What to do with miles when someone dies... ? (Definitive Thread)
#61
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: DL MM, Marriott LT Titanium, AA EXP, Avis Chairmans
Posts: 1,399
Why not just keep the account open and use the miles? They won't know he passed away and if you put the award tickets in your name how would they be the wiser? Yes you couldn't earn miles in his name or use his elite status, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't spend the miles.
#62
Moderator: GLBT Travelers & Hyatt Gold Passport
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: CVG
Posts: 15,300
If I remember correctly NW World Perks are NOT transferable upon death.
Check closely in the T & Cs on the NW web page. My Father in law passed away two years ago and we were not able to do anything with almost 200K miles.
Unless this has changed, you may want to wait until the merger then transfer the miles.
Good luck
L2F
Check closely in the T & Cs on the NW web page. My Father in law passed away two years ago and we were not able to do anything with almost 200K miles.
Unless this has changed, you may want to wait until the merger then transfer the miles.
Good luck
L2F
#63
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
Why not just keep the account open and use the miles? They won't know he passed away and if you put the award tickets in your name how would they be the wiser? Yes you couldn't earn miles in his name or use his elite status, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't spend the miles.
#64
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New Orleans (for now)
Programs: DL PM, WN, SC, various other programs of lowly status
Posts: 1,673
If I remember correctly, years & years ago DL had a similar restriction on transferring miles to heirs. Someone sued over it and the courts declared that the miles were a tangible asset that by law had to be transerred to the heirs.
In my FIL's case, they sent me an affidavit to sign which reads in part:
I am the duly authorized Executor or Administrator of the Estate (the "Estate") of the deceased member of the Skymiles program listed below (the “Decedent”): Member Name: __________________________________ SkyMiles Number: ______________________________ 2. I have attached a true and correct copy of the death certificate for the Decedent and documents sufficient to reflect my appointment as Executor or Administrator of the Estate. 3. I hereby designate the SkyMiles Member(s) listed below to receive the mileage in the Decedent’s SkyMiles account in the amounts as set forth below: Name: ____________________________________ Delta SkyMiles account number: ____________________________________ Number of SkyMiles*: ___________________________________ Name: ____________________________________ Delta SkyMiles account number: ____________________________________ Number of SkyMiles*: ____________________________________ Name: ____________________________________ Delta SkyMiles account number: ____________________________________ Number of SkyMiles*: ____________________________________ [
So, only the executor can authorize the transfer and he/she can put them into whichever account they want as far as Delta is concerned.
It went on to say that you had to attach a copy of the death ctf and will or other instrument naming you as the executor or administrator.
In my FIL's case, they sent me an affidavit to sign which reads in part:
I am the duly authorized Executor or Administrator of the Estate (the "Estate") of the deceased member of the Skymiles program listed below (the “Decedent”): Member Name: __________________________________ SkyMiles Number: ______________________________ 2. I have attached a true and correct copy of the death certificate for the Decedent and documents sufficient to reflect my appointment as Executor or Administrator of the Estate. 3. I hereby designate the SkyMiles Member(s) listed below to receive the mileage in the Decedent’s SkyMiles account in the amounts as set forth below: Name: ____________________________________ Delta SkyMiles account number: ____________________________________ Number of SkyMiles*: ___________________________________ Name: ____________________________________ Delta SkyMiles account number: ____________________________________ Number of SkyMiles*: ____________________________________ Name: ____________________________________ Delta SkyMiles account number: ____________________________________ Number of SkyMiles*: ____________________________________ [
So, only the executor can authorize the transfer and he/she can put them into whichever account they want as far as Delta is concerned.
It went on to say that you had to attach a copy of the death ctf and will or other instrument naming you as the executor or administrator.
#65
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, AA 600k, DL 500k, Hyatt GP 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,950
Now, since it's very likely that the stipulations cited in other comments are still current, the better part of wisdom may be to augment the account, and then burn it -- without committing a costly faux pas with WorldPerks. If you try to force the situation, you're going to draw some very bad attention to it (e.g., NW summarily closes the account, ironically, because they probably wouldn't make you prove that).
Study the WorldPerks webpages. There are several ways to get miles assigned to the account without your father having to do anything. (I think of, particularly, linking your or several persons' credit cards to it for dining.) With bonus offers coming around often, it shouldn't be too hard to earn the difference needed for a free trip.
