Booking travel can be stressful, but when dealing with the loss of a loved one, arranging bereavement plans could make matters worse.
When it comes to flying to a destination in the event of an unfortunate occasion, some airlines help alleviate the stress by offering discounted fares.
Discounts and policies differ by airline, each offering various rates and particular requirements.
See below for a list of at least three airlines that offer bereavement fares.
Airlines Offering Bereavement Support Through Discounts
Airlines know that in moments of grief, the last thing a passenger needs is added tension. Fortunately, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, and several others provide relief by way of discounted fares and flexible policies when tragedy strikes.
Alaska Airlines: Compassion in Air Travel
Alaska Airlines extends a 10% discount off the lowest fare available, particularly for travel scheduled within the next week. This often unspoken gesture acknowledges the urgency faced when flying for such painful reasons.
To benefit from this fare, one must call to book—this policy encompasses only immediate family members, as defined by the airline. While the details surrounding the need for funeral documentation remain vague, the emphasis is clear: it’s a bridge of support between the airline and those in mourning.
Yet, the policies highlight an important aspect: these reduced rates are not meant for situations involving medical emergencies, emphasizing the airline’s stance on careful sectoring of travel types.
Delta Air Lines: A Framework of Family Connections
Delta Air Lines’ policy is exclusively for SkyMiles members, a subtle reminder that loyalty can sometimes translate into crucial support during difficult moments. Unlike the fixed 10% from Alaska, Delta’s discounts vary. To initiate this process, travelers must contact a representative through the “Help Center,” an essential point to navigate amid an emotional whirlwind.
They require documentation that includes the deceased’s details, relationships, and verification from funeral homes or hospitals. It draws attention to the gravity of their requests—a tangible representation of the sadness behind the journey.
Hawaiian Airlines: Island Bound with Empathy
Hawaiian Airlines offers bereavement fares for travel within the beautiful archipelago, a comforting option when distances seem impossibly vast. They clarify that for urgent flights outside Hawaii to places like the mainland U.S. or beyond, such support is absent, which is a limitation for those needing rapid access to far-flung loved ones.
In unfortunate circumstances where one needs to change a reservation due to a death, the airline allows submission of a waiver request. Required documents include a death certificate, proof of relationship, and the original ticket. Each document tells a story, a bittersweet reminder of the love that journey was meant to celebrate.
What About Airlines without Formal Bereavement Policies?
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, however, do not provide specific bereavement fares. Their customer service pages state flatly, “We’re sorry, we don’t offer emergency or bereavement fares.” Yet, both do allow ticket changes without penalties under certain conditions.
For American Airlines, a ticket may be eligible for a refund in the event of a death within the immediate family, a reflection of compassion even in policy absence. Clients must furnish proof of relationship, as seen with others. Similarly, JetBlue may waive cancellation fees for the death of an immediate family member, revealing how airlines can sometimes weave understanding into their intricate web of rules.
Travelers should never underestimate the power of direct communication with the airline’s refunds department. In these heart-wrenching moments, a touch of human interaction might just bring some light amidst the grief.
Aircraft journeys can mirror the pathways of our lives, twisted and intertwined with bouts of joy and sorrow. The world moves so swiftly, but sometimes, it’s the pauses in life—like the moments spent with loved ones, rediscovered during a time of loss—that turn out to be the most poignant.
