Airline miles and hotel points are easy to overlook in the middle of settling an estate. They feel minor compared to bank accounts and insurance policies. But a well-traveled person can accumulate hundreds of thousands of miles — worth real money — and most programs have specific rules about what happens to them after death.
Most families never collect them. Not because they can't, but because no one thinks to ask.
What the fine print says:
Most loyalty programs state in their terms that points are non-transferable and expire upon death. But in practice, most major programs will work with families — if you contact them directly, explain the situation, and provide documentation.
What to do:
Contact each loyalty program directly. Explain the situation, provide a death certificate, and ask about their bereavement or estate transfer policy. American Airlines, Delta, United, Marriott, Hilton, and most major programs have a process for this. It's just not advertised.
Act before the account goes inactive:
Some programs have time limits. Points may expire if the account goes inactive for a certain period, or if a transfer request isn't made within a set window after death. Check the terms for each program and don't let this slip through the cracks.
Credit card rewards:
Points earned through a credit card rewards program — Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and similar — are handled separately from airline or hotel programs. Contact the card issuer directly. In many cases, the points can be redeemed by the estate before the account is closed.
Finding the accounts:
Check the email inbox for program statements and point balance notifications. This is often the fastest way to find loyalty accounts you didn't know about.