These fares have largely been phased out, but a handful of carriers still offer them. Here's when the fares apply.
August 7, 2019
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It's an unfortunate reality, but booking travel isn't always for a fun getaway.
If a loved one passes away, you might need to book a last-minute flight, which is generally an expensive prospect. This is when airline bereavement fares come into play—discounted rates for grieving passengers who've had a death (or have an imminent death) of a family member.
At one point, all three U.S. legacy carriers—Delta, American, and United—offered bereavement discounts to passengers booking a flight on short notice due to a deceased or dying relative. American and United, however, both ended the practice in 2014.
"Last-minute fares have generally decreased, making bereavement discounts less valuable for travelers," United said when it canceled the policy, which had offered customers a 5 percent bereavement discount. That statement makes a solid point: bereavement fares aren't always the best deal out there—especially with the proliferation of low-cost airlines and cheaper airfares in general—so it's best to compare prices if there's time. Many other airlines have also nixed the service based on this logic, while some budget carriers, like Southwest and JetBlue, never offered them in the first place.
Several airlines do still offer special services or discounts to those who suddenly need to travel due to a loved one's death. That's fortunate because when a travel emergency occurs, it's good to have as many options as possible. Keep in mind that to get most of these cheaper rates, you must call the airline reservation number to book. Depending on the airline policy, you'll also want some information on hand, like the name and contact information of your loved one's doctor or hospital, funeral home, and date of the service.
Here is a closer look at the airline bereavement fare policies still in place:
Delta offers bereavement fares to customers under certain circumstances and can only be booked over the phone. (Call at 800-221-1212 for domestic flights or 800-241-4141 for international flights.) The service is only available to Delta SkyMiles members traveling due to "the death or imminent death of an immediate family member." Passengers can sign up to become a SkyMiles member to immediately qualify for the special fare. There's also a list of relations that count as an immediate family member on Delta's bereavement fares page. Customers must provide the following information to receive the fare: the deceased person’s name; customer's relationship to the deceased; name and phone number of funeral home, hospital, or hospice; and name of doctor (if applicable). The airline also notes that bereavement fares are subject to availability and that "lower promotional fares may be available on delta.com or through Delta Reservations and may serve as a better option in some markets."
Alaska offers a 10 percent discount off the lowest priced Alaska Airlines fare available within seven days of travel to customers whose immediate family members have passed away. A list of relations that the airline deems immediate family is available on its bereavement fares page. Passengers must be members of Alaska's MileagePlan frequent flier program to qualify for the fares, and can immediately join in order to be eligible. The fares are only available by booking over the phone (800-252-7522).
"In the event of a death abroad, Lufthansa offers immediate family members special fares for outbound and return flights to attend the funeral if their journey starts in the USA or Canada," the German carrier says, although its policy does not specifically mention any other guidelines. The airline says customers in the U.S. and Canada can call their respective reservation numbers to book these fares over the phone.
Any flight marketed and operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express in economy class is eligible for the airline's bereavement fare discount. The reduced fare applies to travel due to the death or imminent death of an immediate family member. A list of who the airline considers as immediate family is available on its site. Travel must occur within 10 days of booking, and passengers must call Air Canada's reservation line to book (888-247-2262). Customers will be asked to provide the name of the family member and how they are related; the name of the hospital; the attending physician’s name, address, and phone number; or the name, address, and phone number of the memorial or funeral home; along with the date of the memorial or funeral. Passengers can also apply for the discount retroactively by providing a copy of the death certificate or a letter from the attending physician or hospital.
Discounted bereavement rates are available on WestJet's Econo, EconoFlex, and Premium fares and can only be booked by calling the airline's reservations line (888-937-8538). WestJet says the fares "offer maximum flexibility with no fees. We encourage you to look for a lower price on our website before booking a bereavement fare, but please note that these fares would be subject to a change fee, if applicable." All travel must be completed within 14 days of booking, and the special fares only apply to immediate family, with a list of applicable relatives on WestJet's bereavement page.
