2014 Status Buyback is back!
 

Yay !

https://www.marriott.com/marriott/elitebuyback.mi

If this was valid farther out I'd be tempted. 25K points for Gold... I had some great experiences in HKG. But that's a fair # of points...

Yes it's a decent amount of points but Im spending 3 weeks in the USA this April so will make my vacation extra special with this extension of gold.
:p

I was just about to ask if this program was running this year. I've certainly got the points and will be spending a bunch of nights at Marriott resorts this year so buying back Gold would be worth it for me.

Silver isn't worth 7500 pts as it's really only 20% more points which you get to after 10 nights anyway, so to recover the 7500 points you'd need to spend $3750, that's $375 per night on each and every night!

Gold is the exact opposite, if you're staying over 10 nights at FS on own dime the free breakfast benefit alone makes Gold buyback worth it, and that's without taking into account the guaranteed lounge access or the upgrades.

Plat depends on stay pattern and spend since 40,000 points is a lot to recover back at 500pts welcome amenity and an extra 2.5points per $, which are the main extras at Plat level. Taking 2 examples, each at an average cost of $100 night the following emerges:

A) 40 nights over 20 stays earns 10,000 pts from the arrival bonus and another 10,000 plat points, making 20,000 points.

B) 60 nights over 50 stays earns 25,000 pts from the arrival bonus and another 15,000 plat points, making 40,000 points thus recouping the cost.

Trying to decide- if my company were still having me fly United it would be a no brainer to keep platinum - but I am now forced to use American. Will I get a soft landing to gold if I don't buy back my staus?

Just did this. Its worth it for me this year because I've got several FS Marriott stays in the works.

Marriott has for many years had an unannounced soft landing policy.

In 2012 as a Plat I only managed 30 nights but in February 2013 was busted down to Gold, so the soft landing certainly worked for me.

I can't see any reason why this policy won't continue, but if you're busted down to silver later this month you can always buy back later, up to end March...

May I ask why you did this already now? Isn't Platinum status valid until end of February? But maybe you had so few nights you were sure they would downgrade you or something?

I think I will do this as well IF they downgrade me. Still shows Platinum but I was about 10 nights short last year so will probably not be after Feb.

I'd certainly wait at 10 nights short, Marriott have comped Plat when members fall short. Very long term Plats have been renewed despite falling short by 40/50 nights. Reading earlier posts it seems that Marriott do commonly comp the status when only 4 or 5 nights short, but 10 is quite an ask. Whether you get comped the status at 10 nights short I think will depend on your length of Plat status, spending and past loyalty...

Well, I'm Gold not Platinum. But that aside, I only had ~30 nights so I'm doubting that I would have been given Gold again.

Unfortunately, it's at Marriott resorts that status is worth the least (among full service properties).

I'm certainly a fan of the platinum buy back option. Sure the options in terms of extra benefits was limited at the Resort properties but the upgrades still seem to work well.

Stayed in Curacao at the Marriott Beach Resort for 8 nights and was upgraded from the cheapest room I booked to a beachfront room. Also, as of November they were still offering the old check in amenities which was a pleasant surprise.

Correct, I should have said FS Marriott's not resorts.

i have been comped back up to Platinum for the past two years, despite being at least 15-20 nights short each year.. prior to that, i had only been Plat for 3 or 4 yrs, so not long term.. i have a feeling the gravy train might end this year though, so i'll probably do the buyback.