............ to get back to the topic - and it may be useful info to others. I have had a couple of certs near to expiry and given them to friends who are not Ambassadors or RAs who happened to be going to an IC for a single stay - hence membership wasn't attractive, but with the warning that they may not be honoured. Somewhat to my suprise both were accepted without question.

This does not mean that it will always work this way, I'm sure that some will experience differently