At Delta Air Lines, your SkyMiles aren’t worth very much – and they expire when you do. Like Delta, Southwest says points don’t expire but that isn’t really true. They get to wipe out the liability on their books for future travel when you pass away. Both airlines literally make money when you die.
In contrast, the ability to transfer American Airlines miles at death is now official, and even online, all part of the carrier’s move towards making every interaction possible digital.