Transfer of Avios within a Household due to death in family

[Jimenybob]

Hi all,

I’m trying to support a family member who sadly lost her husband within the last 12 months.

They were both Exec Club members, and part of the same household. The person that died was the ‘head of the Avios household’, and the majority of the spending that they did as a couple was on his card.

While it may be possible for them to go under the radar and spend the points pooled within the household, their preference is to be above board.

I have read older posts that suggest that BAEC have been generous and bent their published rules and permitted such transfers.

Does anyone have any experience of this request in the recent past, and do you have any advice that I should share with my family member on how to approach this situation?

Thank you

[ChrisBCN]

There is a good article – https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/02/01/what-happens-to-your-british-airways-avios-points-when-you-die/

I wouldn’t be in any hurry to tell BA anything, the wish to be above board may cause more distress.

[zapato1060]

My condolences to the family. Do they have access to emails of the deceased?

-Moving deceased husband Avios to a newly created Finnair account in husband name for free
-Transfer husbands Finnair Avios to wife’s Finnair account for only a 10euro charge
-Transfer from wife’s Finnair to her BA account for free.

Unethical?! but workable.

[John]

Just spend them in the household. BA doesn’t trawl death registries

[To dare is to do]

My mum is still in my household account, she died 3 years ago I moved most of her points over when it only cost £15 there’s a few hundred left in account. I really wouldn’t overthink it tbh.

[SteveJ]

Surviving spouse opens a Qatar Avios account and transfers all their own points to the Qatar account. Utilise the Avios in the household account as usual until the are down to nil, then disband the household account, after which move own points back from Qatar.

[Froggee]

It is no longer the recent past as it was 2019 but my mother’s solicitor sent a letter to British Airways as per the article @ChrisBCN linked and the points were transferred quickly.

Ironically, all the problems came with Hilton who have an explicit policy allowing transfer of points on death.

I can very much understand wanting to do things the right way as otherwise the existence of the spouse in the household account will remain as a somewhat raw reminder.