I have more than met the threshold for Gold in terms of points -- I have more than 3 million. I just need those 41 stays. I have about 20 scheduled.

I just bought back my Platinum status -- nothing to lose I have so many points.

Here is what I learned from the rep (some of you may know these things)
Just by having the credit card I get 15 nights towards stays -- those will post for me in May -- so I am only 26 nights away from Lifetime Gold
For every $3000 I spend on the credit card I get 1 night. I tend to only use the card at Marriotts but I may rethink that.
As of last November, nights booked with points counts as stays toward status.
The 40K points I deducted to buy back my Platinum Status do indeed get deducted from my lifetime points (it does not matter to me but may to others).

Thanks for all the good input.

I think it's also a safe bet (but by no means guaranteed), that lifetime SPG nights will be added to your lifetime Marriott count upon combination of the two programs.

I probably have 10 SPG nights -- will help a little -- thanks

It is getting more interesting

I wrote to SPG and I have 227 lifetime nights (I have no recollection of many of those stays). If I remain Gold Elite for two more years (a status I get from AMEX Platinum) I will be Lifetime Gold.
Kind of insane -- so easy to be Lifetime Gold on Starwood without even staying at their properties. You have to work hard for similar status at Marriott.

So once your lifetime SPG nights are added you'll be in shot of lifetime Plat on Marriott!

PS not doubting you on what SPG told you, but you can double check on your SPG account online (Account Overview under Manage My Account).

Info is not on the SPG site -- I tried

Here is email I received:

Thank you for contacting Starwood Preferred Guest Gold. It is always a pleasure to hear from our elite. I welcome the opportunity to assist you today.
I am pleased to inform you, you currently only need two more years of Elite Gold status to become a Lifetime Gold member.
I do not believe there is an option to view Lifetime nights online however you may always reach out to us at any time and we will be more than happy to look into that for you. Your account is currently at 227 Lifetime nights.


Do any of you know for sure that SPG and Marriott nights would be combined? That would be incredible. I would be lifetime Platinum in no time.

An easy way to get those 41 nights would be to get the MR credit card. You get 15 nights per year plus one night for every $3,000 you spend.

I have the card --

I've never used the "buy back" status option but am considering it this year (primarily for United Silver). I didn't re-qualify for Plat (or even Gold) but appear to have been soft-landed to Gold based on mail from MR.

1) If I bought back Platinum through 2016 and failed to re-qualify for either Platinum or Gold again, would I be able to buy back Platinum again for 2017 (a consideration if MR-UA Rewards Plus continues to give UA Silver for MR Plat)?

2) Based on past experiences, if I bought back Platinum through 2016 and failed to re-qualify for either Platinum or Gold again, would I be soft-landed to Gold through 2017?

3) And, if I soft-landed to Gold, am I likely to be able to buy-back Gold the next year (e.g., 2018)?

Essentially, could (1) I keep re-buy-back Platinum each year and (2) when I stop buying-back Platinum, be soft-landed to Gold the next year and (3) when soft-landed to Gold, would I have the option to buy-back to Gold the next year?

Good strategy

I too have been kept at Platinum when I was close and reduced to Gold when I was nowhere near close.

I upgraded. I hope to be Lifetime Gold before the year is out.

No buyback required?
 

For the past couple of years I've bought back my Gold status. I've been close to Gold night requirements, but not quite made it.

This year I see this message on my account - which I don't remember seeing before.

"Congratulations! Your Gold Elite status has been renewed."

Does this mean, I am good to go for 2016? :cool:

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Yes
Sometimes you get renewed even if you don't meet the threshold. I assume they look at your history and future reservations and hope to motivate you to remain loyal

So I finally got around to calling Marriott and it was confirmed by the person I spoke with that the points used to buy back status are deducted from your current balance as well as your lifetime balance. Her words were, "It is treated as if you never earned those points." Just an FYI for those who weren't aware.

For me, I could buy 40,000K points to keep my status for $500. If I were to spend that same $500 points at a hotel it would yield 5,000 points. For the same $500 to maintain Plat status I will more than earn that potential 5,000 points in the 50% platinum bonus I would earn over the year. Plus, by buying the points I don't go backwards at all towards my lifetime platinum status pursuit. I'm currently 70 nights and 210,000 points away from qualification.