Use points to maintain status buy back
 

Will Marriott have a buy back program with points?

Marriott elite buy back

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

Warning to newbies: Points from your account used to buy back status, are deducted from you lifetime total. IMO, a serious omission for linked Marriott webpage not to mention this.

Is there a minimum number of nights one must stay to qualify for this offer?

I was Plat in 2015 (earned in 2014).

Does it matter whether I stayed 1 night or 74 nights with regards to this buyback offer for 40,000 points?

Can Platinum status be 'bought back' year after year?

Don't think it matters and seems to be OK.

This offer is valid through April 1, 2016 and allows only one level of buyback, which must match the Elite level you enjoyed in 2015.

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

Buy back Platinum Status?
 

I have been Platinum for years but last year my husband was sick and we did not travel much so few hotel stays.
I have been "demoted" to GOLD, with the option of "buying back" my Platinum status for 40,000 points. I have over 600k points so I certainly can afford it.
Gold gives me what I value most -- lounge access and upgrades when available. I can live without the arrival gift.
I do value the Premier Silver Status on United but I fly so little domestically and if I fly internationally i get Business Class tickets using miles.
Is there any good reason to buy back the Platinum Status?

since you're getting the perks that are important to you - IMO, nope

Also consider; if you buy back, those points will be deducted from the total points you need for lifetime status.

I have more than 3 million points lifetime so using the 40K is not an issue
I need 41 nights for lifetime gold

I am thinking that if I move to Platinum and don't meet the threshold, the worst that can happen is that I get demoted to Gold again. If I stay Gold, and don't meet that threshold, I will be Silver (no lounge, no upgrade)

Personally, I'd focus on getting those 41 nights to secure lifetime gold and not worry about yearly platinum renewal.

I don't disagree. Where a Marriott fits my needs, I will stay there. But I am not a slave to the brand. If location is not good or property is not good, I go elsewhere. I already have many hotel reservations for 2016, many of them Marriotts, but in some places not. I should make it to lifetime Gold by end of 2017.

Thanks all for the advice.

It might be worth keeping Platinum to see what happens after the Starwood merger. Will benefits match current SPG Platinum or Marriott Platinum? Might be worth holding out until that question is answered.

I did not think of that. Good point.

I did not see this stipulation anywhere. Lifetime status is based on accrual not balance to the best of my knowledge I did not see my lifetime balance drop the last time I did this. Can you site your source as this will have impact on my decision if true? Thanks!

Just how close are you to the minimum number of lifetime points for lifetime Gold and how many points will you earn during those final 41 nights?