Airline bereavement discount

THE ALERT TRAVELER; Bereavement fares won't add to grief

Special to the Herald

When a loved one passes away or becomes ill, you might have to hop on a plane and get to a destination as fast as possible, whether to offer emotional support or get to a funeral on time.

It's good to know, when such situations arise, most airlines have compassion policies and bereavement fares that imply, at least on face value, your bank balance won't suffer too dramatically as a result of a short-notice flight booking. But the policies of various airlines are as different as their meal offerings.

Delta and American offer bereavement fares 50 percent off the full, walk-up fare to immediate family members in the event of a death or medical emergency. In both cases tickets are fully refundable, and fees for changes waived as long as passengers notify the airline of their relationship to the ill or deceased person and provide the name of the hospital or funeral home, as well as the name of the doctor.

"American understands that every family situation is different, and tries to be flexible in extending bereavement and compassion fares," a company spokeswoman said.

A Delta spokeswoman said that airline also tries to work with the customer, realizing extraordinary events happen.

United Airlines offers a 70 percent discount off the walk-up fare, applicable in the event of medical emergency or death of an immediate family member, with no penalties for cancellation or other changes. The fare applies to immediate family members, including spouses or domestic partners, grandparents or grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Less specific discounts come from Northwest Airlines. A spokesman said the airline offers consumers fares that are "less than normal walk-up prices" when travel is due to the death or hospitalization of an immediate family member.

US Airways has an equally vague policy. "We make every effort to make travel the least stressful part of a trip for passengers traveling in the event of bereavement," a spokeswoman said.

Be aware the bereavement fares might be higher than what you can find online or by calling a travel agent. Those lower fares are likely, however, to be nonrefundable.

But read between the lines of various airline policies and you realize there's a gray area in the event of emergency or death and a lot depends on the airline's or even reservation agent's compassion. Many of the policies suggest there's room for more or less compassion depending on certain circumstances. And that can only mean good news for those traveling in tragic situations.