You are valuing those 40k points at 1.25 cents. Pretty high value for Marriott points.

The 5k earning versus plat bonus is meaningless data. You would get the additional accrual with 40k points or $500. Keep it simple. Always give your miles a $$$ value and that will lead you to the best decision.

has marriott consistently offered this buy back every year? I'm wondering if they will next year considering the SPG merger.

I'm asking because I've been status matched to Gold from SPG. Am considering doing the Road to Platinum challenge (Marriott has told me I'm eligible) for 9 stays...then hoping to be able to buy back the platinum yearly...as it's unlikely I'd ever be able to reach the 75 nights a year needed for requalification. anyone have input on this / in a similar situation?

Buying back status with points
 

Every now and again, I've had a slow year and slipped from Gold to Silver. Marriott routinely offered me the chance to buy back my Gold status via paying a certain amount of Marriott points to reclaim it. I'll be slipping from Platinum after the end of the year, and I'd be interested in buying it back next year in the same manner. Does anyone know if Marriott has offered this in the past? Would anyone know about how many points it's run?

I'm not sure if anyone knows if they'll offer it again this year. But you can find lots of discussions on it if you search on the term "buyback".

Perfect. I appreciate the tip.

http://www.marriott.com/marriott/elitebuyback.mi has the amount needed for 2016 status buyback:

Until April 1, 2016, you can retain your status at an exclusive rate:

• Buy back your Platinum status – only 40,000 points
• Buy back your Gold status – only 25,000 points
• Buy back your Silver status – only 7,500 points

Don't automatically assume you will lose Plat. If you are close, there's still a chance that Marriott might allow you to retain your status. I have friends who fell short of 50 nights but were allowed to retain Gold. But I don't know if they offer the same for Plats who fall a bit short of 75.

I appreciate the data point, but it was a slow year for travel. I have most of my nights from my Marriott credit cards. I'm only at 32 nights.

I called the Marriott Platinum Line today (I only stayed 22 nights, yes 22 nights, I had a few deaths in the family, stayed at a lot of homes for that reason) because I expect to get back at traveling a little more in 2017.

The main reason I want the Marriott Platinum is for the United Silver, as I’m 6 foot 6 inches, and have fallen in love with the free Economy Plus, and the Premier Access and Priority phone line over there has helped me a lot.

Anyway, I called, and the guy seemed to be new or un-educated about the buy-back, and quoted me a price of 60,000 points for Platinum, but says that it’s because the early redemption promo rate of 40,000 pts ended on April 1st. He did say that it might go back to 40,000 in January, but if they don’t renew the promotion, I might run the risk of having no UA Status and pointless Marriott Silver.

I didn’t pay the 60,000 points, mainly because I didn’t have that many points in my Marriott Bank at the time (but I could through RewardsPlus transfer if I want to).

Any thoughts on what I should do? When does Marriott typically announce the buy-back rates?

I was just a few nights short from re-qualifying. My YTD nights counter online has not reset yet. I thought it reset on 1/1. Is there a way to determine if they gave it to me for being close?

I do not see the option to buy it back but that could be because 1) hopefully they gave it to me so it is not needed or 2) it was because I got it initially through linking to SPG which doesn't qualify for buyback.

I received a postcard in the mail this past week telling me I'm dropping to MR Gold status and offering me the 40,000 point buyback to Platinum.

40k is a steep price to pay for an upgrade from Gold to Plat. The difference in on-property benefits between the two levels is small. I stay primarily at limited service properties, anyway, so room upgrades don't mean a heck of a lot and elite breakfast and lounge benefits are irrelevant.

That leaves the higher earnings bonus of Plat as the main benefit. With an extra 25% I'd have to accumulate 160k base points just to break even. And I'd have to earn those points before re-earning Plat on nights. The math only begins to work out with an average nightly rate well over $400. Absurd.

Then there's the issue of the 40k points being deducted from the LT count. Fuggedaboudit!

Keep in mind that SPG gold = nothing, and SPG platinum = one of the best top tier status. For 40k marriott points I think its very cheap

I am considering the buyback to Platinum namely for the SPG Status.

When does the current status expire, it is 2/27 right?

Has anyone else had their BuyBack confirmed this year? I applied on Mar 1 but have had no response. In previous years the BuyBack has been approved the same day.

I called the 800 number the other day to buy back Gold. After giving my name, address and membership #, I was confirmed Gold until 2018. The whole process took about 2 minutes and was super easy.