Questions about using the VIP discount 60-day window

[jebloomquist]

I have some questions for those of you who are VIPs and have experience getting your VIP discount using the online Wyndham system to cancel and rebook a reservation within 60 days of check-in.

1) How successful have you been using this technique?
2) What time frame within the 60-day discount window have you found to be most effective, such as 60 days out, 50 days out, etc.?
3) Are there times within the 60 days where you have lost reservations? If so, when?
4) Are there times when you just won’t chance a cancel/rebook for fear of losing a reservation?

Thank you. Jim

 

[vacationhopeful]

I have some questions for those of you who are VIPs and have experience getting your VIP discount using the online Wyndham system to cancel and rebook a reservation within 60 days of check-in.

1) How successful have you been using this technique? 50-50
2) What time frame within the 60-day discount window have you found to be most effective, such as 60 days out, 50 days out, etc.? ASAP - 60days out.
3) Are there times within the 60 days where you have lost reservations? If so, when? Yes ... esp heavily booked windows - like Easter.
4) Are there times when you just won’t chance a cancel/rebook for fear of losing a reservation? If I had a person already pay me for it. Don't need homeless customer who wants a place to sleep.

Thank you. Jim

My answers in BLUE.

 

[ronparise]

I have some questions for those of you who are VIPs and have experience getting your VIP discount using the online Wyndham system to cancel and rebook a reservation within 60 days of check-in.

1) How successful have you been using this technique? works every time, but I havent done it much
2) What time frame within the 60-day discount window have you found to be most effective, such as 60 days out, 50 days out, etc.? doesnt seem to make a difference
3) Are there times within the 60 days where you have lost reservations? If so, when? never lost one
4) Are there times when you just won’t chance a cancel/rebook for fear of losing a reservation? I wont do it if I have already rented the time and if its for my own travel, I wont do it unless I have a back up plan

Thank you. Jim

my answers in red

I have two accounts, one silver vip and the other not vip. What Ive done recently is to cancel a reservation in the non vip account and then make the new, discounted reservation in the vip account. having two accounts may be whats responsible for my success.

 

[WeLovetoTravel]

It usually works, but do not do it during a holiday or an event like Mardi Gras or a race week in Daytona. I lost my 2012 Christmas reservation this year by trying it. As Ron said, don't do it without a back up plan.

 

[jjmanthei05]

I have some questions for those of you who are VIPs and have experience getting your VIP discount using the online Wyndham system to cancel and rebook a reservation within 60 days of check-in.

1) How successful have you been using this technique? About 98% of the time
2) What time frame within the 60-day discount window have you found to be most effective, such as 60 days out, 50 days out, etc.?Anywhere between 60 and 15 days
3) Are there times within the 60 days where you have lost reservations? If so, when?Yes but it is usually either when the website hangs for me or I have canceled and rebooked several reservations back to back. I have lost some on a slow internet connection so now I won't try and upgrade unless I have a high speed connection (at least 6-10 MB)
4) Are there times when you just won’t chance a cancel/rebook for fear of losing a reservation? Nope every reservation is discounted and upgraded.

Thank you. Jim

Mine are in Orange.

Jason

 

[jjmanthei05]

If I do it for a personal reservation, I always have 2 of the room category we want to stay in and then 1 of whatever the smallest category is for the upgrade. If I lose one, I still have a full price room to stay in as a backup.

Jason

 

[Explorer7]

Over the past couple of years I get the discount 100% of the time and upgrade close to 90% of those reservations.
I’ve never lost one but from time to time I have had to wait anywhere from 30 seconds to 15 minutes for the reservation to appear again. I don’t book anything that I am not willing to lose. If I had to travel based on school schedules or Christmas, Easter etc I probably would not take the chance without a backup.
I do most of mine during the day avoiding times I perceive to be potentially high traffic times like first AM, lunch hour or evenings (not that it really buys me anything it’s just me guessing most people can’t sit at work checking availability during the typical work day.)

 

[vacationhopeful]

Yes, I have lost more reservations than it appears other here on TUG have.

I have had several VCs tell me that was the first reservation that they had lost.

But I have also gotten some GREAT discount HIGH season reservations -- so I know others HAVE lost a vacation by trying to get a discount.

Easy come, easy go.

 

[jebloomquist]

Thanks for all of your colorful answers.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I don't try the release and re-catch at the discount window IF there are NO existing units available. I am way to chicken to try that.

However I very frequently book units for the first time at the 60 day mark, when I know there is good inventory.

 

[NHTraveler]

1) How successful have you been using this technique? I have done the cancel/rebook thing about 10-12 times in the last two years and so far I've never lost a reservation...even for holiday weeks.

2) What time frame within the 60-day discount window have you found to be most effective, such as 60 days out, 50 days out, etc.? 15-60 days...no particular number of days...I guess when I feel lucky.

