What Anthony Bourdain’s Estate Plan Teaches Us About Travel Miles

​- By Jesson & Rains Associate Attorney, Danielle Nodar

Anthony Bourdain, acclaimed chef, television host, and travel writer, encouraged people to explore the world and continues to do so after his death. When Bourdain’s will was probated in New York, it was revealed that he left most of his estate to his eleven-year-old daughter. However, according to The New York Times’ Page Six, Bourdain bequeathed his frequent flier miles to his estranged wife. Bourdain stated in his will that she should “dispose of [them] in accordance with what [she] believes to have been my wishes.”
 
Considering Bourdain’s jet set career as the host of CNN’s Parts Unknown, this gift is likely a substantial amount of frequent flier miles. While most of us have not racked up a similarly significant amount of miles, Bourdain’s estate plan still calls into question what kind of property we can leave to our loved ones and how.
 
Every airline and credit card company has a different policy for their points or rewards programs. When a customer signs up for a loyalty program, they are entering into a contract and must abide by the company’s terms and conditions.  Some programs specifically indicate that rewards points are not property of the rewards member. In these cases, the rewards points are neither assignable during lifetime nor inheritable at death. Other loyalty programs may allow rewards points or accrued miles to transfer to a person through a will or divorce decree. However, even in these cases, it is sometimes up to the discretion of the airline whether to honor a transfer of miles.
 
If you are interested in leaving a loved one your accrued airline miles or rewards points after your death, you should read the terms and conditions to determine (1) if you they are transferable and (2) if they are, how to transfer them properly. 
 
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
― from “No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach”