bHC versus HGVC points

[loosefeet]

I know I should know this, but I get so confused about having bHC points (W 57th) now, and also HGVC (Flamingo). When can HGVC points be used at w57th? And, how can one keep track of how the points are being used? Somehow it's just not clear for me on the website. Also, if I book bHC points for W57th, but they have availability later on, does it make sense to cancel (free) and rebook--will HGVC points be used (would be cheaper/point)? What then happens to bHC points? I don't know why this is so confusing for me-hoping to get some clarity.
Happy New Year (day of paying all my MFs!!)

 

[ljmiii]

I know I should know this, but I get so confused about having bHC points (W 57th) now, and also HGVC (Flamingo). When can HGVC points be used at w57th?

59 Days before check out.

And, how can one keep track of how the points are being used?...

Your dashboard shows your bHC and HGVC buckets by year. When you make a reservation which can pull from both buckets the website tells you where the points are coming from. In order, it chooses saved HGVC, saved bHC, current HGVC, current bHC, borrowed HGVC, and borrowed bHC. Unfortunately (and unlike MVC) it doesn't allow you to change this. There are two workarounds.

If you pay All Inclsive dues (or are Max) make a dummy reservation using all your bHC points, make the one you want that then can only pull HGVC points, and then cancel the dummy bHC reservation. Or you can just go ahead and make the reservation and call HGV to have them move the points around. I'm told that in this case they are happy to do so but have never done it myself so I have no idea how long a window you have (i.e. do you have to call immediately or are you given a grace period).

Also, if I book bHC points for W57th, but they have availability later on, does it make sense to cancel (free) and rebook--will HGVC points be used (would be cheaper/point)?

If there is still availability then yes, making a new reservation using HGVC points and then canceling the one using bHC points is probably wise. But the HGVC CSRs won't 'swap out' your bHC points for the cheaper HGVC ones on an existing reservation.