ISO hacks for cancellation inside 30 days

[CalGalTraveler]

Would like to cancel an SO reservation that is inside 30 days of arrival and bank SO points for reservation next year. I know there is a $50 charge.

Any options to avoid restricted points? Change reservation to outside the 30 day window, then cancel? Other ideas that work?

 

[dioxide45]

Not really, a change is a cancel and rebook. So still cancelling. I suspect this isn't enrolled in Abound? Isn't the cancellation window inside 60 days? Then inside 7 days the fee is higher $75?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Thanks. Not Abound. Booked with SOs. We have a VIP visit that we must attend presentation that is expiring. We bought VIP prior to adding another resale so last chance to use.

I added 2 nights to the VIP using SOs to make this a longer trip but now want to shorten and use points for next year. Not a terrible option to use. Still learning how SOs work.

 

[kozykritter]

There is no dodge around it, unfortunately. The moment you cancel the reservation, your options will become restricted and can't be banked. The same goes if you modify it in any way as the back office procedure is essentially a cancellation and rebooking. You can always call and ask for a supervisor and plead your case if you have a compelling reason (usually has to be a sad one) but even then usually they won't budge.

The fact is that inventory cancelled that close in has a higher chance of going unused so they have to reflect that in their treatment of the usage used to book it...basically restricting it to the same pool of short-term inventory the cancellation created.

 

[jabberwocky]

No real way around the cancellation. Anything that short-notice for cancellation will be restricted SO.

If you have need for travel insurance or want to take resort credits then those can be good uses for restricted SO if you can’t use them.

For us we have a few VOI’s where the MF/SO is less than the resort credit conversion ratio - so I’ve once converted 36,000 SO (this was 2022) and gotten a $440 resort credit.

 

[dioxide45]

If you have need for travel insurance or want to take resort credits then those can be good uses for restricted SO if you can’t use them.

I think the only issue is that these are resale and StarOptions from resale VOIs don't qualify for resort credits or other special use outside of occupancy.