Passengers facing the need for urgent travel due to a family member’s death or terminal illness may find some relief through bereavement fares offered by certain airlines. These fares, although less common since 2015, provide discounted and flexible options for last-minute travel.
Delta Air Lines offers bereavement flights on both domestic and international routes, subject to availability and restrictions. The fare applies to immediate family members such as spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Delta waives service fees for these flights but requires passengers to be Skymiles members before booking.
Air Canada provides discounts on flights operated by itself and its codeshare partners. The policy excludes basic economy fares in North America but includes those outside the region. Travel must occur within ten days of booking with a return flight within 60 days. Proof of the situation is required within seven days post-travel.
Alaska Airlines offers a 10% discount on the lowest available fare for eligible passengers traveling within seven days of an immediate family member’s death. This offer cannot be combined with other discounts and is valid on Alaska Airlines-operated flights only.
WestJet has two types of bereavement fares: one for immediate family deaths or imminent deaths and another for civil funerals of emergency personnel who died in duty. Both require registration with WestJet Rewards and completion of travel within specific timeframes.
Hawaiian Airlines limits its ‘Neighbor Island Emergency Travel’ to one-way flights between Hawaiian Islands due to hospitalization or death. Passengers must book at normal rates first before submitting proof for a refund review process that takes up to 30 days.
Lufthansa offers compassionate fares from North America under certain conditions. Availability varies; thus early booking is advised alongside necessary documentation.
While United Airlines no longer provides bereavement fares, it remains flexible with flight changes or cancellations as do American Airlines post-merger with US Airways, JetBlue, Southwest, and Frontier.
Bereavement fares may not always be the most economical choice; alternative options include using loyalty points or seeking military/government discounts where applicable. Online searches or consulting travel agencies might yield better prices without incurring additional service fees during this challenging time when booking errors are more likely due to stress-induced circumstances.
