Sep 30, 2015, 12:14 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
What happens to AAdvantage miles in case of death (or divorce)?
AA states they actually own the miles and they are not transferable other than paid means offered by their affiliates. However, as provided by the AAdvantage Terms and Conditions, AA miles can in fact be transferred through a will or in divorce proceedings, with the consent of American Airlines. Specific forms (including an affidavit) must be filled out, and copies of death certificate, decree etc. must be provided with filled out forms. For necessary forms, contact AAdvantage Customer Service (link), Open weekdays 7-7 Central time) for further assistance and forms.
Members have previously posted they have successfully moved miles from the account of a decedent to that of a designated heir. Others have posted about divorce decrees specifying miles transfers as part of a settlement.
The moderator can verify the definitive post in this thread is from the archive:
See Posts #41 and #68.
From a NY Times article, courtesy of BOSOGG:
Airlines That Allow Transfers (after death)
AMERICAN
Kudos to American for having a clear, consistent policy: AAdvantage miles can be transferred out of a deceased member’s account to a beneficiary’s AAdvantage account. In April, American even dropped the $50 fee it used to charge for some transfers. On request, the airline will send a packet with an affidavit the beneficiary should fill out, indicating whose account should receive the miles; it should be signed by the surviving spouse, the sole heir or the executor of the estate. A copy of the death certificate must also be submitted (but doesn’t have to be certified, which is also the case with most airlines). Michael Maldonado, an American spokesman, said transfer requests are processed within seven business days.
Older and obsolete posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AA miles: Can transfer due to death or divorce? (consolidated)
AA states they actually own the miles and they are not transferable other than paid means offered by their affiliates. However, as provided by the AAdvantage Terms and Conditions, AA miles can in fact be transferred through a will or in divorce proceedings, with the consent of American Airlines. Specific forms (including an affidavit) must be filled out, and copies of death certificate, decree etc. must be provided with filled out forms. For necessary forms, contact AAdvantage Customer Service (link), Open weekdays 7-7 Central time) for further assistance and forms.
Earning AAdvantage miles
...Except as otherwise explained below, mileage credit is not transferable and may not be combined among AAdvantage members, their estates, successors or assigns. Accrued mileage credit and award tickets do not constitute property of the member. Neither accrued mileage, nor award tickets, nor status, nor upgrades are transferable by the member (i) upon death, (ii) as part of a domestic relations matter, or (iii) otherwise by operation of law. However, American Airlines, in its sole discretion, 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. (Link).
Note: AA no longer charges for this.
...Except as otherwise explained below, mileage credit is not transferable and may not be combined among AAdvantage members, their estates, successors or assigns. Accrued mileage credit and award tickets do not constitute property of the member. Neither accrued mileage, nor award tickets, nor status, nor upgrades are transferable by the member (i) upon death, (ii) as part of a domestic relations matter, or (iii) otherwise by operation of law. However, American Airlines, in its sole discretion, 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. (Link).
Note: AA no longer charges for this.
The moderator can verify the definitive post in this thread is from the archive:
...You have been given all of the correct information. Your first call to customer service will provide that the affidavit and instructions be sent to you, aong (sic) with a return envelope. Complete the affidavit, provide a DC (death certificate) the fee, mail and the miles will be transferred in short time.
Note: no fee is charged.
Note: no fee is charged.
From a NY Times article, courtesy of BOSOGG:
Airlines That Allow Transfers (after death)
AMERICAN
Kudos to American for having a clear, consistent policy: AAdvantage miles can be transferred out of a deceased member’s account to a beneficiary’s AAdvantage account. In April, American even dropped the $50 fee it used to charge for some transfers. On request, the airline will send a packet with an affidavit the beneficiary should fill out, indicating whose account should receive the miles; it should be signed by the surviving spouse, the sole heir or the executor of the estate. A copy of the death certificate must also be submitted (but doesn’t have to be certified, which is also the case with most airlines). Michael Maldonado, an American spokesman, said transfer requests are processed within seven business days.
AA policy: One can inherit / transfer miles due to death or divorce (master thread)
Mar 21, 2021, 12:43 pm
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
OK - some gory details on how to go about it (thanks to JDiver.
1. Call the AAdvantage customer service line - 800-888-8880.
2. You will be connected to a voice who wants to help you with reservations. Pay no attention to that man.
3. Every time he asks a question, respond with "Agent".
4. After a couple of these, he gets the idea and transfers you to a live human.
In my case, it was a very pleasant and helpful young lady. Have all your info at hand - AA account numbers, SS numbers, birth dates, email addresses, etc.
They will send you an email with some instructions and a form they tell you to print out and fill in. I just copied the form to Word, and then I could type in all the information needed (avoiding any errors due to my sloppy hand writing). Printed it out and signed it, and then sent it off (along with a copy of the death certificate) as attachments to the reply to that email.
Got a response acknowledging receipt very shortly and that was it.
They tell you it will take 7-10 days, but I'm not in that big of a hurry.
