What happens to MileagePlus miles when someone dies
United Airlines publishes its own process for a deceased person's account; the request starts by phone at 1-800-421-4655.
United Airlines decides what happens to MileagePlus miles after a death case by case; its terms promise no transfer.
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. MileagePlus Service Center answers at 1-800-421-4655 (Daily 7:00 AM-midnight CT).
How to request a transfer
- •Where to send the written request for the death-of-member credit in the MileagePlus rules.
- •Which documents United needs; the rules ask only for documentation satisfactory to United.
- •That the account and its miles be held while the request is reviewed.
- •What fee United will charge to credit the miles.
What United Airlines's terms say at death
- The terms
“In the event of the death or divorce of a Member, United may, in its sole discretion, credit all or a portion of such Member's accrued mileage to authorized persons upon receipt of documentation satisfactory to United and payment of applicable fees.”1
What United Airlines says happens7
- Who owns the asset
Awards and benefits, including accrued mileage, Premier and Million Miler status, PlusPoints, Premier Qualifying Credits and certificates, are not the property of the Member and are not transferable except as the rules provide.1
Under the Miles pooling Terms, miles in a pool are not the property of any individual pool member, including the leader.2
- Transfer at death
The rules' "Mileage expiration" section lists the death of a Member among the triggers under which accrued mileage is forfeited, so forfeiture is the default and a discretionary credit is the exception.1
Under the Miles pooling Terms, the death of the pool leader dissolves the pool; its miles are split evenly and returned among the members, and the share returned to the deceased member's account is handled under the Program Rules.2
When a pool member who is not the leader dies, the miles remain in the pool and the pool continues without that member.2
- How requests are reviewed
United may credit all or a portion of the accrued mileage to authorized persons in its sole discretion, on documentation satisfactory to United, and it makes all program calculations in its discretion, which are considered final.1
- Fees
A credit of a deceased Member's mileage is subject to payment of applicable fees.1
- Closing the account
Member-requested account closure is itself one of the triggers under which the rules forfeit accrued mileage.1
- Inactive accounts and expiry
The rules also forfeit accrued mileage on a Member's failure to respond to repeated communication attempts about the status of the account.1
- Passwords and login
The rules make each Member responsible for ensuring account credentials are not shared with any other individual.1
Not in MileagePlus's published guidance8
- How long a request takes
- A mailing address for a written request
- A form for estate requests
- A complete list of the documents to send
- Whether a certified death certificate is required
- An estates portal, email address or fax
- A fee schedule for a death-of-member credit
- A bereavement page or dedicated estates team
A written request to United Airlines can ask it to transfer the miles to a named family member, preserve the account while the estate is opened and provide purchase and transaction records for the estate inventory.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter for MileagePlus drafts that request from the estate's details.
Sources
Data sourced from United Airlines primary sources (6 pages reviewed). How we research.
MileagePlus estate claims
MileagePlus Service Center
Phone
MileagePlus text support
Hours
Website
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