Help 10,000 HGVC points expire in Dec – what to do?

[xkiwi]

I have 10,000 HGVC points that expire on 31 December 2011. Stupidly, I thought they were good until 2012 and have just realised my mistake. They are rescued points. I am based in Europe and am not able to travel until January/February 2012, when I plan to visit California and Las Vegas. Is there any way to use these points for 2012 travel? Maybe via an RCI booking?

Should I try to book some 2011 HGVC weeks for deposit with Interval/Dial an Exchange/SFX? And if so, which exchange company would be the best option?

I don't want to waste the points... any other advice would be greatly welcomed.

 

[pianodinosaur]

Under the new rules of the 2011 Member Guide you may be able to deposit these points into RCI or book an RCI exchange before December 15, 2011.

 

[Talent312]

Where are those rules? I may have missed something, but AFAIK, "rescued" points cannot be used for travel after the year to which rescued.

From the Guide, Page 140: When a member rescues their points "by depositing them into the following year's account," they may be used "for reservations at Club Resorts during the Home Resort [NY] and Club reservation windows or for RCI weekly or nightly reservations for travel in the following year only." (emphasis added)

So, I doubt that an RCI reservation can draw from their current stash of rescued points, but perhaps OP should get the scoop from the horses mouth by checking with HGVC.

 

[xkiwi]

Thank you for your advice - I will call HGVC and see what they say regarding RCI

 

[pianodinosaur]

Where are those rules? I may have missed something, but AFAIK, "rescued" points cannot be used for travel after the year to which rescued.

From the Guide, Page 140: When a member rescues their points "by depositing them into the following year's account," they may be used "for reservations at Club Resorts during the Home Resort [NY] and Club reservation windows or for RCI weekly or nightly reservations for travel in the following year only." (emphasis added)

So, I doubt that an RCI reservation can draw from their current stash of rescued points, but perhaps OP should get the scoop from the horses mouth by checking with HGVC.

Talent:

That is an exact quote from the membership guide. I hope HGVC will grant the OP some additional flexibility.

 

[Aquaman55]

Since you are based in Europe, why don't you email HGVC customer service to see if they can help you. (Are you in the military?) They do consider certain exceptions. It's worth a try...

 

[mikeanddebbi]

Book top end hotels using as many of your Club Points as possible, then cancel the reservations. The points will be returned to your HHonors account as HHonors points.

 

[Aquaman55]

Mikeanddebbi's suggestion is a very good one. Just remember that club points convert at 1 club to 20 HH points when reserving this way, not 1 to 25...

 

[Talent312]

Book top end hotels using as many of your Club Points as possible, then cancel the reservations. The points will be returned to your HHonors account as HHonors points.

Excellent.
Except the booking hotels is not listed as a permitted use for rescued points.
Still, the CSR who takes the call might let it go thru anyway, so its worth a try.

It would be interesting to know if any member has been able to use rescued points this way.