In II, can you request a larger sized unit?

[m61376]

I will be joining II (just waiting to close on our first timeshare ). I bought a 2 BR Marriott lockoff unit. Since it is a Platinum Aruba Surf Club week, I know it has high trade value.

I know I can deposit the entire unit into II and request a 2 BR for an exchange. If I deposit either the 1 BR or the studio side into II, can I request an exchange for a larger unit than I deposited since the Aruba deposit is a high trader?

If I do a request first, can I request an exchange for a larger unit than I deposit?

Finally, if I do a deposit first and likely am offered an AC for the 1 BR deposit, can I request a 2 BR on an exchange with the AC?

I know that if I see a larger unit available I can do the exchange; what I wanted to know is if I can do an on-going search for a larger unit than I deposit.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Dave M]

Essentially, no. II's rules provide that you can't request an ongoing search for accommodations that have private sleeping capacity greater than the week you are using for the exchange. Here is the wording from II's T&C:

A Member may request to travel with a number of people equal to the maximum occupancy of the Home Resort accommodations deposited or to be relinquished, provided that the number of people traveling does not exceed the standard traveling party size applicable to the Home Resort accommodations. The standard traveling party size associated with each unit type is as follows: hotel, studio, or efficiency unit — two persons; one-bedroom unit — four persons; two-bedroom unit — six persons; three-bedroom unit — eight persons, and four-bedroom unit — 10 persons.

At least for other Marriott resorts, you can request a trade into a 2BR unit if that's all that resort has. But if a resort you seek has lockouts, you could request only studio/1BR accommodations with your 1BR. Obviously, almost anything goes within the Flex period.

 

[Bill4728]

As Dave said,
"you can request a trade into a 2BR unit if that resort has only 2 br units"

It doesn't matter if you do a request first or a deposit first.

An AC will pull whatever it pulls. So you can often get a 2 bd with an AC. But, you can't do an ongoing search with an AC.

Hope that helps

 

[m61376]

Hmmm...so then all the people posting getting 2 BR with their 1 BR or studio deposits are trading during flexchange, or can I search frequently with my 1 BR or studio side for a larger unit but just not create an on-going search for a larger sized unit?

Similarly, are AC's given a unit size that can be searched for? OOps- I posted at the same time as above- I guess Bill answered this question- thanks.

 

[tashamen]

You can put in an ongoing search with an AC, you just can't do it online. The AC does have a unit size and you can search for that maximum sleeping capacity, but - here's the major catch - you can only put in an ongoing search for a location/time on the AC grid.

With both Acs and regular deposits, you can search online whenever you want, even if you already have an ongoing request in with a deposit first, and if you see larger units than that AC or deposit you can grab them online. I don't know if you can do that with a request first, though.

 

[Bill4728]

You can put in an ongoing search with an AC, you just can't do it online. The AC does have a unit size and you can search for that maximum sleeping capacity, but - here's the major catch - you can only put in an ongoing search for a location/time on the AC grid.

Thanks for the info, I didn't think you could search with an AC.

 

[Big Matt]

I've received 2BRs all the time and not just in flexchange with my 1BR and studio. Many times they are just sitting there on line, but I've done it with ongoing requests also. There are a ton of resorts that only have 2 or 3 bedrooms and aren't lock offs.

Hmmm...so then all the people posting getting 2 BR with their 1 BR or studio deposits are trading during flexchange, or can I search frequently with my 1 BR or studio side for a larger unit but just not create an on-going search for a larger sized unit?

 

[Dean]

As noted, one cannot formally search II for a larger unit than you give up. Generally one can request a unit at a resort than only has larger units (trading a 1 BR but for a resort than only has 2 BR units) but one's chances of success will be much less. How much less is anyone's guess since II doesn't share the info related. There are a few of the Marriott's that have 1 BR units (not a lockoff portion) that have the contractual right to search for 2 BR units but I think it's only the internal trading preference that applies to. While there may be other special deals with other companies, I am not aware of any with the ability to trade up in unit size.

II has hinted at times that they will stop accepting trade requests that are directed at larger units as I described above but as a rule, they have continued to allow them. Within 60 days is easier as a rule.

 

[Big Matt]

I talked to a very seasoned counselor this summer about this and the response was that my 1BR MSE would not get a chance at the 2BR units at Newport Coast until all other 2BR units with the same or higher quality had a chance to get it. She also said that my MSE would have an easy time getting 1BR units or studios at all Marriotts.

That's still not enough information to figure out what they are doing, but it helped me understand a little more than I already knew.

She also told me that very few people will accept a unit smaller than they deposit.

Taking both in context, I believe that II has wide bands of resort quality and that unit size within the band is more important.

Generally one can request a unit at a resort than only has larger units (trading a 1 BR but for a resort than only has 2 BR units) but one's chances of success will be much less. How much less is anyone's guess since II doesn't share the info related.

 

[Dean]

I talked to a very seasoned counselor this summer about this and the response was that my 1BR MSE would not get a chance at the 2BR units at Newport Coast until all other 2BR units with the same or higher quality had a chance to get it. She also said that my MSE would have an easy time getting 1BR units or studios at all Marriotts.

That's still not enough information to figure out what they are doing, but it helped me understand a little more than I already knew.

She also told me that very few people will accept a unit smaller than they deposit.

Taking both in context, I believe that II has wide bands of resort quality and that unit size within the band is more important.

I totally agree. I think we can piece together some info and I have had II give clues as well. I also agree that in general, unit size is very important, possibly more so than demand of that week in many ways. I have a resort that works on points and is not affiliated with any system other than being a member of II. I have asked II many times whether a lower season 2 BR (pink time) or high season 1 BR was better to deposit and they always say the 2 BR. I went against their recommendation by depositing a week 5 one BR this year and so far my impression is they were likely correct and it cost me more points for the 1 BR. But I have plenty of points and only need a 1 BR for the trade I want to make with this deposit. But in general I'll be depositing a 2 BR with this resort as it'll give me the option of specifying a 2 BR even if the trade power were the same or lower otherwise.