What happens to SkyMiles when someone dies
Delta Air Lines publishes no process specific to a deceased person's account; the request starts by phone at 1-800-323-2323.
Under Delta Air Lines' terms, SkyMiles are forfeited when the account holder dies.
Delta Air Lines publishes no process specific to a deceased person's account; the request starts by phone at 1-800-323-2323. The request takes 5 documents. SkyMiles Account Support answers at 1-800-323-2323.
What to do
- •The member's full name, date of death and SkyMiles number
- •The death certificate, and letters testamentary or letters of administration
- •The survivor's name and SkyMiles number, since miles move only between SkyMiles accounts
- •The signature of the person making the request
Required Documents
- SkyMiles account number: The deceased Member's number; Delta asks for it on all written correspondence.
- Death certificate
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration: for a discretionary transfer request. Documentation of the requester's authority to act for the estate.
- Name and SkyMiles account number of the proposed recipient: for a discretionary transfer request. Miles move only between SkyMiles accounts.
- Signature of the person making the request: Delta asks for a signature and the SkyMiles number on all written correspondence.
What Delta Air Lines's terms say at death
- Restrictions on Transfer
“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.”1
What Delta Air Lines says happens5
- Who owns the asset
Miles are not the property of any Member and may not be sold, attached, seized, levied upon, pledged or transferred, including by operation of law or upon death.1
- Closing the account
Delta reserves the right to deactivate or close an account and remove all miles in it when a Member is deceased, and keeps the SkyMiles number on file after closure.1
- Transfer at death
Medallion Status, benefits and miles in the account are forfeited when the account is closed.1
An Award Ticket already issued in a passenger's name sits under that passenger's reservation rather than in the SkyMiles account, so travel the Member booked for others stands apart from the account.1
- How requests are reviewed
An estate may put a written request to Delta asking it to exercise its discretion; a transfer or reinstatement of miles is not provided for in the rules and may be declined.1
- Verifying the requester
Delta asks for the Member's signature and SkyMiles membership number on all written correspondence.1
Not in SkyMiles's published guidance6
- A process for a deceased account holder
- How long a request takes
- A mailing address for a written request
- A form for estate requests
- Whether a certified death certificate is required
- A transfer of Medallion Status or miles to a survivor
A written request to Delta Air Lines can ask it to transfer the miles to a named family member and preserve the account while the estate is opened.
The value that can still be kept is what the account holder moved while alive: Delta Air Lines allows transfers to another member and gift purchases.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter for SkyMiles drafts that request from the estate's details.
Sources
Data sourced from Delta Air Lines primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
SkyMiles estate claims
SkyMiles Account Support
Phone
Mailing address
Website
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