Some airlines may allow miles to be transferred to a beneficiary, others might close the account upon death, and still, others might allow miles to be used for a period following the account holder's death. For instance, American Airlines does not allow miles to be willed or inherited.

Technically, most airlines state that miles are not the property of the member and therefore cannot be inherited like traditional assets. However, many carriers offer "compassion" policies that allow for the transfer of miles upon the death of a member if specific documentation is provided. For example, airlines like American, United, and Alaska often allow the transfer of miles to a beneficiary's account if the survivor provides a death certificate and, in some cases, legal affidavits or a copy of the will. Delta is notably more restrictive, often stating in their terms that miles are non-transferable upon death, though they may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Because many airlines charge a fee for these transfers, it is often more practical for family members who have the deceased's login credentials to simply book flights directly from the original account rather than initiating a formal legal transfer.