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Is HGVC Legacy Elite Premier Status worth it? (? Being devalued or useless now with Max)

I just checked into Ocean Oak yesterday. They now have the new HgvMax wrist bands but you must be tier level 3 and above to qualify. The check-in person was very apologetic informing me that Elite Premier doesn’t qualify for these bands. I had been saving the old bands and had enough for two rooms (7 bands) but I really needed 4 more for the third room. I wonder if we can make bands out of regular key cards.
 
I just checked into Ocean Oak yesterday. They now have the new HgvMax wrist bands but you must be tier level 3 and above to qualify. The check-in person was very apologetic informing me that Elite Premier doesn’t qualify for these bands. I had been saving the old bands and had enough for two rooms (7 bands) but I really needed 4 more for the third room. I wonder if we can make bands out of regular key cards.
now that could be interesting...lets see your design skills and it can't just be a hole punched in each end with a string...:)
 
Someone could come up with a TUG logo for them but we do want the Front Desk to program them.
 
I just checked into Ocean Oak yesterday. They now have the new HgvMax wrist bands but you must be tier level 3 and above to qualify. The check-in person was very apologetic informing me that Elite Premier doesn’t qualify for these bands. I had been saving the old bands and had enough for two rooms (7 bands) but I really needed 4 more for the third room. I wonder if we can make bands out of regular key cards.
What do the wrist bands do?
 
What do the wrist bands do?
open the doors or, at some properties like in MB, open the towel cabinet at the pool. They are great for beach/pool locations because you don't have to worry about carrying the key card.
 
open the doors or, at some properties like in MB, open the towel cabinet at the pool. They are great for beach/pool locations because you don't have to worry about carrying the key card.
So, like the Magic Bands at Disney, albeit much more limited. Certainly can be convenient.

Cheers.
 
So, like the Magic Bands at Disney, albeit much more limited. Certainly can be convenient.

Cheers.
actually very convenient, especially for kids who may run back to the room for something. We just put ours on anytime that we leave the room and don't have to think about a key card. They may be able to charge stuff to the room, like at a restaurant but not sure. We rarely eat at onsite restaurants.
 
open the doors or, at some properties like in MB, open the towel cabinet at the pool. They are great for beach/pool locations because you don't have to worry about carrying the key card.
Seems like an odd thing to gatekeep behind max tiers. Maybe it makes guests wearing the bands feel more privileged than the people without the bands?
 
Seems like an odd thing to gatekeep behind max tiers. Maybe it makes guests wearing the bands feel more privileged than the people without the bands?
Not really from my perspective but we like them better then key cards. If they were blank bands, didn't say "elite", and everyone got them, I would still be fine with me. Much better than key cards to keep track of
 
Not really from my perspective but we like them better then key cards. If they were blank bands, didn't say "elite", and everyone got them, I would still be fine with me. Much better than key cards to keep track of
I certainly agree that the bands are more functional than keeping track of a keycard.
 
I think I still have Elite wrist bands somewhere … they were light blue and said Elite.
Yep. They can be reprogrammed at each property that uses them
 
I just checked into Ocean Oak yesterday. They now have the new HgvMax wrist bands but you must be tier level 3 and above to qualify. The check-in person was very apologetic informing me that Elite Premier doesn’t qualify for these bands. I had been saving the old bands and had enough for two rooms (7 bands) but I really needed 4 more for the third room. I wonder if we can make bands out of regular key cards.

Not nice when they de-prioritize us, Legacy EPs & take away benefits from us (as small as they may be).
Hopefully, no taking away of benefits (like no reserv fees; point depositing fees, GCs etc) ...
 
Elite Premier Data Points: Two properties HGVC Las Vegas that I had made multiple reservations at for September of 2025 went on promotional sale recently.

At Elara, one of my nights was not available even though I had reservation for that date. I was able to go on-line and change my reservation to the promotional rate saving 790 points on one and 880 points on the other. No problem changing the reservation myself and no fees as EP. Savings of 1,670 points.

At The Boulevard, one of my dates wasn't available even though I had a reservation for that date. I was not able to make the change on-line unless I cancelled and rebooked myself which can be a risk for losing the night. So I called the VC and they were able to do it. They said it had to be cancelled and rebooked with the same risk. But the VC usually sees it right away. Each of two reservations was cancelled and rebooked. Each saving 1,590 x 2 = 3,180 points. No fees.

Benefits of EP ... saved 4,850 HGVC points and NO FEES.
 
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Anyone can change an existing reservation outside of 60 days with no fees, not just EP. Changing an existing booking outside of 60 days for free is available for any HGVC booking made online. Or has that changed? I dont know if anything has changed recently as I have AI, through my bHC ownerships, and do not pay booking fees.

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Anyone can change an existing reservation outside of 60 days with no fees, not just EP. Changing an existing booking outside of 60 days for free is available for any HGVC booking made online. Or has that changed? I dont know if anything has changed recently as I have AI, through my bHC ownerships, and do not pay booking fees.
No change has been made to the change policy in several years. The only way to change a reservation in the 60-31 days window is to cancel and rebook. With AI there would be no rebooking fee.
 
Anyone can change an existing reservation outside of 60 days with no fees, not just EP. Changing an existing booking outside of 60 days for free is available for any HGVC booking made online. Or has that changed? I dont know if anything has changed recently as I have AI, through my bHC ownerships, and do not pay booking fees.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk
Yup. This benefit is available to all of us. And the "it's not available even though I already hold that date" happens to many. All can call and get this handled, so this is not an EP ebenfit.

Cheers.
 
so this is not an EP ebenfit.
But EP elite premier and AI members will not pay for a rebooking fee. So that is the benefit.
 
If reservation was greater than 60 days their is no booking fee for everyone. Not just EP or AI.

Sept reservation could be more or less than 61 days out. If more than 60 days out, everyone gets the free modification benefit. I am clarifying the statement that modifying a reservation for free is not only an EP/AI benefit.

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But EP elite premier and AI members will not pay for a rebooking fee. So that is the benefit.
Right. But EP is a pricey consideration compared to AI (for those eligible), so I'd certainly not list this as an explicit reason for EP when it can generally be had more cheaply with AI, some Scotland property resales notwithstanding.

Edit: Just read @frank808's comment, so all bets seem to be off any any benefit here that "regular" members don't get. I was not aware of this since we have AI, but it seems reasonable.

Cheers.
 
Right. But EP is a pricey consideration compared to AI (for those eligible), so I'd certainly not list this as an explicit reason for EP when it can generally be had more cheaply with AI, some Scotland property resales notwithstanding.

Edit: Just read @frank808's comment, so all bets seem to be off any any benefit here that "regular" members don't get. I was not aware of this since we have AI, but it seems reasonable.

Cheers.
Thx for all the eloquent clarifications Folks!

I think @JohnnyO was just sharing his excitement of all the benefits of EP & HGVC's excellent CS & his excellent experience, which in this reservation's timeframe may have been available to all...

We still love HGVC & EP, regardless of details of this specific reservation :)!

Respect that AI reservations (w/o booking/reserv fees) thru Max or via bHC provides similar benefits to many, who may not need to get EP, so all good!

It's our unique journey folks; do whatever is good for each of us!
 
AI works for me. 5 reservations so far this year I completed, not to mention about 5 I speculatively reserved and cancelled. For about $70 more a year for AI?
 
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