Right now, with only TownPlace, Courtyards, Residence Inns, and Fairfield Inns on my Marriott menu for 2014 I think that I’ll save the points, take a hit to my self-esteem, and limp along as a gold.

That's fine, but in that case, you may want to update your FT Profile:

Ouch, harsh.

But I don't think that I'm a liar until March 1st.

2014 Status Buyback is back!
 

I'm wondering about the soft landings this year. If they were planning that, then 40K for Plat is way overpriced. If there's no soft landing then 40K to save me from Silver would be worth it.

The conditions state you can buy back only your current status. If you're currently Platinum, you cannot buy into Gold status.

I had ~30 nights last year. If there are no soft landings then I will end up with Silver. Would that mean I would have 20 roll over nights even though I has previously been Platinum? And if I did buy back to Platinum, would I lose the 20 roll over nights? I'm assuming a soft landing to Gold would mean no roll over nights, which is a reasonable outcome.

I was where you were last year at this time, having done ~30 nights in 2012. I was busted to gold in late February. The soft landing policy, whilst unwritten seems to have existed during my entire membership of FT. no reason to believe it will change this year.

Rollovers are only those nights surplus to your status at year end. You were a plat on 31st December so only nights in excess of 75 will roll over...

I am figuring since the offer to buy back is until April 1, I will have time to see if I got a gold landing or not.

Agreed.

I did not hit 50 nights last year, but my account is still showing Gold. I also noticed that nearly all of my credited nights from last year disappeared about 1-2 weeks ago. My account now shows only 1 night (49 nights needed to renew level). That one remaining night is listed under "Rewards Credit Card," so it may to be a night from using my Marriott credit card (charging $3000 on the card).

Does this mean that Marriott has already looked at my account and will allow me to keep Gold status this year? When can you assume that you are home free and will be keeping your status?

If you still have your Gold status on March 1, then you're safe.

Here's another question. Let's say you did the Plat buyback for 40K points. You'd be Plat for year 1. In year 2, what's the likelihood that Marriott would grant a "soft landing" to Gold if you failed to requalify? If they did, a Plat buyback would net you 2 years of status. the first as Plat and the second as Gold.

great question, i was wondering the same thing myself.

My account shows Platinum despite of being 15nights short. Has the clock not been reset yet or did I get lucky?

We'll see ... I have been plat for 8 years (last year as a comp), but last year shifted mostly to *wood so I would typically get busted down to silver without soft landing. If they put me to Gold that will be nice, but I'm not holding my breath.

FWIW this offer presumes you will buy back to your original status, from one level below. So if I go from Plat to Silver, technically I would not be able to buy up to gold. Another one which will be worth exploring if it comes to pass.

Turns out I will have a few stays in the UK outside London, so some sort of meaningful status would come in handy. We shall see ...

Well, if you're eligible to get a credit card from Chase, the Marriott Premier VISA (the black card) comes with 15 nights' credit every year, which puts you over Silver automatically.

I can't imagine anyone in the US (with a decent credit score) "buying" Silver.

Renewed Platinum status falling short by 65 elite nights
 

Today, I received my renewed platinum card though falling short by appr. 65 mights (only had 10 nights in 2013). Have been Marriott Platinum for 2-3 years so renewal not due to long loyalty. THANK YOU MARRIOTT!!!

My account is showing Platinum too (didn't hit 75 nights last yr). Did I get a renewed or this is my status from last year?