What to do with miles when someone dies... ? (Definitive Thread)
Mar 20, 2013, 11:26 am
#110
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL FO/KM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,594
Best way around this is ensure your spouse or significant other or family member or the executor of estate has your Skymiles information and the ability to login to your account. I doubt Delta knows when you die unless you die on one of their planes so if you wish for your miles to be used to fly others to your funeral when you pass away, then this can be done very easily by allowing someone else to login to your account and make the reservations from your account or transfer miles to other accounts. Where there's a will (no pun intended), there's a way.
Mar 20, 2013, 11:30 am
#111
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL MM Gold
Posts: 1,676
Of course Delta doesn't want to get in the middle of a court dispute over the VALUE of the miles when it comes time to divide an estate. That would be a lightning rod for for the IRS. But I always thought my remaining miles would be very usefully spent to bring far-flung relatives in to a memorial service.
Delta - you've just guaranteed everybody is going to make sure their executor has their SM password, and nobody is ever going to notify you of a death or incapacitation.
Unless you fund a new department to connect obits to SM members, and convene a death panel to make sure you recapture those pesky miles.
Mutual respect, feh. Clawing back miles from widows is so classless.
Delta - you've just guaranteed everybody is going to make sure their executor has their SM password, and nobody is ever going to notify you of a death or incapacitation.
Unless you fund a new department to connect obits to SM members, and convene a death panel to make sure you recapture those pesky miles.
Mutual respect, feh. Clawing back miles from widows is so classless.
Mar 20, 2013, 11:45 am
#113
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM HH Gold, Marriot Titanium
Posts: 1,298
Hey, just noticed the guide has not been updated online. I will let you know when it is available.
Mar 20, 2013, 12:56 pm
#114
Company Representative - Delta Air Lines
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 83
The SkyMiles Membership Guide has been updated and is now online.
As of March 20, 2013, we have updated our policy with regard to transfer of miles upon the death of a member. Please see the SkyMiles Member Guide section regarding Restrictions on Transfer for more information.
Mar 20, 2013, 12:58 pm
#115
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
The guide appears to have been updated; here's the text of the "Restrictions on Transfer" section (p. 27):
[My emphasis.]
Miles are not the property of any Member. Except as specifically authorized in the Membership Guide and Program Rules or otherwise in writing by an officer of Delta, miles may not be sold, attached, seized, levied upon, pledged, or transferred under any circumstances, including, without limitation, by operation of law, upon death, or in connection with any domestic relations dispute and/or legal proceeding.
Mar 20, 2013, 1:09 pm
#116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,889
If I am reading what I think I am reading, I am mortified. A couple of years ago I helped a widow with a deceased husband with MILLION miles in the bank get them out for her to use.
I am also interested in they "transferred under any circumstances". Delta hope that means that means you won't try to offer me bonuses to transfer in the future in violation of your terms.
I am also interested in they "transferred under any circumstances". Delta hope that means that means you won't try to offer me bonuses to transfer in the future in violation of your terms.
Mar 20, 2013, 1:10 pm
#117
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL FO/KM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,594
The guide appears to have been updated; here's the text of the "Restrictions on Transfer" section (p. 27):
[My emphasis.]
Miles are not the property of any Member. Except as specifically authorized in the Membership Guide and Program Rules or otherwise in writing by an officer of Delta, miles may not be sold, attached, seized, levied upon, pledged, or transferred under any circumstances, including, without limitation, by operation of law, upon death, or in connection with any domestic relations dispute and/or legal proceeding.
Mar 20, 2013, 1:11 pm
#118
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: JFK,ATL,LGA (the rest of the world follows)
Programs: DL KM/DM/2MM (NH Plat emeritus, CO Plat emeritus, and no place like home)
Posts: 3,190
Miles that were earned under one set of T&C get a very serious retroactive change in T&C. If something happens to me, I want my family to be able to use the miles. I am not sure this is a fair trade change to T&C is defined by NY law, or for this purpose- also by the state of Georgia. In fact, I am pretty sure that it contradicts certain articles in GA state law. I can see two to three articles broken here easily, and I am sure some consumer law specialists would find more.
Mar 20, 2013, 1:36 pm
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
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Mar 20, 2013, 1:41 pm
#120
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
Well there's what Delta says and then there's reality. I'm sure people make private transactions regarding Skymiles all the time. Fact is, DL would have to catch you, which is very hard to do, unless you make it public with indetifiable information or unless Delta is monitoring obituaries to immediately deactivate accounts.