Compassionate Fare Solutions
Navigating the Journey of Loss with Airline Offering Bereavement Fares
Discover the empatheic support and discounted options available through major US airlines to ease the burden of traveling during times of grief.
When there is a death in the family, we go into planning mode coordinating out-of-towners, funeral services, and document retrieval. It can be filled with stress - especially financially. Several airlines offer bereavement fares. These are not always cheaper but they do have a bit more flexibility. Policies on bereavement flights vary by airline. Be prepared with the necessary documentation. At the time of publication, the following airlines currently offer bereavement flights:
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines offers a bereavement flight option, traveling within seven days after the passing. A 10% discount off the lowest available fare will be applied. Remember that all flights must happen within these seven days, so the airline won't match a cheaper rate outside of this timeframe. Additionally, bereavement discounts cannot be combined with other rate reductions, such as miles or military discounts on Alaska Airlines flights and flights operated on behalf of Alaska by Horizon or SkyWest. The death must be a member of their immediate family, defined as spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, siblings or half-siblings, grandparents, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew. Stepfamily members and in-laws that fall into these categories are also recognized as immediate family, but cousins and other in-law relatives do not qualify for the discounted rate—mileage Plan members qualify for the discount.
Call Alaska Airlines reservations and customer service line at 1-800-252-7522. The discounted rate can only be applied to new tickets purchased when calling this number, so don't try to book through the website first. If you have already begun your travel, you will not be eligible for a bereavement flight. All fees and rules associated with the fare will apply to your bereavement flight.
View Alaska Airlines' bereavement travel policy.
Air Canada
Air Canada offers a bereavement discount excluding Economy Basic on flights on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or Air Canada Express. The bereavement policy only applies to immediate family members including a spouse, child, parent, sibling, legal guardian or spouse of the legal guardian of the deceased. This includes step, half, in-law and common in-law as well as grand and great-grand relatives. Air Canada's policy is also inclusive of same-sex relationships as well as ex-spouses.
Bereavement flights can be booked by calling Air Canada at 1-888-247-2262. Be prepared with the name of family member and your relationship, the name of the hospital or residence and the attending physician's name, address and phone number – or the date of the memorial or funeral and the name, address and phone number of the memorial or funeral home along with documentation such as a copy of the death certificate, the funeral director's statement, the coroner's statement, registration issued by a provincial government, or a letter from the treating physician on official letterhead. Make sure the physician knows that the letter will need to clearly define the situation as one of imminent death of your immediate family member. It will need to be emailed to bereavement@aircanada.ca within seven days of your return flight otherwise you will be charged full fare. To qualify for the bereavement rate, your travel must begin within 10 days of booking and can extend as long as 60 days, which is a larger window than other airlines. This can be beneficial when there is no return planned.
View Air Canada's bereavement travel policy.
Delta Air Lines
Delta’s bereavement fare can only be secured via phone and is not available to those booking on the website at 1-800-221-1212 for domestic flights or 1-800-241-4141 for international flights. You will be required to travel within seven days of the death or imminent death of an immediate family member: spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, sister, brother, stepparent, stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, stepbrother, stepsister, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law. Domestic partnerships are provided the same relations as spouses under this policy.
Tickets are still subject to availability with no additional discount. Flexibility provided by the policy can be helpful. The company waives service fees on all outbound and return bereavement flights.
Frequent Delta flyers can also utilize their Medallion Complimentary Upgrades and Complimentary Companion Upgrades to upgrade their flight, both domestic and international. Under Delta's policy, international bereavement flights may be subject to further restrictions and are not eligible for Mileage Upgrade Awards and Upgrade Certificates, which can be used on domestic flights.
You must be a SkyMiles member to receive a bereavement fare for your flight. And, you will need to provide the deceased person's name; your relationship to the deceased; the name and phone number of the funeral home, hospital, or hospice; and the name of the doctor (if applicable).
View Delta's bereavement travel policy.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines bereavement flights can only be booked for neighbor island travel between Hawaiian islands called "Neighbor Island Emergency Travel." The airline will waive ticketing fees for phone reservations booked within 48 hours due to the death of a family member. If you are traveling within the state of Hawaii, you may be eligible for one-way, all-inclusive, emergency fare. Single-segment emergency fares are available for $83 in the main cabin and $133 in first class. Emergency fares with a connection are listed as $110 for main cabin tickets and $160 for first class tickets.
To qualify, You must be traveling within 48 hours of ticketing and be a traveling companion or immediate family member to the hospitalized or deceased. Hawaiian Airlines classifies a traveling companion as someone booked under the same six-letter confirmation code as you, so you may not be eligible for emergency airfare if your travel companion booked separately.
Immediate family consists of spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents or grandchildren. Stepfamily members and in-laws are included in the policy, as are adopted children. Book your trip at the normal rate and then submit the required documents – a copy of your ticket, proof of relation, and a death certificate – online, by fax or by mail. Your documents will be reviewed within seven days following receipt and, if approved, Hawaiian Airlines will refund you the fare difference. Hawaiian Airlines does offer a bereavement waiver request should you need to change or cancel an existing booking. If you were unable to travel due to the loss of an immediate family member or traveling companion, you may be eligible for a change fee waiver or ticket refund. In order to submit your request, you will need to fill out a form at HawaiianAirlines.com/CAO and attach the following documents: a copy of the death certificate, proof of your relationship to the deceased (such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate) and a copy of your ticket.
View Hawaiian Airlines' bereavement travel policy.
WestJet
WestJet includes parent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, child, nephew, niece, spouse, executor, and legal guardian or spouse of legal guardian. The policy is inclusive of same-sex couples as well as grand, step, common law and in-law versions of the listed relatives. Fares can be applied to WestJet's Econo, EconoFlex and Premium fares, but are not available on the company's partner airlines.
To qualify, travel must be completed within 14 days of when your first flight is booked. This includes your return trip. WestJet's bereavement fares are flexible and do not incur change fees. Like most airlines, the company advises that cheaper rates may be available elsewhere on the website, but regular fares are subject to change fees. To book a bereavement fare, call 1-888-937-8538.
WestJet also offers civic funeral fares, a unique type of bereavement fare for guests traveling to the funeral of firefighters, police officers, military personnel or emergency services personnel who have died in the line of duty. These tickets can also be booked by calling the general inquiries line and are subject to the same restrictions as the bereavement fares offered by WestJet.