Didn’t Requalify for Marriott Bonvoy Status Next Year? An Updated Policy Has Your Back.

Marriott Bonvoy is once again offering its soft landing policy for elite status next year. If you do not achieve the requirements for elite status by the end of 2025 (for the 2026 status year), you’ll automatically be downgraded — though you’ll drop just 1 elite tier next year.

Marriott made this information publicly available last year and is doing so again this year. While the policy existed in previous years, it’s now available online to make things simple. Here’s what you should know.

What Is a Soft Landing?

In most cases, Marriott Bonvoy elite status requires you to earn a specific number of nights over a year. If you fail to earn the required amount of nights, you won’t earn that elite tier. In order to still capture your loyalty as a member, Marriott Bonvoy is allowing you to fall back only 1 rank if you don’t earn your same elite status again.

For example, if you’re currently a Marriott Titanium Elite member but fail to stay the 75 nights required for Titanium Elite, you’ll fall back 1 level to Platinum Elite. Until February 2027, you’ll enjoy the benefits of Platinum Elite and will have the opportunity to again earn the 75 nights required for Titanium Elite. Should you not earn enough nights for Platinum Elite (50), you’ll fall back 1 level to Gold Elite, and so on in ensuing years, until you no longer have status.

Here is how the soft landing will work for the 2026 membership year for those who fail to earn status in 2025:

• If you fail to earn Ambassador Elite, you’ll drop to Titanium Elite
• If you fail to earn Titanium Elite, you’ll drop to Platinum Elite
• If you fail to earn Platinum Elite, you’ll drop to Gold Elite
• If you fail to earn Gold Elite, you’ll drop to Silver Elite

Marriott Bonvoy does this so it can still retain some loyalty from you as a member, and the policy is finally spelled out in the Frequently Asked Questions section here. If the program simply dropped you to no status at all, you might consider moving your loyalty to another hotel chain entirely, so Marriott Bonvoy gives you the benefit of the doubt and offers you something if you’re willing to stay.

While this soft landing policy only impacts you if you don’t earn the requirements by the end of the year, there’s still plenty of time to complete more nights towards your next elite rank. You have more than 2 months left in the year, which should be plenty of time in most circumstances for you to keep up your chosen elite status level.

Final Thoughts

This soft landing policy is great for travelers who may not be able to stay enough nights this year to retain their current Marriott Bonvoy elite status levels. Rather than having no status next year, you’ll still be able to enjoy some benefits at the next tier below your current status level.