The Death of Airlines Points

Credit card and frequent flyer miles can add up to free trips around the globe. These valuable points can also disappear upon death. To whom should loyalty currency belong when the owner passes away?

Loyalty points or miles are NOT your property. Look at the fine print. For example, Delta’s mileage program states that “miles are not the property of any member.” While the points do not belong to you outright, you still have some control over their use while you are alive. In the case of your death, the points are subject to further rules that can be confusing.

In the case of illness or advanced age, the points holder might want to transfer their miles to a family member or partner. Not every awards program has generous rules allowing transfers. Upon the death of the account holder, a survivor might keep the points account open and book a flight to exhaust the account. Again, some airlines are restrictive on the use or transfer of points to anyone other than the mileage points owner.

Here are a few rules for some of the most used reward systems.

• American Express provides that “if you die, the executor or personal representative of your estate may be able to make a one-time points redemption.”
• American Airlines states that mileage credit is not transferable and may not be combined among AAdvantage members, their estates, successors, or assigns. However, American Airlines will permit exceptions.
• British Airways states in definitive terms that upon the death of an Executive club member, the Avios points of the deceased are wiped out.
• While Delta Airlines points never expire, they do disappear from your account upon death. However, Delta has been known to transfer those points upon an order of the Court.
• JetBlue permits a family pooling of points. However, their website also states that points “are nontransferable (i) upon death, (ii) as part of a domestic relations matter, or (iii) otherwise.”
• Southwest allows the transfer of points from the deceased’s Rapid Rewards account to a beneficiary. Providing a death certificate and will should suffice.
• Finally, United airlines does permit the transfer of miles upon death or divorce!

You might also have points in the Marriott, Hyatt, or Hilton rewards programs. Hotel rewards programs tend to be a bit more liberal about transferring points upon death although there are limitations.

These are the steps you should take to preserve your awards points. Amend your will with specific reference to airline and other loyalty award programs. Further, state a beneficiary for such awards. Second, share your identification number and password for your travel accounts with family or partners so that they can continue to access your account. A third suggestion is to create family plans or shared accounts for all your airline, credit card and hotel loyalty programs.

One final thought. Be mindful of airline and hotel points that expire. You do not have to die to lose them.