If you are one RT away from regaining elite status, they have some very nice people in the marketing department and (especially this year) will probably work with you if asked. They usually give some grace anyway.
If you are one RT away from achieving elite status, then they are not usually as giving.
If this is one of the fly XX times to gain elite status (as oposed to hitting the appropriate level of miles) then I would think it would be no dice.
But there is no way they will give you status miles for a flight you didn't take.