Morbid Question
Jun 24, 2008, 9:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Programs: Delta frequent flyer Gold Medallion Status
Posts: 876
Morbid Question
When we complete our next international flight we will have nearly 200,000 ff miles. I know that does not seem like many miles to those of you who have millions of miles, but it seems like lots of miles to us. What happens to those miles if one of us should die? Could they be transferred to the surviving spouse? How would DL even know if the person who was transferring the miles was dead or alive?
Jun 24, 2008, 9:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.4MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold,
Posts: 5,213
When we complete our next international flight we will have nearly 200,000 ff miles. I know that does not seem like many miles to those of you who have millions of miles, but it seems like lots of miles to us. What happens to those miles if one of us should die? Could they be transferred to the surviving spouse? How would DL even know if the person who was transferring the miles was dead or alive?
Jun 24, 2008, 9:57 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Rochester, NY
Programs: Delta Skymile Silver
Posts: 64
I have not actually had to request a transfer of skymiles from DL, but I have from USAir and United (for deceased clients), it can usually be done and it doesn't necessarily have to be to a surviving spouse as there isn't always one. I found this
http://images.delta.com/delta/pdfs/affidavit.pdf
on DL's website and it sounds like you need to either be the executor or administrator of an estate or have proof that there is no probate estate but that you are the heir.
On another note, I have easily received a refund of a nonrefundable ticket from DL when someone has died -- just a letter with the proper proof (i.e., death certificate) and within 2 weeks a check for the full amount. Very easy and smooth process in a not so easy situation.
http://images.delta.com/delta/pdfs/affidavit.pdf
on DL's website and it sounds like you need to either be the executor or administrator of an estate or have proof that there is no probate estate but that you are the heir.
On another note, I have easily received a refund of a nonrefundable ticket from DL when someone has died -- just a letter with the proper proof (i.e., death certificate) and within 2 weeks a check for the full amount. Very easy and smooth process in a not so easy situation.
Jun 25, 2008, 6:01 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: DL- Gazillion Miler, Priority Club-Plat, Hilton-DI, Motel 6-Quickie Elite
Posts: 6
Psst. So how you plan on gettin' rid of him ?
Last edited by grodem; Jun 25, 2008 at 6:40 am
Jun 25, 2008, 6:11 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Augusta, GA, USA
Programs: DL FC, NW
Posts: 3,522
Jun 25, 2008, 6:29 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: DL- Gazillion Miler, Priority Club-Plat, Hilton-DI, Motel 6-Quickie Elite
Posts: 6
Thank You. Lots of interesting info here.
Jun 25, 2008, 7:04 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SDF
Posts: 3,302
You can also just log in to the deceased person's account and redeem miles directly from there.
Jun 25, 2008, 7:08 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: KOA
Programs: DL Gold/MM, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 2,280
Jun 25, 2008, 7:18 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,688
It would be easiest, but you probably wouldn't maximize your miles. At some point you'd end up with an amount of miles so small that you can't redeem for anything. If you don't transfer them, you waste them. And if you wait until then to send DL the paperwork, they may ask why you waited so long to ask to transfer the miles and why you were redeeming from a dead person's account. You'd probably be able to convince them there was nothing wrong...but it'd be an even bigger headache.