Can you pass on your MileagePlus miles when you die?
United Airlines reviews requests about MileagePlus miles after a death case by case. While alive, the account holder can use transfers to another member, gift purchases and family pooling.
Protecting MileagePlus miles while the account is active
No beneficiary designation, lifetime transfer options for miles, and 6-step plan.
How to protect your MileagePlus miles while you are alive →Someone died. Handling MileagePlus miles after a death
Transfer is handled on a case-by-case basis, 4-step process, and 0 required documents.
What happens to MileagePlus miles when someone dies →United MileagePlus is United Airlines' loyalty program. Miles are earned through flights, credit cards, hotel and car rental partners and transfer partners, and are redeemed for flights, upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise and experiences.
United Airlines decides what happens to MileagePlus miles after a death case by case; its terms promise no transfer. While the account holder is alive, United Airlines allows transfers to another member, gift purchases and family pooling.
What happens to MileagePlus at death
- Case by case
United may, in its sole discretion, credit all or part of a deceased Member's accrued mileage to authorized persons, while the rules also list the death of a Member among the triggers under which mileage is forfeited.1
Naming who acts after a death
- Designation
MileagePlus has no beneficiary mechanism; there is no way to name who receives the miles at death.1
Sources1
United Airlines publishes its own process for a deceased person's account: MileagePlus discretionary mileage credit on the death of a Member (MileagePlus rules, General conditions); the request starts by phone at 1-800-421-4655. There is no way to name a beneficiary or successor on a MileagePlus account.
Sources
Data sourced from United Airlines primary sources (6 pages reviewed). How we research.
MileagePlus customer support
MileagePlus Customer Service
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Alternate number
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