What to do with miles when someone dies... ? (Definitive Thread)
Jan 11, 2022, 9:27 pm
#826
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,067
There's nothing illegal about using them. Delta only says that they "reserve the right to deactivate or close an account" upon death and that miles cannot be transferred upon death in the program rules. Technically, there's no prohibition against continuing to use them upon death. Even if there were such a prohibition, it'd just be a contractual issue and not a violation of any laws.
Jan 12, 2022, 5:48 am
#828
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
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There's nothing illegal about using them. Delta only says that they "reserve the right to deactivate or close an account" upon death and that miles cannot be transferred upon death in the program rules. Technically, there's no prohibition against continuing to use them upon death. Even if there were such a prohibition, it'd just be a contractual issue and not a violation of any laws.
Technical as the miles are property of airline and Father has no authority to spend them, he wouldn't have a valid ticket. Thus airline could (if they wished to incur God's wrath) make case that person committed theft of services.
Only time I've heard of airline even considering something like this (pressing charges for invalid ticket), when it was a clear case of known theft. ie they paid someone to issue a ticket without paying fare/qualifying. There was a case I know decade or 2 back. Agent had family member die, one with large stash of miles. Agent booked tickets for self despite knowing 100% the miles where technically no longer valid for use. Other family members who knew login did same thing. However no action against them since they wouldn't be expected to know this was wrong. However, agent was pursued.
Jan 12, 2022, 6:07 am
#829
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ohio, USA
Programs: AA, DL, UA, HA
Posts: 22
Just a note of caution. I tried to book a ticket on AA last week in my wife's account using my credit card. System would not allow. Required a card with her name on it. Don't have any experience with Delta. May get a little complicated if you have closed her CC accounts.
Jan 12, 2022, 6:56 am
#830
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Jan 12, 2022, 7:51 am
#831
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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Just a note of caution. I tried to book a ticket on AA last week in my wife's account using my credit card. System would not allow. Required a card with her name on it. Don't have any experience with Delta. May get a little complicated if you have closed her CC accounts.
Jan 12, 2022, 8:15 am
#832
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 246
My wife's Grandfather died a few months ago and he had about 400,000 AA Miles.
My mother in law had all of his passwords and log ins. My Wife and I have booked a couple of business class flights with the miles to burn them as quickly as possible. I'm not sure if AA will ever know or care, but (I don't know if Delta has the same rule), AA requires that all bookings made with miles use a credit card with the member's exact name. My mother-in-law kept one credit card alive for us, and we have been paying the bill for the flights we've booked, but that card will need to be turned off in the not too distant future.
My mother in law had all of his passwords and log ins. My Wife and I have booked a couple of business class flights with the miles to burn them as quickly as possible. I'm not sure if AA will ever know or care, but (I don't know if Delta has the same rule), AA requires that all bookings made with miles use a credit card with the member's exact name. My mother-in-law kept one credit card alive for us, and we have been paying the bill for the flights we've booked, but that card will need to be turned off in the not too distant future.
Jan 12, 2022, 1:27 pm
#833
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
Thanks all for the replies. Yes, I recently saw a post on one of the travel blogs about a United program where you donate miles to families to travel to see one another due to major illness or terminal diseases... which would have been NICE to know about before her death... but indeed maybe a worthy cause. That, or fly my dad somewhere who has been locked up taking care of her for so long. I do hope Delta does not have such a death database, they owe my Dad these miles at the absolute very least, he was such a saint, and Mom earned them. Out of any and all illegal things I'd ever do or consider doing, using Mom's miles for him after she died is EASILY the easiest and of which I'd feel absolutely guilt free. And yes, thankfully, we do have access to her accounts... her and my Dad were basically one and the same.
Jan 12, 2022, 1:56 pm
#834
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Verdi, NV, SFO & Olympic (aka Squaw )Valley.
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Posts: 3,823
As someone still managing stuff from dad a year hence, my heart goes out to you and your family.
Different loyalty programs have their own rules, but generally speaking the best thing to remember is that we are the product and not vice versa.
My mom was allowed to use many of my Dad's Delta points after he "upgraded," but it has been hard with so many flights canceled/changed this year.
For those of you in relationships with lifetime lounge memberships, my understanding is that most airlines provide access to the remaining partner until their death. (e.g. my Dad had a LT SkyClub membership, and added mom as a spouse. She still gets access even though he has passed.)
Please feel free to send a DM if you have more specific questions to ask. And again condolences!
Different loyalty programs have their own rules, but generally speaking the best thing to remember is that we are the product and not vice versa.
My mom was allowed to use many of my Dad's Delta points after he "upgraded," but it has been hard with so many flights canceled/changed this year.
For those of you in relationships with lifetime lounge memberships, my understanding is that most airlines provide access to the remaining partner until their death. (e.g. my Dad had a LT SkyClub membership, and added mom as a spouse. She still gets access even though he has passed.)
Please feel free to send a DM if you have more specific questions to ask. And again condolences!
Jan 12, 2022, 2:50 pm
#836
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
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Posts: 20,889
After my mother died, I used her Delta miles to book 2 tickets. After the trip I notified Delta that she had died and tried to close the account as we were closing all her various accounts. Delta refused to close the account; the letter I got from them stated they would only close an account upon receiving a request from the account owner. Umm, I just notified you she's dead? Eventually they stopped sending her (at my back-up email address) messages about the account.
Jan 12, 2022, 5:44 pm
#839
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: DL DM, 2 MM; OW Emerald; MVP Gold 100k;Marriott/SPG LTPlat; HH Diamond
Posts: 968
This! Four years ago my mom ended up in hospice rather suddenly, I didn't ask her as we had much more pressing business to deal with, but I donated her miles to Make a Wish (I think that was the one). I thought of using them and I'm sure she wouldn't care, but I know for a fact she would have wanted the donation more...