Anyone bought back status this year and seen a decrease in Lifetime points?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: UK
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, BA Silver, FB Explorer
Posts: 995
Anyone bought back status this year and seen a decrease in Lifetime points?
Just wanted to see if it was correct that my Lifetime MR points decreased by 40000 when I bought back Platinum. Anyone else can check their buyback and Lifetime MR points to see if they decreased for you too?
I queried it by email with MR as this wasn't stated in the offer that Lifetime points would decrease and got this response...."The balance of points transferred to other Marriott Rewards accounts are no longer on the source account and do not count toward Lifetime Elite status. Points deducted for any Elite Buyback purchase also do not count toward Lifetime Elite status, so if you select to buy your status back then the points used will be deducted from the Lifetime points balance. "
I don't get that as I thought it would work the same as a stay redemption certificate which doesn't decrease your Lifetime MR points.
I queried it by email with MR as this wasn't stated in the offer that Lifetime points would decrease and got this response...."The balance of points transferred to other Marriott Rewards accounts are no longer on the source account and do not count toward Lifetime Elite status. Points deducted for any Elite Buyback purchase also do not count toward Lifetime Elite status, so if you select to buy your status back then the points used will be deducted from the Lifetime points balance. "
I don't get that as I thought it would work the same as a stay redemption certificate which doesn't decrease your Lifetime MR points.
#2
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: MAN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Spire, UA Silver, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 1,457
Although I've never bought back status, I remember reading somewhere that buyback points were deducted not only from your account but from lifetime totals too. Now there's the lifetime points calculator on the website, I guess we can verify that, and it seems you do.
#3
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: MR/SPG Plat, HH Gold, DL PM
Posts: 413
I was told by customer service via phone sometime last year that buybacks would reduce the lifetime balance, and for that reason, I would never do it.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: LAX,SNA,SAN
Programs: UA GS, Marriott LP, Hertz Gold
Posts: 861
Who would purchase Platinum status? Why? How many months will it take you to get Plat status back the traditional way?
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,007
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: UK
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, BA Silver, FB Explorer
Posts: 995
I won't get it the traditional way this year due to working patterns. But I have a few stays booked at hotels this year where they give free parking to Platinums but not Golds. The monetary equivalent cost of buying Platinum works out close to what my parking bill would be if I was Gold.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: TKU
Programs: some
Posts: 160
I saw the deduction from the lifetime balance as well - had not seen that in the offer anywhere :-/
#8
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: MAN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Spire, UA Silver, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 1,457
A regular 1 night guest at FS paying $150/night would recoup the points via the 500pt arrival gift and the extra 2.5pts per $ over Gold within 44 nights. So I'd imagine any busted Plat who expects that kind of stay pattern this year!
#9
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
Hmmm. So I was correct when I posted that Plat buyback would probably be deducted from LT totals?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...l#post24091356
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...l#post24091356
#10
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
Does anyone know of any other activity that lowers the lifetime points total?
Specifically, I am considering a nights and flights redemption, but don't want to do it if it will lower lifetime points.
Specifically, I am considering a nights and flights redemption, but don't want to do it if it will lower lifetime points.
#11
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; IHG Plat; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 11,721
#12
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SDQ/MIA
Programs: AA PLT, B6 Mosaic, Marriott Platinum, FPC/Accor Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,062
I can confirm that they are deducting both renewals and transfers from lifetime points totals... WITHOUT ever having disclosed it. The current LT page says nothing about it, the T&C say nothing about it.
Arguing with them now as I 'was' within 20 nights and 50k points of LT Gold and discovered they have dinged me for three quarters of a million points on that total.
It's fine if I chose to do it knowing the rules, but not disclosing it and then smacking me back after YEARS of working at it (and even spending $$ to buy points) is simply unethical.
Arguing with them now as I 'was' within 20 nights and 50k points of LT Gold and discovered they have dinged me for three quarters of a million points on that total.
It's fine if I chose to do it knowing the rules, but not disclosing it and then smacking me back after YEARS of working at it (and even spending $$ to buy points) is simply unethical.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
I can confirm that they are deducting both renewals and transfers from lifetime points totals... WITHOUT ever having disclosed it. The current LT page says nothing about it, the T&C say nothing about it.
Arguing with them now as I 'was' within 20 nights and 50k points of LT Gold and discovered they have dinged me for three quarters of a million points on that total.
It's fine if I chose to do it knowing the rules, but not disclosing it and then smacking me back after YEARS of working at it (and even spending $$ to buy points) is simply unethical.
Arguing with them now as I 'was' within 20 nights and 50k points of LT Gold and discovered they have dinged me for three quarters of a million points on that total.
It's fine if I chose to do it knowing the rules, but not disclosing it and then smacking me back after YEARS of working at it (and even spending $$ to buy points) is simply unethical.
Let us know what the final result is.
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,334
I can confirm that they are deducting both renewals and transfers from lifetime points totals... WITHOUT ever having disclosed it. The current LT page says nothing about it, the T&C say nothing about it.
Arguing with them now as I 'was' within 20 nights and 50k points of LT Gold and discovered they have dinged me for three quarters of a million points on that total.
It's fine if I chose to do it knowing the rules, but not disclosing it and then smacking me back after YEARS of working at it (and even spending $$ to buy points) is simply unethical.
Arguing with them now as I 'was' within 20 nights and 50k points of LT Gold and discovered they have dinged me for three quarters of a million points on that total.
It's fine if I chose to do it knowing the rules, but not disclosing it and then smacking me back after YEARS of working at it (and even spending $$ to buy points) is simply unethical.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
pjoalfa also included transfers in the deducted points. I'm waiting to find out which kinds (in? out? from/to other MR accounts or airline, etc. accounts?)