Reservation fee returned?

[bobinmich]

If your are NOT a VIP, and you book a stay, if you cancel do they "return" the reservation transaction back to your account? Thanks!
PS, last year, I was "out" of reservation transactions and booked a stay, paid the 19.00 reservation fee, then I cancelled and they did not credit the 19 back, and when I booked again, I had to pay the 19 reservation fee again.

 

[Sandy VDH]

No, the transaction fee is to book the reservation. Either you have transaction credits remaining, or you pay $19 for a transaction.

Canceling returns points, provided you cancel before 15 days or less prior to checkin. But that transaction fee is gone, used and never returned. This is for everyone, and have nothing to do with VIPS. Some VIP levels just have unlimited transactions included in their membership.

 

[bobinmich]

Sandy....THANKS! you answered my question. Have to make sure, before I book, thinking there in no consequence for canceling 15 days out.

 

[kaljor]

Sandy....THANKS! you answered my question. Have to make sure, before I book, thinking there in no consequence for canceling 15 days out.

But the flip side of being too careful out of fear of wasting a RT is that you might miss out on a desirable booking that you want. For example, you find something you might like but don't book it immediately because you're not sure. Then a month later you decide you want to go but the week isn't available any more.

My philosophy is to book what I think I'll want, and not really worry if I end up cancelling one or two. So sometimes I cost myself 1 or 2 RT's at $19.00. At the end of the year I consider it a small price to pay to get what I want. With more experience also. you learn which resorts do need to be booked as early as you can, and which ones have a little more leeway in timing.

 

[SNA27]

Same with Point Protection. You don't get back the fee even if you cancel before 15 days. It's nonrefundable 'insurance'.
So, I never take PP insurance. If I do, it will on the 16th day before check-in for an Airbnb rental that I am hoping will materialize.