What Happens to Credit Card Points and Airline Miles When You Die?

If you have a travel rewards credit card or elite status with a hotel or airline, your stash of points could be worth thousands of dollars.

But what happens to those points and miles after you die?

It turns out reward points aren’t considered property — so you typically can’t name a beneficiary to inherit them. You’re not legally entitled to have them transferred to anyone upon your death either.

“Each company has its own specific stipulations and requirements,” said Nick Ewen, senior editor of The Points Guya travel website focused on helping readers accumulate reward points.

However, some companies may let a family member cash out the rewards or transfer points after an account holder dies.

Whether you’re planning ahead so your family can utilize your rewards after you’re gone or you’re a family member trying to navigate a loved one’s account after they’ve passed, here’s how to manage reward points upon death. (Note: You should get legal advice before you start navigating a deceased person’s estate.)

Credit Card Reward Points

Every credit card issuer has its own rules for managing points after death. Many handle these situations on a case-by-case basis.

Give the company a call and ask if points can be redeemed or transferred to another account.

American Express Membership Rewards

Points can be reinstated to a new Basic American Express account or redeemed by the estate or an eligible party, according to the company’s website.

If you’re the executor of the estate, you’ll need to send a formal written request to the company’s Membership Rewards Correspondence Unit to get the points distributed.

Make sure to call American Express before you cancel your family member’s credit card. According to the company’s website: “Accrued Membership Rewards points will be forfeited immediately upon cancellation of all cards…The estate or eligible party may only be able to redeem points within a certain time…