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Hi All - I've searched through this forum and several other sites, and cannot find information explaining exactly what the AIM program is and how it works. We have 126,000 Wyndham points, and are seriously considering purchasing Bluegreen because the Bluegreen system seems much easier to use, with less fees. We would (possibly) want to deposit our Wyndham points with the AIM program, but want to make sure we understand how it works before we purchase. Could some please explain, in as much detail as possible, what we could expect from our 126,000 points from AIM and exactly how this program works. Many thanks for your help.
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Here is how to use AIM.Originally posted by justamom2six View Post
1. Buy BG Points from BG.
2. Make a reservation at your non-BG resort at least a year in advance. The time must be RCI red time and the resorts must be RCI gold or silver crown or II 5* .
3. Get the two sets of AIM forms from BG.
4. Fill out the two sets of AIM forms for each non-BG week that you are going to put into the AIM program. (I also include a copy of the non-BG reservation form.)
5. Write out a check for $99 for each non-BG week and send the check and the two sets of AIM forms to BG.
6. Points will be added to your account depending upon number of bedrooms and if gold or silver crown. You are also limited to the number of points that you purchased from BG. So, if you purchased 10,000 points from BG, you cannot get 12,000 AIM Points.
7. You have one year to use these points. They cannot be saved. I understand that they can be used for high red time but I never have.
I do not know what 126,000 Wyndham points will get you so I cannot determine how many BG Points you would get.
Charles -
Thanks Charles! You have been very helpful. I own a 2 bd lockoff in Williamsburg, VA. It is a Goldcrown/Wyndham property. Any idea how many points that might get us? Also, do ALL of my BG points have to come from a Charter purchase to match up with the AIM deposit? (say I have 3,000 BG charter and 12,000 resell points)
Thanks again. I really appreciate your help.Comment
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I am a lazy WYN owner meaning after I started realizing how much WYN was screwing their resale owners I did not actively persue getting really expert in the program.
How I umderstand WYN is that you can not make a points resie for use or deposit until 10 months out so this will not work for AIM.
My deed is linked to a Three BR gold crown williamsburg unit....are u saying I or you can somehow reserve that prior to ten months as a resale owner as a regular or points resie?Comment
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hmm, well we have actually NEVER reserved directly through Wyndham! haha! We have always been able to get 3 or 4 "studios" out of our Wyndham, and then exchanged through RCI. As of January 1, we do not have enough Wyndham points to get one exchange! You are right, they have worked the system against resale owners. My husband said you are correct, 10 months out. Why won't this work for AIM? Does the reservation have to be made 12 months out? Thanks for your help.Originally posted by GrayFal View PostComment
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If you own a converted week (your deed shows the specific week and unit info not the UDI points total), check with reservations. In the past, converted week owners had the right to reserve their home ownership week but had to notify Wyndham more than a year prior to the usage. This was a tactic used by sales to convert week owners who routinely used their home resort and week. The sales pitch was that they would still have the right to use it, and converting to points would simply give them more "options" for those years they did decide to travel elsewhere. Since their policies have changed so much over the past few years, I'm not sure if this is still a possibility.my travel website: Vacation-Times.org.
"A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking."
~Earl WilsonComment
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We do not have a converted week. We have UDI points, but it was when they first started issuing points 1998 deed. We purchased re-sale 7 years ago and have loved it! We have be able to exchange Wyndham studios for 2 & 3 bedroom units through RCI (off season). January 1, 2012, they put the breaks on! Raised the amount of points need 3 and 4 times what they were.Originally posted by rikkis_playpen View Post
Why do we have to reserve 12 months out? Thanks!Comment
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In order to deposit your week in AIM, it has to be 12 months or more from the use date so a 10 month Wyndham resie will not work for you.Originally posted by justamom2six
I (along with every other owner) was also affected by Wyndhams "enhancement"
in January 2011 so can no longer make those 28/63/77K deposits.
Not to get away from this BG discussion, but you can make a Wyndham Points resie (1BR in RED time) and deposit it with SFX SFX Preferred Resorts - Quality Timeshare Exchange Services
Please check our "ask SFX" board for details about WHICH Wyndham resorts and what time frame you need to reserve to deposit with them to get an exchange plus bonus/lifestyle weeks....it will not be as 'good' as what u used to get with RCI but you can get at least one exchange and numerous bonus/lifestyle weeks from your one deposit. They also have a great sell off list.
