Bequeath Your Frequent Flyer Miles
Corona estate planning attorney Joseph Hudack gets asked regularly about what happens to accumulated miles once you’re gone. They could be worth thousands of dollars, so you probably don’t want them to disappear, but some airline policies say that’s precisely what will happen.
The law doesn’t consider airline miles assets that can be bequeathed directly to heirs, but you can still take some steps to help ensure your miles live on. It all starts with examining the airline policies in question.
Airline Policies Regarding the Transfer of Frequent Flyer Miles
Some relevant policies include:
- American Airlines AAdvantage: “Neither accrued mileage, nor award tickets, nor status, nor upgrades are transferable by the member (i) upon death… However, in its sole discretion, American Airlines may credit accrued mileage to persons specifically identified in court-approved divorce decrees and wills upon receipt of documentation satisfactory to American Airlines and upon payment of any applicable fees.”
- Delta Airlines SkyMiles: “Except as specifically authorized in the Membership Guide and Program Rules or otherwise in writing by an officer of Delta, miles may not be . . . transferred under any circumstances, including . . . upon death. . . . “
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: “Points may not be transferred to a Member’s estate or as part of a settlement, inheritance, or will. In the event of a Member’s death, their account will become inactive after 24 months from the last earning date (unless the account is requested to be closed), and points will be unavailable for use.”
- United Airlines MileagePlus: “In the event of the death or divorce of a Member, United may, in its sole discretion, credit all or a portion of such Member’s accrued mileage to authorized persons upon receipt of documentation satisfactory to United and payment of applicable fees.”
As you can see, policy terms vary. Depending on your agent, they may vary even further. Airfarewatchdog.com has found differences between written policies and what customer service representatives told them over the phone. This discrepancy played out in the story of Kathe Holmes, who successfully claimed her late husband’s Alaska Airlines miles with minimal effort and no additional fees, even though that seemed to go against official policy.
How to Transfer Miles After Death
The main takeaway is that although airline policies may say they don’t allow mile transfers after death, employees often have the discretion to approve them. Still, there’s no sure way to know whether your airline will work with your loved ones regarding transferring your miles.
One way to better ensure your miles get transferred is to include a provision in your will that clarifies your wishes. This step is crucial if your airline requires a copy of a will as documentation, but it can be helpful.
Another option is to leave your account number, login, and password to the person you would like to be able to use your miles. Some airlines permit such transfers and usage of miles after the account holder’s death.
In either scenario, you should talk to your loved ones about your intentions so they know to pursue the issue in your absence. Also, suppose you’re trying to claim the miles of a deceased person. In that case, you should understand the airline’s policies before offering information about the account holder’s death, as the account could be canceled immediately, leaving you with no recourse.
Final Thought on Frequent Flyer Miles
Frequent flyer policies can change at the whim of the airlines even as you are living, so another idea to remember is to use the miles now and create experiences with your loved ones rather than plan to pass the miles on later. In doing so, you can be sure your miles aren’t lost; a bonus is that you can also share moments none of you will ever forget.
We’re Here to Help
If you have any concerns about frequent flyer miles, contact Hudack Law today at (877) 314-4309 Toll-free, please visit areas of service (open link in a new tab) or hudacklaw.com (open link in a new tab), and always be sure to include all your assets, even your airline miles accounts, when discussing wills, trusts, and estate plans with your attorney.