What Happens to Your Travel Points When You Die?
In this episode, Catherine Allen-Carlozo and Tyler Reedman dive into an unconventional yet valuable topic: what happens to your travel rewards—points, miles, and loyalty perks—when you pass away? Prompted by a real client experience, the discussion unpacks how various credit card, airline, and hotel programs treat reward balances after death, and what estate planning strategies can help preserve them for loved ones. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that blends financial planning with travel hacking insights.lth without fear.
Tune into this episode to also learn:
- Why you don’t technically own your points or miles.
- How to plan ahead to preserve rewards for your loved ones.
- The importance of sharing logins and digital access with trusted individuals.
- Which travel rewards programs allow for point transfers—and which don’t.
What we discussed
- [00:01:14] How a client’s passing revealed the complexities of transferring travel points after death.
- [00:02:27] Travel hacking 101: how to use credit card points and loyalty programs for nearly free trips.
- [00:04:50] Why points aren’t considered your property and how that affects estate planning.
- [00:05:45] The critical importance of having logins and account access in estate prep.
- [00:07:19] Common pitfalls with two-factor authentication and password managers.
- [00:09:06] Best practices for storing login info and digital credentials securely.
- [00:10:18] Including travel rewards in your estate plan: who inherits and how to designate.
- [00:12:19] Each airline and hotel chain has its own rules—know them in advance.
- [00:13:22] Credit card churning, signup bonuses, and the art of responsible travel hacking.
3 Things To Remember
- Your travel points and miles aren’t considered your property—so don’t assume they’ll automatically transfer.
- Document login credentials, security questions, and instructions for accessing key accounts.
- If travel rewards matter to you, consider including them specifically in your estate plan or will.
Memorable moments:
(00:01:14) “Today’s topic is all about what happens to your points and miles when you die.”
(00:05:20) “If we would’ve just called the credit card company and said, ‘Hey, he passed away,’ that person… immediately closes that account and then you may forfeit any points or miles.”
(00:12:53) “It’s not yours. You’re just participating in the program, but you don’t legally own these miles.”
Useful Links
Connect with Catherine Allen-Carlozo: HERE
Connect with Tyler Reedman: HERE
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