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II - AC help please

S

siki

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2005
Messages
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Location
Delanco, NJ
Hello,

Will I have more choices if I wait until 59 days out to use my AC? We want to travel late March/early April. When I search now I'm not getting much of a selection.

This is my first time using an AC and any help would be appreciated.

Thank you. :)

Michelle
 
All AC's have a grid on the back of them which dictate where and when you can travel.

Within the 59 day window most restrictions are removed although there has been some talk that with the redesign of II's site they have really tightened up the inventory within that window - I don't know if that's changed back yet or not as I don't have an AC in my account right now.
 
siki said:
Hello,

Will I have more choices if I wait until 59 days out to use my AC? We want to travel late March/early April. When I search now I'm not getting much of a selection.

This is my first time using an AC and any help would be appreciated.

Thank you. :)

Michelle
Click to expand...

A lot depends on what you are looking for. If you are, for example, looking for a high end resort in the caribbean during that time, it will be very difficult to get. Where are you looking to go?
 
gmarine said:
Where are you looking to go?
Click to expand...

We were hoping to go somewhere in the caribbean or Mexico. That is our first choice. If not, then maybe Vegas or California.

Thanks.
 
siki said:
We were hoping to go somewhere in the caribbean or Mexico. That is our first choice. If not, then maybe Vegas or California.

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Very difficult time to get quality resorts in the caribbean or Mexico. You may get lucky if you put in an ongoing request. You have a much better chance at CA or Vegas.
 
Not all AC are equal. I recently got one from II that was only good for 59 days or less. It also came with no grid. I called and got the AC I was suppose to get that included a grid. The first AC I used earlier this year let me get Aruba in May 2006, Marriott Ocean Club.
 
The power of your AC depends a lot on your underlying week. What did you deposit, and how far in advance of check-in did you deposit it?
 
You will have the best luck w/in 59 days for the areas you seek. The AC I got this year was more restrictive than in previous years, for the same deposit, same amount of time in advance as previous years. II seems to be getting less generous, I may be giving my next Marriott deposit to SFX (did that with my RCI week, was very pleased, got an unrestricted bonus and matched my Hawaii searches within weeks...)
 
59 day window on AC

We also are planning to use an AC and would like to land something warm in Florida the first week of March. Currently no Florida places are available on our grid. Our AC expires at the end of April. I cannot find how to see what's available with a "FlexChange" on the II website. Will it only give me that option at 59 days out? I can't seem to find flexchange as any of the menu choices.
 
barbaraek said:
We also are planning to use an AC and would like to land something warm in Florida the first week of March. Currently no Florida places are available on our grid. Our AC expires at the end of April. I cannot find how to see what's available with a "FlexChange" on the II website. Will it only give me that option at 59 days out? I can't seem to find flexchange as any of the menu choices.
Click to expand...
Florida in March is high season, so the AC grid has no Florida locations in March. (Disclaimer: I realize that II has many different kinds of ACs, so this statement may not be 100% correct for all ACs.)

Right now, you should be able to look at "All Available Destinations" for January and February 2006 dates with your AC at IntervalWorld.com, without seeing the grid. In a week or so, you should be able to look at "All Available Destinations" for the first week of March 2006.

When the first week of March falls within 60 days, it's likely you'll have multiple choices in Orlando, but very few (if any) choices elsewhere in Florida.
 
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Judy said:
Will II tell you, in advance, what the restrictions on your AC will be, or do you have to deposit your week first and take your chances?
Click to expand...

Judy,

Generally, II won't tell you what the "grid" looks like as the reps don't really know when they request it for you. A call to a supervisor may shed greater light, though I haven't tried that (I am happy to use the AC within the 60 day window). Apparently some ACs are less restrictive than others, depending on the deposit. In past years I was still able to book (well in advance) Aruba for Thanksgiving and Poconos for President's week, but this year's AC prevented both... :(
 
what is an AC?

Sorry for the lack of understading, but what is an AC?

Brad
 
egg said:
Sorry for the lack of understading, but what is an AC?

Brad
Click to expand...

An AC is an accomodation certificate. It is given to Interval members as a bonus for depositing high demand weeks. There is no exchange fee for using one but there is a redemption fee, generally between $199 and $299 depending on the size unit you take.
 
egg said:
Sorry for the lack of understading, but what is an AC?
Click to expand...
AC = Accommodation Certificate = Interval International "bonus week"

In addition to a regular exchange week, II members who deposit a prized week also get an AC. It's II's way to encourage high-demand deposits that can trigger a whole cascade of additional exchanges. For example, deposits of Hawaii Marriott weeks, summer weeks at Marriotts on Hilton Head, and other prime deposits routinely get ACs.

