What happens to Rapid Rewards points when someone dies
Southwest Airlines publishes no process specific to a deceased person's account; a written request goes by mail.
Under Southwest Airlines' terms, Rapid Rewards points are forfeited when the account holder dies.
Southwest Airlines publishes no process specific to a deceased person's account; a written request goes by mail to Southwest Airlines, P.O. Box 36647-1CR, Dallas, TX 75235. Rapid Rewards answers at 1-800-445-5764.
What to do
What Southwest Airlines's terms say at death
- The terms
“Points may not be transferred to a Member's estate or as part of a settlement, inheritance, or will. In the event a Member's account is closed upon death, any points will be forfeited.”1
What Southwest Airlines says happens3
Other companies and product lines involved1
- Chase Card Services
Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards2
Phone: 1-800-792-0001
Not in Rapid Rewards's published guidance5
- A process for a deceased account holder
- A complete list of the documents to send
- Whether a certified death certificate is required
- How long a request takes
- A dedicated estates desk, portal, email or fax
Sources2
A written request to Southwest Airlines can ask it to transfer the points 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: Southwest Airlines allows transfers to another member and gift purchases.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter for Rapid Rewards drafts that request from the estate's details.
Sources
Data sourced from Southwest Airlines primary sources (6 pages reviewed). How we research.
Rapid Rewards estate claims
Rapid Rewards
Phone
Mailing address
Website
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Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Affidavit of Death
Put a joint owner's or a transfer on death deed owner's death on the land records with the affidavit your state's statute names, laid out for recording.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
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