Rci platinum

[rapmarks]

do I understand correctly that within two weeks of check in,you can request a different resort or an upgrade and there is no charge if they find a different resort or an upgrade?

 

[AwayWeGo]

I think that's 1 of the features. I also think the upgrade feature applies only to straight-points exchange reservations -- i.e, not to Last Call nor to Extra Vacation Getaways.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[tschwa2]

Yes but the other unit or upgrade has to be available through rci and rci only runs a check for a match once a day. You can't call and request the upgrade even if you see it available online. So basically it will only happen if it is something that would sit online in rci for about 8 -12 hrs without anyone booking it through a last call or through an exchange and you have had to been the first person who picked that particular upgrade.

 

[rapmarks]

So not much of a chance! But free

 

[Eric B]

It also has to be a resort that participates in the upgrade program. Some don't. We've never gotten an upgrade, though we've signed up a number of times.

 

[tschwa2]

So not much of a chance! But free

It also has to be a resort that participates in the upgrade program. Some don't. We've never gotten an upgrade, though we've signed up a number of times.

I don't see what it has to do with the resort. The resort doesn't care if you exchange into a 1 BR or a 2 BR anymore than they would care if you had a 1 BR and then paid a new exchange fee and more tpu's if needed to exchange into an available 2 BR. The resort itself isn't offering any upgrade. It is into rci exchange inventory.

 

[tschwa2]

do I understand correctly that within two weeks of check in,you can request a different resort or an upgrade and there is no charge if they find a different resort or an upgrade?

Also you can put in the request(s) well ahead of 14 days, its just that rci doesn't start checking for a match until 14 days before check in.

 

[Eric B]

I don't see what it has to do with the resort. The resort doesn't care if you exchange into a 1 BR or a 2 BR anymore than they would care if you had a 1 BR and then paid a new exchange fee and more tpu's if needed to exchange into an available 2 BR. The resort itself isn't offering any upgrade. It is into rci exchange inventory.

It's been a while and I can't find an example right now, but it was an exchange into Vidanta to one of the bulk deposit resort ids. The notes said it wasn't eligible for upgrades.

 

[missyrcrews]

It's been a while and I can't find an example right now, but it was an exchange into Vidanta to one of the bulk deposit resort ids. The notes said it wasn't eligible for upgrades.

Attitash, Suites at Attitash, Eastern Slope Inn, and Suites at Eastern Slope Inn are this way. (All in NH.) They say that they are not eligible for an upgrade, and you can't go any further with picking resorts you'd like to upgrade into.

 

[Eric B]

Thanks, @missyrcrews! I was positive I had run into that issue.

 

[mdurette]

It has been a while...but last time I made an exchange via RCI I was offered the option to pick the resorts I would consider as part of my upgrade when I confirmed the exchange.

 

[Eric B]

It has been a while...but last time I made an exchange via RCI I was offered the option to pick the resorts I would consider as part of my upgrade when I confirmed the exchange.

That's how it works; you have to pick up to five alternate resorts and/or a size upgrade. I believe you have up until the 14 day point to do that.

 

[jbiza]

I don't see what it has to do with the resort. The resort doesn't care if you exchange into a 1 BR or a 2 BR anymore than they would care if you had a 1 BR and then paid a new exchange fee and more tpu's if needed to exchange into an available 2 BR. The resort itself isn't offering any upgrade. It is into rci exchange inventory.

I actually just dealt with the potential RCI Platinum "Upgrade" options when I checked in yesterday.

I spoke directly to the resort reservations person, & the RCI Specialist I was transferred to by phone specifically about upgrades as a RCI Platinum member ( I had checked larger unit availability in both RCI & the resort inventory when I confirmed my few dates).

As mentioned, the unit upgrade would come from RCI inventory ( not resort inventory as larger units were available in the resort inventory) &, even though larger units in RCI inventory were available, that does not automatically allow one to receive the unit upgrade because they are a RCI Platinum member.

I was offered a unit upgrade from the resort inventory "if" I paid additional fees - which I declined.

I mentioned to the persons I spoke with that I just wanted to get some value ( or at least clarity on getting value), from paying for RCI Platinum membership.

 

[rapmarks]

I found out I was bayside rather than gulf side so I put two resorts in in case there is something that pops up, but I don’t want to change if I have to pay an additional $239.

 

[RNCollins]

With RCI Platinum you also get 25% off guest certificates, and 10% off Extra Vacation Getaways & 10% off Last Call Vacations.

 

[tschwa2]

I actually just dealt with the potential RCI Platinum "Upgrade" options when I checked in yesterday.

I spoke directly to the resort reservations person, & the RCI Specialist I was transferred to by phone specifically about upgrades as a RCI Platinum member ( I had checked larger unit availability in both RCI & the resort inventory when I confirmed my few dates).

As mentioned, the unit upgrade would come from RCI inventory ( not resort inventory as larger units were available in the resort inventory) &, even though larger units in RCI inventory were available, that does not automatically allow one to receive the unit upgrade because they are a RCI Platinum member.

I was offered a unit upgrade from the resort inventory "if" I paid additional fees - which I declined.

I mentioned to the persons I spoke with that I just wanted to get some value ( or at least clarity on getting value), from paying for RCI Platinum membership.

My understanding is if you selected the upgrade and are within 14 days (and apparently not at one of the few resorts that doesn't allow upgrades), the system will only check once a day. So if you see it in inventory within 24 hrs it should upgrade you. You just can't call and ask them to manually do it. You have to wait until the once a day upgrade check works (and have requested it),

What resort and what dates were you looking at?

 

[rapmarks]

It is Saturday dec7. Going to Vanderbilt Beach, added charter club and eagles nest on Marco. I should add something on sanibel

 

[sfwilshire]

It also has to be a resort that participates in the upgrade program. Some don't. We've never gotten an upgrade, though we've signed up a number of times.

I wasn't aware of that part. Is there any way to know whether a resort participates? If they are on the list used when you request the upgrade, does than imply that they participate.

I've never received an upgrade, but I've only requested one a few times. I have a request in for one during the holidays that would really help our family's situation out if it came through. Probably hopeless considering the season, but hope spring eternal. If not, we're going to have to rent a hotel room for three nights for part of the family.

Sheila

 

[AwayWeGo]

With RCI Platinum you also get 25% off guest certificates, and 10% off Extra Vacation Getaways & 10% off Last Call Vacations.

Our Platinum membership fee has just about paid for itself via 10% reductions in 1 Extra Vacation Getaway & 2 Last Call reservations we made in just the past month or so.

Initially I thought the unit/resort upgrade feature was just for straight-points reservations. Apparently it also applies when RCI is offering a sale on points reservations (e.g., 20% points reduction, 30% points reduction, etc.) & on those last-call style points deals for 10,000 points or below for 7 nights. (But it does not apply to Last Call & Extra Vacation Getaway).

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[sfwilshire]

I never thought it would happen, but I got an upgrade from a 1br at RHC/High Point World Resort in Kissimmee to a 2br at Sheraton Vistana Resort for the week of 12/21. The occupancy is 6/6, so it may be in one of the older sections, but I'm sure it will be fine.

I had booked the RHC for my 25yo son because I had some expiring RCI points and he was going to rent a cheap hotel for the week for a solo trip. Then his siblings started asking if they could go that week, too.

For my upgrade request, I tried to choose large resorts and a couple that I thought didn't have any 1br units. I looked the night before the upgrade window came open and didn't see thing available for the week that was any better than the original reservation. If I had, I was going to do a quick revision of my request.

I was beyond surprised, but everyone is happy now.

Sheila