The Vanishing Act of Bereavement Fares

If you’re anything like I am, most of your travel plans are made weeks, months and possibly even years in advance. That family vacation for next spring, the business trip your boss briefly mentioned over lunch… everything is coordinated ahead of time. Last November, I booked a flight to a conference in March, long before my application was even accepted, just so I could get the cheapest flight possible. While “jumping the gun” may be unreasonable at times, for the most part, planning ahead can save a great deal of time, money and stress.

Credit: newparkculture.com

Unfortunately, we cannot plan the loss of a loved one as we can a vacation or business trip. Most often, these things happen suddenly, and grieving family members are often spread out across the country, sometimes even across the globe. Years ago, airlines gave discounted airfares to those flying to a relative’s funeral or wake, but these accommodations have become almost unobtainable today.

According to an article in AP’s The Big Story, one reason for this is that many airlines believe that people take advantage of bereavement fares and scam the system by lying. Today, grieving travelers must supply proof of their relative’s death to get a lower-priced ticket. Even then, only two major U.S. carriers, Alaska and Delta Airlines, currently offer bereavement fares. Many others, including United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Allegiant Air do not.

Another reason that bereavement fares have practically disappeared is because low-fare carriers and discount airlines already offer very low fares every day. As Brett Snyder, a writer for Cranky Flier and the head of a concierge booking service, explained in an interview with AP, “As low-fare carriers came into more markets, those (original) bereavement fares ended up being higher than you could get elsewhere. It just angered people.”

While bereavement fares are becoming increasingly hard to find, they are not yet extinct. For example, Delta Airlines offers grieving travelers flexibility on returning flights and waives service fees. Alaska Airlines offers flexible travel dates for people flying due to the death of an immediate family member, but the traveler must buy the ticket a week ahead of time. Frontier Airlines will let passengers change travel dates or destinations up to 90 days without a penalty fee.

Traveling to a loved one’s funeral can be stressful and expensive if you are not prepared.
(Credit:verywell.com)

If you or anyone you know is trying to find the best flight deals under a time-crunch due to the death of a loved one, here are some tips:

-Start looking at flights as soon as possible if your loved one is approaching the end of life. Even if you end up not buying a ticket, you will have some idea of what air travel will cost. Fare-tracking apps such as Hopper  and Skyscanner are a smart way to conveniently compare fares.

-Cash in your frequent-flier miles or points.

-Pick the airline that is most flexible about changing the ticket if necessary.

-Choose a package deal that bundles your flight with a hotel room to save money

Dealing with tasks that take a lot of effort and concentration while mourning the loss of a loved one can be extremely difficult. But the right preparation may help you find a reasonable fare, which will make the process easier in the long run.