3) Are there times within the 60 days where you have lost reservations? If so, when? None


4) Are there times when you just won’t chance a cancel/rebook for fear of losing a reservation? I guess I like to gamble. However, I make sure a resort in the area has availability before trying it. That way, I will still have a room somewhere in the vicinity, if I happen to lose it.

See above.

 

[JudyS]

OK, now this is making me wish I were Wyndham VIP! My timeshare addiction strikes again!

How big a discount do you get when you rebook at the 60-day window?

 

[jebloomquist]

OK, now this is making me wish I were Wyndham VIP! My timeshare addiction strikes again!

How big a discount do you get when you rebook at the 60-day window?

I don't smoke, do drugs, or gamble, but I do have the Wyndham addiction. And there is some sort of a high when I am able to get a reservation at 50% and then upgrade to a larger unit.

On page 288 in the 2011-2012 Club Wyndham directory shows VIP benefits. However, the headings showing the points required are now outdated.

I would paste it in this reply, but I can't figure out how to do that. How do we paste images into a message?

Basicaslly VIP - 25%, VIP Gold - 35%, and VIP Platinum - 50%, within 60 days of the check-in date.

The upgrade windows are VIP - 30 days, VIP Gold - 45 days, and VIP Platinum - 60 days, within the check-in date.

 

[NHTraveler]

I don't smoke, do drugs, or gamble, but I do have the Wyndham addiction. And they is some sort of a high when I am able to get a reservation at 50% and then upgrade to a larger unit.

I also don't smoke or do drugs. As for gambling, I'm not much of one. I'm the kind of person who can go to a casino with friends and lose $20 over a 2 hour period. I only play penny slots. I'm not there to lose a paycheck, just to use up time while my friends do their thing.

I get a thrill (or a high) when cancelling and rebooking. It is more exciting than a casino...lol.

 

[ronparise]

OK, now this is making me wish I were Wyndham VIP! My timeshare addiction strikes again!

How big a discount do you get when you rebook at the 60-day window?

Be careful what you wish for..you might get the same addiction that Jim and I have

Jim posted the chart with the benefits and the old points requirements. The new numbers are Silver 400,000; Gold 700,000 and Platinum stayed the same at 1,000,000

That 50% platinum discount sounds nice until you realize that the million points you own must have been purchased from Wyndham and would cost you roughly $150000 . (mf will be about $5500 a year)

So if you were to manage your account so that all your reservations get the 50% discount you will get 2 million points worth of reservations

However there is another way

why not buy 2 million points on the resale market at lets say $10,000. Your mf will be twice as much at about $11000, but you still have 140,000 in the bank. Put that into a nice tax free muni bond fund at 4% and you will have enough income each year to pay half your mf...Now, just like the guy that bought his points from Wyndham you have the use of 2 million points and you have your money in your account rather than Wyndhams.

FYI there are other cheaper ways to get to VIP (like like the PIC program, but thats a lesson for another day....or you could marry Jim, or get him to name you in his will).....but whatever it costs you will almost always be better off (unless you married Jim) by just buying the points you need on the secondary market and not from Wyndham

 

[pacodemountainside]

Be careful what you wish for..you might get the same addiction that Jim and I have

Jim posted the chart with the benefits and the old points requirements. The new numbers are Silver 400,000; Gold 700,000 and Platinum stayed the same at 1,000,000

That 50% platinum discount sounds nice until you realize that the million points you own must have been purchased from Wyndham and would cost you roughly $150000 . (mf will be about $5500 a year)

So if you were to manage your account so that all your reservations get the 50% discount you will get 2 million points worth of reservations

However there is another way

why not buy 2 million points on the resale market at lets say $10,000. Your mf will be twice as much at about $11000, but you still have 140,000 in the bank. Put that into a nice tax free muni bond fund at 4% and you will have enough income each year to pay half your mf...Now, just like the guy that bought his points from Wyndham you have the use of 2 million points and you have your money in your account rather than Wyndhams.

FYI there are other cheaper ways to get to VIP (like like the PIC program, but thats a lesson for another day....or you could marry Jim, or get him to name you in his will).....but whatever it costs you will almost always be better off (unless you married Jim) by just buying the points you need on the secondary market and not from Wyndham

Elaborating on Ron's comments which IMO are conservative.

Rack rate for Platinum VIP is around $220K, but everyone gets a 10%+ first day discount as you are sales person new BFF, so say $190K.

The last deal I was offered was 300K points for $49K but that was after 2 salespeople and sales manager so make $160K.

Likewise very conservative investment, I would go with `100+ year stock market average of 9-10% but would be reduced by around 15% taxes.

No matter what assumptions one used they are going to end up much wealthier buying resale. PICing will definitely reduce cost, but still need to do the math.

Let's take an example. One has a million Developer points at BC and around November 20 2013 books hot 2014 Christmas units, 3-4 BRs. Around October 21 2014 cancels and rebooks successfully, so now has 500K points. What can they reasonable do with them? Wild assumption does another book somewhere cancel and rebook so still has 250K points to put to RCI with no bonus and its fees!

