As travelers accumulate hundreds of thousands of frequent flyer miles, their frequent flyer accounts have become valuable assets. Many people now include these accounts in their wills. Inheriting the miles is not always simple. Each airline has its own requirements. All airlines require documentation of proof of death and proof of the heir's right to inherit the miles.
Some airlines charges a transfer fee.
For nonairline programs, such as American Express, the miles may be more difficult to inherit. Because charge cards are canceled on notice of death, the accumulated miles may disappear. In this case, the best way to safeguard your miles may be to make sure that the intended heir is listed as a secondary name on the credit card. Technically, you become one of the airline's creditors in bankruptcy. If you file a claim in the bankruptcy court, there is a chance you will recover some very small percentage of the value of the ticket, but more likely you will recover nothing at all.