Loyalty Points and Airline Miles at Death in Canada — Aeroplan, AIR MILES, and More

Loyalty program balances can be substantial — an active traveller's Aeroplan account might hold $5,000-30,000 in equivalent value. This guide covers how to leave loyalty points and airline miles in a Canadian Will, with verified details for Aeroplan and the general framework for other programs.

The general principle #

Loyalty program points are governed by each program's terms and conditions, not directly by your Will. The Will provides estate authority and identifies the intended recipient; the program's policy controls what's actually transferable and how.

This means:

• Naming someone as the recipient of your points in your Will is not enough on its own
• The program's death policy controls the actual transfer
• Executor must follow each program's specific procedures
• Some programs allow transfer; some forfeit; some pay out

Aeroplan (Air Canada) — verified policy #

Aeroplan has a published Estate Policy that explicitly addresses what happens at death.

Key points #

Points cannot be "willed" in the strict sense — Aeroplan isn't bound by the Will document directly.

But a beneficiary of the deceased member's estate may request transfer of the member's points to their own Aeroplan account.

Single beneficiary: Receives all the points.

Multiple beneficiaries: Points divided equally — unless there is written, signed documentation stating that one or more beneficiaries don't want the points.

Regular expiry rules apply to the late member's points. Currently 18 months of account inactivity triggers point expiry.

Donations: Points cannot be donated directly from the deceased member's account. Points must first transfer to the beneficiary's Aeroplan account; the beneficiary can then donate.

Family Sharing pool #

If the deceased was a Family Lead of an Aeroplan Family Sharing pool, the pool is automatically dissolved on the Family Lead's death. Pool member accounts revert to standalone status; the (former) Family Lead's points are handled per the standard estate policy.

How to actually transfer #

1. Executor contacts Aeroplan through the official estate policy contact
2. Provide documentation:
   • Death certificate
   • Documentation establishing executor's authority (Will, probate)
   • Beneficiary information (Aeroplan account number)
3. Aeroplan processes transfer to beneficiary's account
4. Specific timeline — typically weeks; specific to circumstances

Will language #

A specific bequest in your Will provides the authority:

"I leave my Aeroplan account (account number ending in [last 4 digits]) and all points contained therein to my son James Smith. If transfer is not permitted under Aeroplan's estate policy in effect at the time of my death, this gift shall lapse and the value of any unrecovered points shall fall to the residue of my estate."

The Aeroplan policy controls the actual transfer; the Will provides estate authority and identifies the intended beneficiary.

AIR MILES #

AIR MILES is the other major Canadian loyalty program.

General approach:

• Executor contacts AIR MILES customer service
• Provides death documentation
• Requests transfer to beneficiary's account
• Specific to current AIR MILES terms

Best practice — confirm current AIR MILES estate policy at the time of need, as program terms evolve.

Hotel loyalty programs #

Major hotel programs Canadians commonly use:

Marriott Bonvoy:

• Generally allows transfer at the program's discretion with appropriate documentation
• Specific procedures through Marriott Bonvoy customer service
• Specific to current program terms

Hilton Honors:

• Similar discretionary transfer approach
• Specific procedures through Hilton Honors customer service
• Specific to current program terms

IHG One Rewards, Hyatt, Best Western:

• Each has specific death procedures
• Generally allow transfer with appropriate documentation

Best practice — for each program with substantial balance, document account numbers in a Life Discovery Kit (or equivalent) so executor can promptly address each.

Retail and grocery loyalty programs #

Costco Cash Rewards:

• Generally tied to individual membership
• Specific procedures at time of need
• Substantial balances worth addressing

PC Optimum:

• Specific procedures
• Generally allows transfer with documentation

Scene+, Beneva, specific retail programs:

• Each has specific terms
• Document substantial balances

Credit card rewards points #

Different category — varies significantly by card issuer. Covered in detail in credit card rewards points at death.

Crypto, brokerage rewards, and specific digital programs #

Some specific programs combine loyalty with digital assets:

• Brokerage cash-back programs
• Specific crypto rewards (NDAX, Wealthsimple, Coinbase)
• Specific to circumstances

Document and handle per each program's specific terms.

What the Will should say #

For substantial loyalty balances:

Single beneficiary, specific program:

"I leave my Aeroplan account and all points contained therein to my daughter Emma Smith."

Multiple beneficiaries, equal split:

"I leave my Aeroplan account points equally among my three children [names]."

Mixed bequests:

"I leave my Aeroplan points to my son James, my AIR MILES to my daughter Sarah, and the balance of my hotel loyalty accounts to my spouse [name]."

General catch-all (for less substantial balances):

"I leave all my loyalty program rewards, points, and miles (Aeroplan, AIR MILES, hotel programs, retail programs, and similar) to my spouse [name] if she survives me, or, if not, equally among my children."

Documentation for the executor #

Loyalty points are difficult for executors to identify and access. Document:

• Program name (Aeroplan, AIR MILES, Marriott Bonvoy, etc.)
• Account number or login email
• Approximate balance (annual review)
• Specific contact information for each program's estate/death procedures
• Intended beneficiary per your Will

This information belongs in a Life Discovery Kit or equivalent — NOT in the Will itself (which becomes public after probate).

Practical tips #

Inventory annually — loyalty balances accumulate; review during annual Will review to capture new programs and rough balances.

Consolidate where possible — fewer programs are easier for executor to address; combined balances may simplify transfer.

Use credit card rewards before they become an estate issue if balances are substantial.

Confirm current program terms at the time of estate planning — programs change estate policies periodically.

For substantial balances ($10,000+ equivalent value), worth specific bequest language; smaller balances can fall under general "loyalty programs" catch-all.

What we focus on at It's Simple Will #

The Will Creator handles loyalty point bequests as specific bequests — you describe the program account and name the recipient. The Life Discovery Kit (post-payment) captures the account-level documentation the executor needs to actually process each program.

Related guides #

• What can you leave in a Canadian Will?
• Specific bequests — ademption, lapse, and identification failure
• Credit card rewards points at death in Canada
• Wills with digital assets
• Managing deceased online accounts
• Beneficiary designations override Will

Sources:

• Aeroplan Estate Policy
• Aeroplan Family Sharing