Better situation has a million points at LBM. Booked Mardi Gras 2014 around February 1 , 2013 Cancels and rebooks successfully around January 2, 2014. Now has lots of time to find another hot booking but still hard put to gross two million points.

Assuming doing rentals.

Now Swifter who has done home work and reads TUG buys say four 500K contracts at say BC, LBM, Daytona and where MF are really cheap as he will use plus left overs from preceding.

He locks reservations and rental contracts at 13 months , no worry about EH stealing.

Of course, there is always that Wyndham Demon looking to increase profits by reducing VIP benefits.

Ron: Are you adding marriage brokering to your many faceted talents? Shoot, why not add singles connections, travel companions wanted sub forum???

 

[cassvilleokie]

Travel companion wanted ???? where is that forum

 

[dbs1228]

I have a quick question - not familiar with the VIP program but that is what my parents own and currently i have a reservation for May 21 - 5 nights in San Antonio. I keep seeing VIP upgrade status and it says not in upgrade window. I understand they are gold members so from what I read it is 45 days prior can I get an upgrade and how? Do I stand a chance of losing the reservation - if so not good? We booked a 1 bedroom unit what kind of upgrade could we get? Thank you in advance!

 

[vacationhopeful]

VIP upgrade is NOT the Cancel and Rebook route to save points within 60 days of checkin.

VIP Gold upgrade is at the 45 day in from checkin where if a BIGGER unit is available, you can just UPGRADE the reservation.

You won't lose the reservation.

 

[Ron2]

I have a quick question - not familiar with the VIP program but that is what my parents own and currently i have a reservation for May 21 - 5 nights in San Antonio. I keep seeing VIP upgrade status and it says not in upgrade window. I understand they are gold members so from what I read it is 45 days prior can I get an upgrade and how? Do I stand a chance of losing the reservation - if so not good? We booked a 1 bedroom unit what kind of upgrade could we get? Thank you in advance!

You don't lose your reservation when you upgrade. You have a choice of accepting any available upgrade or keep the one you have. Often when you check for an upgrade there are none available, so you keep checking and eventually you may catch one of those reservations when someone cancels. I recently upgraded from a 2-BR Deluxe to a 2-BR Presidential Reserve. Possibly someone was playing the cancel/rebook game and I just got lucky.

 

[pacodemountainside]

At 45 day mark just have parents(owners) go on line or call reservations.

Does not hurt to verify exact date in advance.

Unlike cancel and rebook no risk of losing.

You get NEXT biggest unit available which would be 2BR Deluxe at La Cascade or 1 BR Plus at Riverside.

Don't think parents(owners) get hit with another RT and GC fee!

If lots of availability go for cancel and rebook!

 

[Explorer7]

At the 45 day mark you actually qualify for the next largest available unit which means that if you already have a 1 bedroom and the only larger room is a 4 bedroom presidential suite you can upgrade the 1br to the 4br. Keep checking regularly especially in the 15 to 20 day range of your check in date where renters often cancel the reservations they were not able to rent out or others who just can’t find a way to take their vacations cancel their trips before they have to forfeit their points once inside the 15 day mark.

 

[dbs1228]

At 45 day mark just have parents(owners) go on line or call reservations.

Does not hurt to verify exact date in advance.

Unlike cancel and rebook no risk of losing.

You get NEXT biggest unit available which would be 2BR Deluxe at La Cascade or 1 BR Plus at Riverside.

Don't think parents(owners) get hit with another RT and GC fee!

If lots of availability go for cancel and rebook!

Thank you everyone I will try the upgrade to see.

What does the cancel and rebook do - is that for the discounts? Still trying to learn so I can teach my parents how to use their time share effectively! btw I am the only who has used the website - mom calls for everything even though she is pretty good on the computer! At least I got them to agree to contact Wyndham and put me on the deed -when it will happen is another thing:hysterical:

 

[Explorer7]

Thank you everyone I will try the upgrade to see.

What does the cancel and rebook do - is that for the discounts? Still trying to learn so I can teach my parents how to use their time share effectively! btw I am the only who has used the website - mom calls for everything even though she is pretty good on the computer! At least I got them to agree to contact Wyndham and put me on the deed -when it will happen is another thing:hysterical:

The cancel and rebook would be for the 35% point discout once you reach the 60 day mark. Unless there is extra inventory displaying for the dates you are traveling the cancel and rebook stands a risk of you losing the reservation to someone else.

 

[dbs1228]

The cancel and rebook would be for the 35% point discout once you reach the 60 day mark. Unless there is extra inventory displaying for the dates you are traveling the cancel and rebook stands a risk of you losing the reservation to someone else.

Thank you I did check availability and the 1st 3 nights are good the full 5 nights no good - memorial day weekend so I will not chance it!