Right now as a Gold I booked a 5 night Standard Award Stay for April, 2009 at the Rome Grand Flora.

Come next April, if I drop to Silver, I assume that my new Silver Status will rule and I'll have no chance of any upgrade or other bennies, correct?

How about, if the award (standard point stay or European Hopper) is actually supported/redeemed by another Gold or Platinum member and then gifted to me, a lowly Silver?

In other words, will the Gold or Platinum perks run with the award thereby trumping my new found lowly Silver status?

fwiw, yes I know the Euro Sampler is only available through 2008 but can be used in 2009.

Thanks