Basic SFX membership is free - you just pay for the exchange.Comment
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Thanks Pat! Great information. I appreciate your time.Originally posted by GrayFal View PostIn order to deposit your week in AIM, it has to be 12 months or more from the use date so a 10 month Wyndham resie will not work for you.
I (along with every other owner) was also affected by Wyndhams "enhancement" in January 2011 so can no longer make those 28/63/77K deposits.
Not to get away from this BG discussion, but you can make a Wyndham Points resie (1BR in RED time) and deposit it with SFX SFX Preferred Resorts - Quality Timeshare Exchange Services
Please check our "ask SFX" board for details about WHICH Wyndham resorts and what time frame you need to reserve to deposit with them to get an exchange plus bonus/lifestyle weeks....it will not be as 'good' as what u used to get with RCI but you can get at least one exchange and numerous bonus/lifestyle weeks from your one deposit. They also have a great sell off list.
Basic SFX membership is free - you just pay for the exchange.Comment
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It's changed. It's now 11 months.
That is BG's rule. I imagine it is to give BG adequate time to get rid of your AIM deposit. (They have to exchange it somehow or rent it.)Originally posted by justamom2six
I just checked the new form. It now is no less than 11 months and no more then 24 months in advance of the check-in date.
It also states on page 4 that the AIM benefit is available for 1 year after your BG Vacation Club ownership is available for use. It may or may not be renewed. Also it says that you should not purchase BG Points with the expectation of the continued availability of the AIM benefit.
CharlesComment
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That's interesting information! I might just end up using my Wyndham week in house with Wyndham, and get BG points to use within their system.Originally posted by crwisconsin View Post
Do most people use their BG points within BG? Or exchange with RCI? How can you maximize your points?Comment
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1) My most recent chart (May, 2010) is a black and white copy of a copy of a colored original and I can't read most of it. My latest legible chart is from 2004 and a 2- bed Gold Crown would give 10,000 BG Points.Originally posted by justamom2six View Post
The May, 2010 illegible chart shows that the seasons and unit size has been expanded and the location also enters in. I can only read white time.
48 contiguous states, Canada, and Mexico: Hotel/Studio 3,000 pts; 1 bed 4,000 pts, 2 bed 5,000 pts, 3 bed 6,000 pts.
Hawaii and Alaska and the rest of International: Hotel/Studio 4,000 pts; 1 bed 5,000 pts, 2 bed 6,000 pts, 3 bed 7,000 pts.
Aha, I found an earlier copy and I can just make out Blue time and it is 1,000 pts less for each category.
2) if you have 3,000 Charter points and 100,000 resale points, the maximum number of AIM points you could get for a 2 bed, gold crown, red time is 3,000 points.
CharlesComment
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Jim (Bocabum) attended the 2010 annual meeting of the Vacation Club and here is what is in his notes about utilization:Originally posted by justamom2six
"Here are the resort utilization stats for 2010:
Owner usage: 57.1%
Bonus time: 6.5%
Exchange: 8.3%
Sampler: 5.4%
Marketing: 4.6% (tours)
Rentals: 2.6%
Vacant: 9.5%
Offline: 6% (maintenance)"
You can find the rest of his notes as well as a wealth of other information in the Files area of the BG Yahoo site.
CharlesComment
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Thanks again Charles. I have been looking at the files over on the BG Yahoo site. I'll go back and look again for the notes you mentioned.Originally posted by crwisconsinComment
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That question is open to many interpretations.Originally posted by justamom2six
The obvious answer is to buy more points to the extent that you do not go bankrupt.
However, I am guessing you are asking how can you maximize your benefits of whatever points you have or can afford to have. And then it depends upon what you want.
Do you want the maximum number of days away from home?
Can you afford to travel (dollars and time) to far off resorts?
Do you want a highly sought after area or is just about anywhere but home adequate?
Do you want a large spacious unit or are you satisfied with a smaller unit that just barely fits?
Do you have to travel prime time or can you travel and enjoy off time?
Do you want to go for a week or so or will 5 days do?
And I could go on and on.
Fortunately, a Point system such as BG allows anyone to maximize their benefits of their points by playing one need (want) against another. Of course, the more people who are involved, the more difficult it is.
CharlesComment
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