What happens to SkyMiles when the owner dies
Delta Air Lines miles are forfeited under the program's terms when the account is closed
SkyMiles Customer Service (no dedicated estate team published)
Account closure is typically processed within a few business days of notification. There is no published transfer process, so no formal timeline applies. A discretionary goodwill request has no committed turnaround; Delta reviews any such request at its discretion and may decline it.
Delta Air Lines's terms state that miles are not the property of the account holder and are forfeited at death. The program does not provide a mechanism for transferring miles to heirs.
Families have occasionally received goodwill accommodations from Delta Air Lines, but these are not part of the published terms and cannot be relied upon.
What to do
If a SkyMiles account holder has passed away, here is what to do:
- •The deceased member's full name, date of death, and SkyMiles account number
- •A certified copy of the death certificate
- •Documentation showing your authority to act for the estate (for example, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration)
- •The name and SkyMiles account number of the survivor who would receive the miles
Required Documents
- Deceased member's SkyMiles account number
- Certified copy of the death certificate (if Delta requests it for account closure)
- Documentation showing authority to act for the estate, such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for any discretionary goodwill transfer request)
Timeline
Account closure is typically processed within a few business days of notification. There is no published transfer process, so no formal timeline applies. A discretionary goodwill request has no committed turnaround; Delta reviews any such request at its discretion and may decline it.
Frequently asked questions
No, not as a matter of right. Under the current SkyMiles Membership Guide and Program Rules, miles are not transferable upon death and are forfeited when a deceased member's account is closed. Delta previously had an Affidavit and Release process for death transfers, but this has been discontinued. The program rules state miles "may not be sold, attached, seized, levied upon, pledged, or transferred under any circumstances, including, without limitation, by operation of law, upon death." An estate may still submit a written goodwill request, but any transfer is at Delta's discretion.
No. The SkyMiles Program Rules state: "Miles are not the property of any Member." They cannot be inherited, transferred by court order, or distributed as part of an estate. Miles have no cash value and exist only as program credits that Delta can revoke at its discretion.
Contact Delta SkyMiles Customer Service at 1-800-323-2323, available 24 hours a day, and provide the member's SkyMiles account number and a certified copy of the death certificate if requested. Delta may close the account, at which point remaining miles are forfeited under the program rules. There is no dedicated estates portal or email published on delta.com.
Medallion elite status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) is non-transferable and terminates when the account is closed. The Program Rules state that "Medallion Status, benefits, and/or miles in the SkyMiles account will be forfeited when an account is closed." There is no published process to transfer status to a surviving spouse or family member.
Because miles are forfeited at death, lifetime use is the only reliable strategy. Redeeming or sharing SkyMiles while the account holder is alive ensures their value is not lost.
Sources
Data sourced from Delta Air Lines primary sources (7 pages reviewed). How we research.
SkyMiles Customer Service (no dedicated estate team published)
Account closure is typically processed within a few business days of notification. There is no published transfer process, so no formal timeline applies. A discretionary goodwill request has no committed turnaround; Delta reviews any such request at its discretion and may decline it.
