Originally published: September 4, 2020 | Last updated: March 19, 2026
The Oak View Law Group publishes a guest article from Andy Masaki who works as their financial writer and blogger. Andy provides debt expertise which helps him guide others to achieve financial independence. The article presents research findings which show how people can transfer their earned reward points to their family members through their Last Will and Testament.
Can You Pass On Reward Points and Miles in Your Will?
People tend to earn rewards through their spending activities by using rewards credit cards or joining loyalty programs which provide them with cashback options and reward points and frequent flyer miles. You have accumulated more than 100,000 points which you intend to use for redemption in the future. But have you considered what happens to those points after your death?
The answer remains complex because different issuers apply their own rules to handle these matters. The media widely covered Anthony Bourdain’s decision to make his Airmiles part of his Will but each airline loyalty program establishes its own rules about point transferability.
What Happens to Credit Card Reward Points When You Die?
| Program | Policy on Death | Transferable? |
|---|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | One-time redemption allowed – gift card or transfer to partner program | Yes (executor must call) |
| Citi ThankYou Rewards | Forfeited, but executor can request within 1 year with evidence | Conditional |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | Terms say forfeited; in practice, may issue statement credit | Conditional |
| Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards | Forfeited – cannot be transferred or redeemed | No |
What Happens to Airline Frequent Flyer Miles When You Die?
| Airline | Policy on Death | Transferable? |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | May transfer miles with supporting documents and applicable fees | Conditional |
| United MileagePlus | Executor can request transfer with documents and fees | Conditional |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | Must pool points with beneficiaries before death | Only if pre-pooled |
| Delta Airlines | Strict rules – miles cannot be transferred after death | No |
What Should You Do About Your Reward Points and Miles?
You should contact your rewards provider directly to determine their rules about point transfer after death because you need to know their official policy. The following steps will help you protect your accumulated points:
- You need to review all the terms and conditions which apply to each rewards program that you have joined.
- You should list all your loyalty programs in your estate plan by using LifeLocker from USLegalWills.com because this system helps your Executor identify all your existing accounts.
- People should select loyalty programs which provide clear transfer rules for their award points according to the programs they choose.
- Users should combine their points in advance when the option exists such as with JetBlue’s Points Pooling program.
- Users should spend their points or transform them because their points become useless when they don’t have transfer options and their points expire because they didn’t make any transactions.
Ways to Use Points Before They Are Lost
- Users can exchange their flexible reward points from ThankYou and Amex Membership Rewards for specific hotel and airline loyalty programs.
- Customers should access the loyalty program’s online platform to find merchants who participate in the program.
- People who want to donate their airline miles can do so by giving their miles to charities because numerous charitable organizations accept these donations.
Why Should Reward Points Be Part of Your Estate Plan?
You have acquired actual worth through your purchases and your dedication to loyalty because of reward points and miles. Digital assets function as online resources which need to become part of your estate planning documents. Your Will contains these accounts but the most important factor becomes your Executor’s knowledge about these accounts and their ability to reach out to each provider.
At USLegalWills.com, you can create a comprehensive Will and use the LifeLocker service to document all of your accounts – including loyalty and rewards programs – so nothing is lost or overlooked.
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