A few things to know about ACs:

  • An AC expires 12 months from issuance.
  • The fee is higher than a regular exchange.
  • From 12 months to 60 days before check-in, AC exchanges are limited to a grid of certain areas by month, such as Orlando during slow months.
  • Within the last 59 days, the restrictions are lifted, but it takes luck to get a good exchange because you're limited to leftovers and very late deposits.
  • Holidays are excluded, so even if December is on the grid, the Christmas and New Years weeks are not available.
  • An AC "bonus week" can be valuable or worthless, depending on the II member's needs.
 
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WW--I made a deposit yesterday of a March week in Orlando and the II thing popped up and said I would get an AC. Does this post to my account at some point or do you actually get something in the mail? Never did this before. Thanks.
 
MikeM132 said:
WW--I made a deposit yesterday of a March week in Orlando and the II thing popped up and said I would get an AC. Does this post to my account at some point or do you actually get something in the mail? Never did this before. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'm not MM, however, I've had them instantly show up and other times I've waited for a few weeks and it still hasn't show up. When that happens... I call II and they have always taken care of it. By the time I'm off the phone and hit the refresh button... there it is.
 
AC - they're great!

I don't know why but I am able to see a LOT more 6 to 10 months out with my AC. I just used one for the Westin Rancho Mirage in early October and one for the Lindo Mar in Puerto Vallarta in December. I see very little with the one I have that expires in mid-March. I do all my II stuff online and if, when I search with the AC I don't find anything, I then search with a regular week, and after a bunch of trades show up I then "select another unit" in the mid-left side and use the AC and usually the same weeks pop up. Then I grab one! :D

I have found that you need to bug II about posting them to your account. I usually wait a week after I deposit my week and then if it hasn't been posted I call them. Don't email their customer service - they have not been helpful.
 
Werner Weiss said:
A few things to know about ACs:

  • Holidays are excluded, so even if December is on the grid, the Christmas and New Years weeks are not available.
Click to expand...

As has been previously noted, there seems to be some value of the AC based upon the week deposited that earned the AC. We just got back from Marriott's Grande Ocean in Hilton Head with an AC earned from a Marriott Waiohai Beach Club week. I made the reservation for HHI in July for Christmas Day to New Year's Day.

Somehow, I ended up with 2 AC's for my 2005 Waiohai week. The second AC didn't have near the same power. The holidays were definitely blocked out with that one. I ended up using that for a week in Branson in early December to catch some great Christmas shows.
 
I got excellent service from II thru email. They corrected the AC in a day. I was very please.
 
JudyS said:
The power of your AC depends a lot on your underlying week. What did you deposit, and how far in advance of check-in did you deposit it?
Click to expand...

I deposited my 2 br unit at the Marriott Aruba Surf Club. My AC will expire in Oct 06. We're looking to use it this March or April.

Avery - what is SFX?

Thanks.

Michelle
 
SFX is the San Franciso Exchange Company; sfx-resorts.com; they specialize in top resorts in high demand seasons; I tried them for the first time this year and was thrilled with the results (got two August weeks in Hi for my one deposit).
 
Last edited:
siki said:
I deposited my 2 br unit at the Marriott Aruba Surf Club. My AC will expire in Oct 06. We're looking to use it this March or April.
Click to expand...

The Marriott Aruba Surf Club is a very desirable resort. Assuming you reserved a high season week, and deposited it well in advance, this should be a pretty powerful AC. Also, I believe that you get a Marriott preference with your AC, although asking on the Marriott board would give you a more definitive answer.
 
I have an AC that expires March 06 and I'm still getting the grid. I wanted to travel to FL next month. Do I need to call II? Not sure if we will even use it, can I sell it to someone if I want? I deposited my week for HI.
Thanks
 
kaylasmom97 said:
I have an AC that expires March 06 and I'm still getting the grid. I wanted to travel to FL next month. Do I need to call II? Not sure if we will even use it, can I sell it to someone if I want? I deposited my week for HI.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Anything that shows availability within the next 59 days, you should be able to grab. Restrictions to the grid are removed within that window, however, you might have to search with one of your weeks to see what is available and then call II to book the week if your AC doesn't let you see the same resort/week.
 
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