Officially Delta Wants to Keep Our Miles After We Die
Bad press and deservedly so. Below is a link to a NYT article today explaining what the airlines do with our miles after we die. I personally disagree with anything less than allowing the complete and free transfer of the miles to a beneficiary.
After all, while many people here traveled, it was their spouses and other family members who were alone while we were on the road. The least an airline can do is allow the surviving family members the benefit of those miles.
Just my opinion. And please note my use of the word "officially" in the thread title. You MIGHT be able to keep them with DL, but the "official" word was no.
I think many people don't inform the airline of the death and use the password they know to spend the reamining miles over time.
I agree and think that's the easiest way to handle the situation. My concern is that there are probably many fliers who do not inform their spouse, partner, etc. of their password. A lot of times, the surviving individuals have no idea what the password is, or how to book an award ticket, etc. I think it is a shame to put those folks through one more hassle after their loved one has died.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waltinsocal
I agree and think that's the easiest way to handle the situation. My concern is that there are probably many fliers who do not inform their spouse, partner, etc. of their password. A lot of times, the surviving individuals have no idea what the password is, or how to book an award ticket, etc. I think it is a shame to put those folks through one more hassle after their loved one has died.
OTOH, if there's a sudden split, you might be glad you had not shared the password. It requires trust, although I would hope that anyone with tons of miles would be educating someone else about using the miles well.
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I'm trying to imagine a scenario in which the value of ones frequent flyer miles is a significant percentage of ones estate.
It may not be a "significant" percentage of one's estate, but whatever percentage it is, is a percentage that I feel that I have earned. NO reason at all for DL, or any other airline to keep those miles.
Besides, the way some folks here accumulate miles; i.e. a million or so stored up, those miles could be used to fly people/relatives in for funerals if needed.
If not needed for funerals, I still see no need for any airline to be greedy and keep those miles. To keep them is one final slap in the face as far as I am concerned.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waltinsocal
Besides, the way some folks here accumulate miles; i.e. a million or so stored up, those miles could be used to fly people/relatives in for funerals if needed. .
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GRALISTAIR
10/10 and rightly so. I set up my familys accounts and they also know my password.
Even if they're not told the password, many family members can easily guess: pet's name, spouse's birthday, and other easy to guess passwords if you know anything about them (or can google it). Remember the password to Sarah Palin's email account during the last election.
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I think many people don't inform the airline of the death and use the password they know to spend the reamining miles over time.
An airline that would deprive a widow of the FF miles would probably also sue the widow for fraud and seek restitution if they found her doing this.
Low class not to allow the transfer.
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When my husband passed away I filled out a form, faxed it to Delta (I think I also faxed a copy of his death certificate) and the miles were transferred to my account within days. No hassles at all. I think I accessed the form from the website.
You are overreacting. There is a form you fill out and send with a death certificate. It states that clearly in the article. We all know employees don't know the rules.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geogirl1234
When my husband passed away I filled out a form, faxed it to Delta (I think I also faxed a copy of his death certificate) and the miles were transferred to my account within days. No hassles at all. I think I accessed the form from the website.
First, I'm sad to hear that you have lost your husband (it doesn't matter when) but yes, it's very easy to have milage transferred to a spouse/child/family member, and it is done quickly and at decidedly no cost to the recipient. It's stated on the website or any res agent can assist you.
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First, I'm sad to hear that you have lost your husband (it doesn't matter when) but yes, it's very easy to have milage transferred to a spouse/child/family member, and it is done quickly and at decidedly no cost to the recipient. It's stated on the website or any res agent can assist you.
Thank you. Of all the issues one must go through when one's spouse passes away, transferring miles was the easiest. It was recent and he was young. I have made good use of the transferred miles and was happy to get them. I have also reminded others in similar situations to not forget about their family members airline miles and hotel points because they definitely have value. And, in most cases, they were hard earned.
