Frequent flyer miles are ubiquitous in the lives of a regular traveler or a holder of a credit card that awards the points. In fact, so many miles exist that some estimates have put their value as greater than the market cap of many airlines that awarded them. However, these miles are often forfeit after the death of the holder due to corporate policies that limit or deny the right to bequest the points. Some companies, like American Airlines, prohibit the transfer but grant a special provision in the rules which leaves it within the discretion of the company to agree with a request. Others, such as Delta, ban death transfers entirely but have reportedly complied when sent a written request. Ultimately, there is great diversity in policy among airlines and each must be researched in order to determine what, if any, requirements must be fulfilled to make a bequest.
See Kara Brandeisky, What Happens to Your Airline Miles When You Die, Time, July 31, 2015.
