Thanks very much. Makes sense. Just good to know that the points (380k in this example) are all that's needed and I don't have some extra stuff to deal with. (i.e., that the poster that said it required 580k points is incorrect and that it's the base 180k Cat9 5night points plus 200k points).

Actually, this begs a different but related question. I guess it sounds like an "upgrade" certificate is 5k points. Outside of this scenario where I'm booking with points upgrades, I've never encountered the ability to use points for upgrades "on the spot" as you might in some cases with flights. Is that even a possibility at hotels? Can you at check in say that you're willing to give them points if I can get an upgrade? Is it possible to have "confirmed points upgrades" (other than when at initial booking like in the original example) by calling a hotel or something? Just wondering if that's something that people do at all or that certain hotels allow.

Again, thanks for clarifying my original question.