What to do with miles when someone dies... ? (Definitive Thread)
Apr 4, 2017, 1:28 pm
#706
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
While normally a really stupid idea after death to quickly cash out my instructions to wife says: https://marketplace.delta.com/reward...RewardId=17924
Apr 4, 2017, 1:32 pm
#707
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,942
While normally a really stupid idea after death to quickly cash out my instructions to wife says: https://marketplace.delta.com/reward...RewardId=17924
Apr 4, 2017, 1:42 pm
#708
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
Apr 4, 2017, 2:56 pm
#710
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
Programs: DL Diamond/1MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,201
I've told my wife to log on first thing and book herself a first class flight to somewhere awesome.
Apr 4, 2017, 3:20 pm
#711
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: North America
Programs: DL Diamond, former UA1K MM lifetime (left UA for DL), FPCPlat, DL Biz and Plat Amex
Posts: 644
Bequeathing miles
interesting thread. Professionally I advise Facebook and others on posthumous profile controls.
the trick here, as with high status game accounts, is make sure someone has your access info to be able to use the points, accounts, etc. and add a note to your executor. Many are adding these formally to their wills, even if the issuer says non-transferrable.
the trick here, as with high status game accounts, is make sure someone has your access info to be able to use the points, accounts, etc. and add a note to your executor. Many are adding these formally to their wills, even if the issuer says non-transferrable.
Apr 4, 2017, 3:50 pm
#712
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MEM
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Gold, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 424
Just to play devil's advocate, if DL learns the miles were used fraudulently (to book a flight for someone after the member's death), they could legitimately cancel the reservation and ticket. That would be an unpleasant surprise. Or worse, could demand the cost of the flight be paid back after the fact if they find out.
Apr 12, 2017, 10:26 am
#713
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: DL, BA
Posts: 1
I was being somewhat facetious, though certainly in a rather opaque manner. 
I am not sure if the SSA database includes addresses.
In any case, I would not expect Delta to cancel a diemiles account without complete certainty as to the member's passing.
So I rather expect that this never happens in practice unless someone is foolish enough to send a death notice to Delta. Or in the rare instance where Delta sends something through the mail that is returned with an addressee deceased marking.
There is a benefit to Delta, as diemiles are essentially on the books as deferred revenue so it's kind of like an inheritance for them.
David
I am not sure if the SSA database includes addresses.
In any case, I would not expect Delta to cancel a diemiles account without complete certainty as to the member's passing.
So I rather expect that this never happens in practice unless someone is foolish enough to send a death notice to Delta. Or in the rare instance where Delta sends something through the mail that is returned with an addressee deceased marking.
There is a benefit to Delta, as diemiles are essentially on the books as deferred revenue so it's kind of like an inheritance for them.
David
Aug 8, 2017, 5:26 pm
#714
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: east Tennessee
Programs: SkyMiles
Posts: 190
passing of a spouse- miles transferred?
Upon passing of a spouse, does Delta choose to transfer the Miles to the spouse, if requested? One other airline chose to honor this and was very gracious about it.
Aug 8, 2017, 5:34 pm
#715
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
Don't report it to them. DL closes the account upon death. The miles simply go away.
If you know the password, just login and book tickets. If you don't know it, can request a new password online if you know the account number. They can even snail mail one if you can't answer the security questions.
If you know the password, just login and book tickets. If you don't know it, can request a new password online if you know the account number. They can even snail mail one if you can't answer the security questions.
Aug 8, 2017, 5:38 pm
#716
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
You can usually reset the password if you don't know it if you have access to the email account associated with the FF account.
Aug 8, 2017, 6:19 pm
#718
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Don't transfer the miles to yourself; the fees are more than the miles are worth. Just book award tickets in your name as a gift from your late spouse. It's best if you can do this yourself online rather than phoning DL, where the agent could ask to speak to your husband for approval. Also, you might want to do this pretty soon just in case DL notices the death somehow or the linked credit card is cancelled.