1. Call the AAdvantage customer service line - 800-888-8880.
2. You will be connected to a voice who wants to help you with reservations. Pay no attention to that man.
3. Every time he asks a question, respond with "Agent".
4. After a couple of these, he gets the idea and transfers you to a live human.
In my case, it was a very pleasant and helpful young lady. Have all your info at hand - AA account numbers, SS numbers, birth dates, email addresses, etc.
They will send you an email with some instructions and a form they tell you to print out and fill in. I just copied the form to Word, and then I could type in all the information needed (avoiding any errors due to my sloppy hand writing). Printed it out and signed it, and then sent it off (along with a copy of the death certificate) as attachments to the reply to that email.
Got a response acknowledging receipt very shortly and that was it.
They tell you it will take 7-10 days, but I'm not in that big of a hurry.
Mar 21, 2021, 2:36 pm
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
Just to point out, wills have no bearing on airline FF accounts. (At least US based airlines) As you don't own the account a will has no bearing. Some airlines are more willing to follow the request, but none are required to.
Aug 21, 2021, 4:32 pm
#94
Join Date: May 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT Plat, Bonvoy LTTit
Posts: 295
Just a data point about points after death
My grandmother recently died, I contacted AA, who asked me to send them an affidavit and death certificate, both via email, about a week later they transferred the points to me.
Aug 21, 2021, 4:38 pm
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Aug 22, 2021, 12:17 am
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
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Posts: 15,058
UA has similar policies on transfer of miles upon death, as I found out upon the death of my younger 25½-year-old son in early 2020.
For some reason, DL is the odd airline out in not doing so. So I am keeping a checking account and AmEx card in his name open, to facilitate the eventual redemption of his miles by a family member.
For some reason, DL is the odd airline out in not doing so. So I am keeping a checking account and AmEx card in his name open, to facilitate the eventual redemption of his miles by a family member.
Aug 22, 2021, 12:35 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Redondo Beach, Ca
Posts: 30,777
I am not planning on checking out any time soon but I want to make it as easy as possible for my heirs. Is there anything that I can do now and have on record in case I get hit by a bus? My estate won't be complicated as I only have a couple of living relatives but it would be one less thing for anyone to worry about if I could take care things in advance.
Jan 17, 2022, 3:42 pm
#98
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Time limit?
Is there a time limit following an AAdvantage account holder's death to request transfer of miles? For example, if the executor of an estate continues to pay bills on behalf of the estate, charging bills to the decedent's AAdvantage credit card, is there a time limit following death after which AA won't transfer the miles?
Jan 17, 2022, 4:07 pm
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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Is there a time limit following an AAdvantage account holder's death to request transfer of miles? For example, if the executor of an estate continues to pay bills on behalf of the estate, charging bills to the decedent's AAdvantage credit card, is there a time limit following death after which AA won't transfer the miles?
How can you legally charge things to a dead person's credit card?
The contract is between them and the credit card company. Upon death that contract ends.
Jan 17, 2022, 4:14 pm
#100
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Bills are coming in and need to be paid. Doesn't seem right to use the executor's personal card when the decedent's card is still open (and some auto-pay charges are hitting it anyway). It'll take a while to transition various things.
Jan 17, 2022, 4:38 pm
#101
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,551
In theory the estate is a separate entity. One of the first things to do is to open a bank account titled "Estate Of John Doe." You can write checks or pay bills from that account to pay expenses of the estate. So you could use your own credit card and pay yourself, assuming either that (a) you have valid documentation or (b) nobody involved is going to make a fuss.
IANAL but I'm pretty sure that no one can incur debts in the name of a dead person. Dead person's estate yes, personally no.
Jan 17, 2022, 4:45 pm
#102
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
At any rate, all of this is besides the point. Does AA have a time limit?
Jan 17, 2022, 10:36 pm
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
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it's not legal, but feel free to do what you want.
It is the executors legal responsibility to notify the creditors of the death of their debtor
Credit cards are not valid after the death
It is the executors legal responsibility to notify the creditors of the death of their debtor
Credit cards are not valid after the death
Last edited by mvoight; Jan 17, 2022 at 10:41 pm
Jan 18, 2022, 10:08 am
#104
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
However, all of this is a side issue to the question: Is there a time limit following an AAdvantage account holder's death to request transfer of miles?
Aug 15, 2023, 8:20 am
#105
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: a little here, a little there
Posts: 1,443
Recent experience with inheriting miles?
Anyone dealt with AA lately?
Have a parent with 500k+ miles, ideally would like to split (unequally but will agreement) among 4 children AA accounts. Will does not specifically call out Mileage account but trust covers "all assets".
We could log into account and redeem miles like nothing has happened, but run into issues with how to pay taxes. (Name on credit card matching?)
Have a parent with 500k+ miles, ideally would like to split (unequally but will agreement) among 4 children AA accounts. Will does not specifically call out Mileage account but trust covers "all assets".
We could log into account and redeem miles like nothing has happened, but run into issues with how to pay taxes. (Name on credit card matching?)