton Mountain Vista continues to fail for virtually all weeks. I get a slightly different screen than for SBP. Instead of the unit number being fixed as "floating", it's a user changeable entry, pre-filled with "float". Virtually all weeks I entered didn't work. I finally got April 11 to work, but unfortunately that's within flexchange so my exchange opportunities are limited. (II's website doesn't seem to understand that this SVO week would have been deposited a long time ago.)

Interestingly, I also noted that, if I choose a Fri or Sun checkin date, the website tells me it's not a valid checkin date.

I got my wish to be able to browse. I may eventually call II to see what's up with SMV.

 

[stevens397]

What happens if you find the trade you want using your fake weeK???

How do you go about snagging the week you want? Can you call II and have it put on hold while you make the deposit? Isn't there an excellent chance it will be gone if not?

 

[GrayFal]

Ok, here's an update.

It looks like the problem is limited to my Sheraton Mountain Vista weeks.

I realized that I had only attempted the method that works for GrayFal on SMV. So I tested it using my Sheraton Broadway Plantation weeks and it worked perfectly. I can fill in any week I want. I chose July 4 week, although I suspect Starwood won't be depositing that week at II

Interesting that it doesn't require that the fake deposit actually be in my season.

Sheraton Mountain Vista continues to fail for virtually all weeks. I get a slightly different screen than for SBP. Instead of the unit number being fixed as "floating", it's a user changeable entry, pre-filled with "float". Virtually all weeks I entered didn't work. I finally got April 11 to work, but unfortunately that's within flexchange so my exchange opportunities are limited. (II's website doesn't seem to understand that this SVO week would have been deposited a long time ago.)
Interestingly, I also noted that, if I choose a Fri or Sun check-in date, the website tells me it's not a valid check-in date.

I got my wish to be able to browse. I may eventually call II to see what's up with SMV.

II understands that you are searching first before depositing (which you are!) and the week you are using is within flexchange so your search is limited.If it were an ACTUAL deposited week u were using - it would recognize the deposit date and let you search normally.

I would definitely call the II Starwood desk and ask them to fix your 'broken' week - I had to be connected to internet services when my PGA week broke and they were abe to fix it - it had been entered wrong by Starwood....I had the same problem that Friday/Sunday check-ins were not recognized....and the week deposited show NO Starwood preference at all.... so fix it or u will be blocked from seeing the exchanges you are suppose to see.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

That is only relevent to a Marriott Reservation - with Starwood weeks, you only need to pick the date within your season....

LOL... opps... forgot I was on the Starwood board. I never really look at trades with my Westin so, I don't know what I was thinking...

 

[GrayFal]

LOL... opps... forgot I was on the Starwood board. I never really look at trades with my Westin so, I don't know what I was thinking...

You obviously lost your mind :rofl: and your way :hysterical:

 

[rwpeterson]

what am I doing wrong?

I can complete steps 1-3

1. Log in to your II account.
2. Select "Exchange".
3. Fill in the areas and weeks you want to browse:

Where do I put the information for step #4? The system always just displays my unit and I click on the exchange button. I can't find a place to enter the fake unit and check in dadte

4. Then, Choose the week you want to search with by making up the info that II asks for about your fake "Unit" & "Check-in Date". Then click on "Continue".

Wendy