Frequent-Flyer Points & Travel Credits: Who Owns Them?

Long-distance parenting racks up miles and credits — and then a fight over who they belong to. Spell it out.

Who owns the points

Airlines award points to the account holder who bought the ticket, not the traveler. Keep a simple spreadsheet — date, route, purchaser, cost, points earned — so allocation stays fair, and when points book a ticket, record the cash equivalent so the non-purchasing parent isn't charged for a zero-cost trip.

Credits and accounts

When a flight changes, airlines issue credits — the order should say who controls them and set expiration deadlines. Consider giving the child a frequent-flyer number so miles accrue consistently, and treat points as coupons earmarked for the child to lower total travel spending rather than to equalize loyalty perks between parents.

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