Be sure you do something frequently enough to keep the account alive until you're there, and then use it up ---- on yer ma. Mission accomplished.
Last edited by Firewind; Apr 20, 2008 at 11:12 am
#66
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, AA 600k, DL 500k, Hyatt GP 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,950
OK, on the other hand, way, way back when Delta picked up a big chunk of Pan Am, they created my - ahem - second Delta account (pre-"Skymiles") out of my Pan Am account. I didn't do a thing to make it happen. Again, just make sure to do what's necessary to keep it alive, in whichever guise.
#67
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
the dead still spend
Marylou:
That's the form I filled out and sent to DL to get my father's miles into my mother's account. I am the executor of both of them.
I guess I could make an anonymous call to NW and see if they do the same thing. If not, maybe I can sign up my deceased father for a preapproved credit card (he still gets the offers even though he's dead) and bulk up the miles that way. Use the miles, then cancel the credit card. if I need a male voice to talk to someone my husband can make the calls for me.
That's the form I filled out and sent to DL to get my father's miles into my mother's account. I am the executor of both of them.
I guess I could make an anonymous call to NW and see if they do the same thing. If not, maybe I can sign up my deceased father for a preapproved credit card (he still gets the offers even though he's dead) and bulk up the miles that way. Use the miles, then cancel the credit card. if I need a male voice to talk to someone my husband can make the calls for me.
#68
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: High Point, NC
Posts: 516
If Northwest finds out the person is deceased they immediately cancel the account. That is what happend to my sister a few years ago when her husband died and she called about transferring the miles, so whatever you do, do not call Northwest, either use them, add to them and redeem them.
Cindi
Cindi
#70
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Florida - Delta Charter DM/3.3MM; Lifetime SPG Plat; HH Gold;
Posts: 1,789
I am not sure where this has been discussed on FT but it has been. I do know that people have used deceased relatives FF miles without notifying the airlines if they knew the pin number.
As for transferring a deceased person's FF miles into another account, some airlines charge an administrative fee and , I believe, some don't. You need a copy of the death certificate and some document that states a person is authorized transfer the miles legally. Some people use the estate's executer to do this and they spelled it out on paper prior to dying.
Hopefully, someone will find the FT thread for you.
As for transferring a deceased person's FF miles into another account, some airlines charge an administrative fee and , I believe, some don't. You need a copy of the death certificate and some document that states a person is authorized transfer the miles legally. Some people use the estate's executer to do this and they spelled it out on paper prior to dying.
Hopefully, someone will find the FT thread for you.
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Fairmont Prem, SPG Gold, Priority Club Plat/IC Amb, AmEx Plat
Posts: 10,839
Transfer upon Death of Member
Upon the death of a Member, the Administrator or Executor of the Member’s Estate may designate one or more other Members to receive a transfer of the mileage credit in the deceased Member’s account. Only whole number amounts of miles may be transferred. The required form and other instructions for requesting a transfer of mileage under these circumstances is available on delta.com/skymilesaffidavit.
Upon the death of a Member, the Administrator or Executor of the Member’s Estate may designate one or more other Members to receive a transfer of the mileage credit in the deceased Member’s account. Only whole number amounts of miles may be transferred. The required form and other instructions for requesting a transfer of mileage under these circumstances is available on delta.com/skymilesaffidavit.
http://images.delta.com.edgesuite.ne...emGuide_US.pdf
#73
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Atlanta
Programs: DL MM
Posts: 22
No fees?
I issued tickets out of my Mom's account for me and my family in May. She passed away in June and I forgot that the tickets were issued out of her account. I ended not canceling the trip and having the miles put back, but I forgot they were from her account and not mine! So, not only did I have to pay $100 to put the miles back, they went to her account.
If I have the executor of the will fill out the affidavit it looks like I can have the miles transferred to my account.
Thanks for asking the question.
I issued tickets out of my Mom's account for me and my family in May. She passed away in June and I forgot that the tickets were issued out of her account. I ended not canceling the trip and having the miles put back, but I forgot they were from her account and not mine! So, not only did I have to pay $100 to put the miles back, they went to her account.
If I have the executor of the will fill out the affidavit it looks like I can have the miles transferred to my account.
Thanks for asking the question.