A bit morbid.......but,
 

Does any body have any experience, (if that is the right way of saying it), in respect of transferring miles/points over to our dearly beloved ones in the event of death ? Can it be done easily? Are some programs more amenable than others? It seems such a shame to let a million miles go to waste. I see that BA, (UK), are going to introduce a family 'pooling' scheme for a one off fee of £25, which in the event of the death of the main holder, the 'family' can elect to nominate a replacement member and have miles transferred over. Thanks, and apologies for any upset caused.

We have made a few discussions on this in the past. I cannot recall the link, but maybe you might want to ask your attorney about this.

I have e-mailed my attorney asking him this to see if there's a law on it. I'm concerned too since I want to do the same.

English law may be different from American law on this. Again, consult your counsel on this.

If I find out something I'll post.



[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 09-14-2000).]

Mike -

Unfortunately, my mother passed away last year with a material number of UA miles. We've not actually taken the time to deal with it yet (not real high on the list of priorities within the estate process) but UA has told us that we simply have to send a copy of the death certificate and they will automatically transfer to the surviving spouse.

I don't know what would happen if there were no surviving spouse (did not come up).
For us, it was not addressed as part of the probate process, but rather as a process within Mileage Plus. A quick search of the LEXIS database showed no cases popping up related to Probate and "frequent flyer miles." That doesn't mean it hasn't been addressed, just that it doesn't come up easily on the electronic databases. (I don't practice that kind of law, so I don't know). If it were a contested matter, I don't know what would happen.

I would just call the airline to ask their policy. UA was very helpful and reasonable.

My sympathies if you're dealing with this issue now.

Greg

[This message has been edited by greg99 (edited 09-14-2000).]

You may want to search the back issues of Inside Flyer who had an excellent article on this topic, although I think that the article had researched mainly issues related to the US programs. The back issues are also available online at the Inside Flyer web site.

When my father passed away I tried to transfer his TWA miles to my mothers account. They refused saying there were no provisions within their FFB policies allowing this.

TW

Every program has its own rules in this regard. Same goes for miles in divorce cases and bankruptcy, though in the latter case most programs close the account!

Rudi posted 08-06-1998 10:51 AM http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/000070.html

Mike-
No apologies are in order. You brought up a needful matter most delicately. :-) I personally don't have any advice to offer, but just wanted to compliment you on your choice of words. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
-levi

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Travel is a powerful antidote to contemporary American arrogance.

In the event of separation or divorce, it would probably be wise to password protect your account before you discuss the separation with your SO. Randy has some very interesting stories to tell about folks who forgot to do so.

If an account is not password protected, (which can be accomplished by calling the MP office) anyone with the right answers, can call UAL and get free tickets for, or upgrade, anyone.

A slippery sib could easily go in and wipe out a deceased parent's account without the other sibs even knowing. Sadly, I have seen some truly selfish behavior during the probate process, so something like that would not surprise me. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Sorry, I didn't mean to be parochial in referring only to UAL. UAL and AS have pretty much the same policies and they just happen to be the only programs I more or less understand.

I've just arrived back home and just wanted to say, thanks, to the responses so far posted, especially as I only posted 2/3 hrs back. I will certainly follow up the suggestions made. I do appreciate that this topic has been covered before but as a relative newcomer, I'm still finding my way around ! All I need do now is to fathom out the search routines ! Cheers one and all.

The Inside Flyer article is a good resource to dealing with the issue.

Here's my question (I may save it for Randy's live Q&A next wk: What if you don't ahvea spouse and want to leave the miles to a friend?)

What I did do is give my lawyer a copy of all my airline/hotel/Membership rewards and Diner's Club accounts and teh passwords. I trust him. He's not my lawyer; he's my friend and steak and wine buddy.

Hopefully he won't have to do anything with this for a very very long time! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

that's a very good tip Catman (I hope your lawyer doesn't travel often in the same car with you ...) - and I hope Gisela will not forget how to get all the info's from my Palm.

Is one of the requirements of your bequest, Catman, to take Yaz and Eddie to any specific destination: Catalina, Cathay...?

I have always kept a set of redemption forms filled out, just in case, with names and destinations filled out for friends. It goes with the list of who gets which bottles of First Growth Bordeau and Single Malts from my cellar.

Verging into the realm of black humour: should any of us perish in an air crash (clutching our glass of wine or single malt in an upgraded First Class seat) should we request our lawyers to sue for bonus points for the disrupted journey?

For airlines that won't transfer the miles to a spouse, just don't tell them that your spouse is deceased. I'm sure they never check death records, if you have all the appropriate info you can just have a friend call in when you need an award and have one issued in your name.

I haven't seen a post, that anyone but the spouse has gotten the miles. I can add this: When my father passed away Delta transferred his miles to my account. Have no idea if this is policy. I asked, they did it. Be aware this was in 1989 back when Delta was a proud airline known for (no laughing please...) service.

Typically, the airlines will transfer the account balance of a deceased spouse to the account of the remaining legal spouse, with the verification of a death certificate.

If the miles are to transfer to a child, the child requesting the transfer must prove that they are the only remaining child of the deceased, or alternatively have written permission from all other remaining children to transfer the entire balance to his or her single account.

Persons with a substantial mileage balance who wish to do something other than have their account transfer to their spouse or in equal shares to their surviving children, would be well advise to include their specific instructions in their will.

Life partners who are not legally married should be especially cautious in protecting this asset, as well as all their other assets, for the benefit of their partner, by virtue of a will or trust document.

Oh, GOSH, more free advice that is worth exactly what you paid for it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 09-14-2000).]

Maybe in the USA Punki, but this is the Wild West "down under"!

Quite a fuss recently about the Qantas plan. If you pass away from too much shopping etc, Joe does not get the points if he ever tells QF to amend their records. Mad but true. They simply confiscate the miles -- program rules.

Joe uses your account and your pin while you are "demised" is OK though to chew into those half million Hilton points!

I feel it is absurd for a surviving partner who did the correct thing and advised QF to please stop mailing to a deceased spouse that they close the account.



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~ Glen ~

The Hilton account is actually in both of our names, but I have cursed the points I personally earned to prevent him from frolicking for weeks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village with some gorgeous babe after I am gone. He can use them to take the grandchildren on trips. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

We'll be very careful to avoid collecting any Qantas (no u, thank you Oz) points before we die.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Punki NO-ONE needs QF points unless you have NO other choice, and y'all do, pretty much.

Randy had a meeting with them here recently. QF do not even offer ANY option to use points to upgrade on ANY international trip. And that plan CHARGES 30 or 40 bucks or something to join and renew.

Keep clocking up your Triple UA miles before December 31 and your Alaska ones.

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~ Glen ~

Punki, When I last checked my brother is still alive and I got all the points no letter etc. HOWEVER, I do believe you are accurate, since as I said this was in 1989... But it is probably like everything else at the airline... call back and get a different answer.