Leeway on Requalifying for Status
 

Does anyone have experience with MR granting leeway on requalifying for status? Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was off from work for the first 5 and a half months. With this absence of tavel, I am doubting my ability to requalify as Platinum despite logging a ton of nights after getting back.

Is there someone I might contact to try for an abbreviated requal based upon my circumstances?

Call 'em up and explain the situation. I lost my status completely last year because in 2006 I had only a few Marriott nights. I'd been platinum for the previous years and really felt the pain when I started traveling again in 2007. I was offered some sort of "gold challenge" whereby I had to complete 25 nights in three months (or something like that). I suggested a "platinum challenge" where I do all twenty five nights in one month. I forget the deal we finally worked out, but within two months I was back to platinum (and have already hit 75 nights for 2008). The moral of the story: if you're a customer in good standing, they'll work with you.

I second the recommendation to call them and explain your situation. While I haven't been in your particular situation, I have scene Marriott exercise discretion on elite level requalification when I was off by a few nights. Marriott appears to have human beings who are empowered with reasonable discretion making decisions. Please let us know how you make out.

--Jon