If someone passes away, Delta feels the miles are theirs and they won't transfer them to anyone else. If you have access to the delta.com account, you should be able to use the miles without any issues. Just don't tell Delta the person is deceased.

Technically, Delta's official policy is that miles are not the property of the member and cannot be transferred upon death or by operation of law. However, Delta is known for being compassionate and "specifically authorizing" transfers to beneficiaries if the proper documentation is provided. To facilitate this in 2026, the executor or a family member must contact Delta's "SkyMiles" department with a copy of the death certificate and the SkyMiles account number of the deceased. Delta generally allows a one-time transfer of the balance to a beneficiary's account to "close out" the estate, provided it is handled within a reasonable timeframe (usually one year). If the account remains inactive and the death is not reported, the account may eventually be deactivated for inactivity, though SkyMiles technically do not expire as long as the program remains active.