What to do with miles when someone dies... ? (Definitive Thread)
Oct 12, 2019, 2:57 pm
#767
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Oct 12, 2019, 3:10 pm
#768
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Central Florida
Programs: DL PM; MR Titanium & LTT; Hilton Diamond; National Exec Elite
Posts: 69
Sorry for your loss. I’m surprised the account is still open. I’ve only experienced this once after a friend of mine lost his wife to a stroke a few years ago. DL was pretty quick to close her account, although he never even contacted them to let DL know of her passing. She was a DM and Reserve cars holder at the time of her passing. He thinks (although no evidence of this) that either Amex notifies DL when he called them to close and settle her account or that perhaps DL found out when her Passport and Nexus docs were cancelled. Not sure, but he never notified them of her passing before her account was closed.
Oct 12, 2019, 4:14 pm
#769
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,190
Sorry for your loss. I’m surprised the account is still open. I’ve only experienced this once after a friend of mine lost his wife to a stroke a few years ago. DL was pretty quick to close her account, although he never even contacted them to let DL know of her passing. She was a DM and Reserve cars holder at the time of her passing. He thinks (although no evidence of this) that either Amex notifies DL when he called them to close and settle her account or that perhaps DL found out when her Passport and Nexus docs were cancelled. Not sure, but he never notified them of her passing before her account was closed.
Oct 12, 2019, 4:17 pm
#770
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
Simply put not going to happen in this case. Miles weren't sold or bartered.
Sorry for your loss. I’m surprised the account is still open. I’ve only experienced this once after a friend of mine lost his wife to a stroke a few years ago. DL was pretty quick to close her account, although he never even contacted them to let DL know of her passing. She was a DM and Reserve cars holder at the time of her passing. He thinks (although no evidence of this) that either Amex notifies DL when he called them to close and settle her account or that perhaps DL found out when her Passport and Nexus docs were cancelled. Not sure, but he never notified them of her passing before her account was closed.
Bottom line, if DL actually wanted to strictly enforce this they could. DL could simply upload the various government databases of death, match names/DOB and cancel accounts. However they dont do this. The death policy has more to do with ensuring the miles dont remain as a liability for infinity. It allows them to make an estimate and say each year X miles are no longer usable. They dont care that a wife uses her husbands 70k mile balance, they care about the fact the airline has to carry on their balance sheet millions of miles that have no actual possibility of being redeemed.
Oct 12, 2019, 4:37 pm
#771
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
"Sale or barter" has zippo to do with this.
The simple creepy fact is that the miles expired when the account user died. Any ticket purchased with those miles after death is invalid.
The simple creepy fact is that the miles expired when the account user died. Any ticket purchased with those miles after death is invalid.
Oct 12, 2019, 4:40 pm
#772
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,190
I disagree. The points were earned so they should be used. Policy is to close the account once DL is notified. Nowhere is it written that award tickets for other passengers will be cancelled.
Oct 12, 2019, 4:41 pm
#773
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Programs: DL GM/Hilton Gold
Posts: 31
Redeem the miles. Go somewhere he always wanted to go or see family. 70,000 miles can go futher than you think if you're willing to travel off peak and in main cabin (heck, I recently got ALB > PRG for 40,000 miles in main and only paid 879 to upgrade to D1 both ways on the international segments).
Then seek refund on credit.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Then seek refund on credit.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Oct 12, 2019, 5:07 pm
#774
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
The terms page say DL reserves the right to close. It doesnt say it will be closed. Also it says it reserves the right to close once notified. Until notified the account is in good standing.
Oct 12, 2019, 7:43 pm
#776
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,075
My husband of 29 years passed away last month with 70,000+ SkyMiles and an e-certificate for $800 in his Delta account. Thanks to a FlyerTalk search, I know the miles are officially forfeited, and I also know that some people manage to use them anyway. I have not, however, been able to find out if it is possible for someone to use the e-certificate which he obtained when he had to cancel a trip due to his final illness. It is good through April of next year if that matters. Any guidance would be appreciated.
Oct 12, 2019, 9:05 pm
#777
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Central Florida
Programs: DL PM; MR Titanium & LTT; Hilton Diamond; National Exec Elite
Posts: 69
I’m going to say AmEx was the culprit. At the time of his wife’s passing, their daughter was 16 and their son was 4. Perhaps since the Reserve card was attached to a Delta SM account, AMEX automatically notifies DL of the reason the account was closed, at least in circumstances of death, and perhaps a few others. Just a guess...
Oct 13, 2019, 1:49 am
#778
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
I’m going to say AmEx was the culprit. At the time of his wife’s passing, their daughter was 16 and their son was 4. Perhaps since the Reserve card was attached to a Delta SM account, AMEX automatically notifies DL of the reason the account was closed, at least in circumstances of death, and perhaps a few others. Just a guess...
Oct 13, 2019, 1:30 pm
#779
formerly jackvogt
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta SkyMiles,
Posts: 822
Just use the miles and the certificate as needed. Do not call Delta and inform them your husband is deceased. There is no need for this. Those miles can be used for anyone and Delta won't really care.
People need to not always follow the policies and just do. Better to ask for forgiveness in my opinion.
People need to not always follow the policies and just do. Better to ask for forgiveness in my opinion.
Oct 13, 2019, 8:51 pm
#780
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,190
Just use the miles and the certificate as needed. Do not call Delta and inform them your husband is deceased. There is no need for this. Those miles can be used for anyone and Delta won't really care.
People need to not always follow the policies and just do. Better to ask for forgiveness in my opinion.
People need to not always follow the policies and just do. Better to ask for forgiveness in my opinion.