What Are Bereavement Flights and Which Airlines Still Offer Discounts?

Travel can be stressful, irrespective of all the services, but having to book airfare and fly while grieving the death of a loved one can be beyond imagination that anyone can think of. Fortunately, there are some airlines that offer bereavement fares like cheaper flights with flexible booking options, in other words, its an another way of expressing support to make the time a bit easier to manage.

• Air Canada 
• Alaska Airlines 
• WestJet 
• Hawaiian Airlines 
• Delta Air Lines 
• Lufthansa Airlines

Please keep in mind that the bereavement flight varies by airlines which includes certain requirements . Also, be aware that bereavement fares are not always the cheapest option. Learn about the many factors that help to have a smooth booking experience.

What are Bereavement Flights?

The bereavement flights are best known as 'compassion fares'; in other words, they are discounted airfares that are provided by certain airlines in response to the sudden death or serious illness of a close family member. The very idea here is to offer some amount of financial relief for the individuals who have to purchase the last-minute, often expensive, flights due to unforeseen situations. The bereavement airline ticket discounts are based on the airline's policy, the flight's destination, and the travel time. 

6 Airlines That Offer Bereavement Fares

Please keep in mind that the bereavement flight varies by airlines which includes certain requirements . Also, be aware that bereavement fares are not always the cheapest option. Learn about the many factors that help to have a smooth booking experience.

1. Air Canada Bereavement Flights

Air Canada generally offers a bereavement discount for any Economy Class fares within North America, such as flights outside of North America, and Economy Basic tickets are also available to get discounted fares. 

Air Canada has one of the most structured policies for compassionate travel. For a deeper look at the specific documents you need and how to apply for a refund, see our dedicated guide on Air Canada Bereavement Fares.

Things To Keep In Mind

• The Air Canada's Bereavement policy is applicable to the immediate family members only. Like, if you are a spouse or ex-spouse, parent, child, sibling, legal guardian, or spouse of the legal guardian of the deceased. This option also includes step, half, in-law, and common laws to the grand and great-grand relatives. The policy also works for same-sex relationships as well. 
• Supporting documents of your loss will be needed to confirm the loss. This can be like any of the below-mentioned papers such as:-
          a. the funeral director's statement
          b. A copy of the death certificate.
          c. registration issued by a provisional government or a letter from the
              treating physician on official letterhead or on a prescription pad.
          d. the coroner's statement.
  In case you are going with the second last option, then make sure that the physician knows about the letter that you might need to state the situation as one of an imminent death of your immediate family member. 
• The document that you represent has to be emailed to bereavement@aircanada.ca that too, within the seven days of your return flight. So, if you do not provide this documentation, then you may be charged with the regular fare prices for your flight. 
• Time plays an important role here, as you must travel within the 10 days of your booking, a slightly longer time duration than the other bereavement flight options. Furthermore, your bereavement travel can be extended up to 60 days to the maximum. 

How to Book?

The Bereavement flights can be booked just by calling the Flight information and the customer support care line for Air Canada at +1-888-247-2262. There you have t request bereavement fares, here you have to share the name of the family member, and how you are related to them.

You will also be asked to disclose the hospital name or residence and the attending physician's name, phone number, and address - or the date of the memorial or funeral and the name, address, and phone number of the memorial or funeral home. 

2. Alaska Airlines Bereavement Flights

With Alaska Airlines, the air travel bereavement offers a 10% discount off the lowest available fare prices.  The many discounted fares are easily available to book and are applicable to flights on behalf of Alaska Airlines by SkyWest or Horizon. Here, know that the bereavement fares cannot be combined with other rate reductions, such as miles or military discounts.

Things To Keep In Mind

• The booking discount is available to customers who have lost a family member, which has been classified by the airline as a spouse or a domestic partner, parent, child, siblings, or half siblings, grandchild, grandparents, uncle, aunt, niece, or nephew. The step family members and the in-laws that fall into these very categories are also labelled as an immediate family member only, as the cousins and the other in-law relatives do not qualify for it. 
• The travelers who are older than 18 years must be a Mileage Plan member to be able to qualify for the available discount in such a scenario, know thats its free to sign up for. 
• The travel is supposed to happen within seven days of the death of a loved one. 

How to Book?

To be able to secure a bereavement fare, you have to call the Alaska Airlines Customer Care Department at +1-800-252-7522, respectively. This discounted rate is well-applied to the new tickets that are purchased when you are calling on this phone number.

3. WestJet Bereavement Flights

As per WestJet's Bereavement fare, prices are flexible enough, and there are no fees for flight changes. Like most of the airlines, the company here advises that the cheaper fares are subject to change fees. The bereavement fares are only applicable to WestJet's Econo and EconoFlex fares. The discounted flights are not easily available on the partner airlines, nor on the WestJet Vacation flights. 

Things To Keep In Mind

• The airline, just like every other airlines also offers bereavement fares to travelers who experience an imminent or, say, a recent death in their family. According to WestJet, the family is defined as aunt, uncle, parent, brother, sister, child, nephew, spouse, niece, executor, and legal guardian, or the spouse of legal guardian. The policy is inclusive of the same sex couples, too, as grand, step, common law, and in-law versions of the listed relatives. 
• And if you are not already a WestJet Rewards Loyalty Member, then you are supposed to sign up for this 'free of cost program'. 
• Know that travel has to be completed within 14 days of when your first flight is booked. Your return trip is also included. 

How to Book?

Here, you will need to call upon the airline's customer care phone number, which is available on the site at 1-888-937-8538. Here, the customer care representative may require you to get some general information at the booking time, or say you may receive a call back if they need to know more in detail.

4. Hawaiian Airlines Bereavement Flights

The Hawaiian Airlines bereavement policy is referred to as "Neighbour Island Emergency Travel", and it's applicable for both death and hospitalisation as well. Additionally, the fares have some restrictions on one-way flights between the Hawaiian Islands. And in case of urgent travel to or from North America or along the international routes is not covered by the Hawaiian airlines Bereavement policy by any means. 

Things To Keep In Mind

• Now, to be able to qualify for an emergency fare, one is supposed to be an immediate family member of the hospitalized or the deceased, or a travelling companion. The airline here classifies a travelling companion as someone who has been booked under the same six-letter confirmation code as you. The airline also mentions that an immediate family could be children, spouses, siblings, grandparents, or grandchildren. The Stepfamily members and the in-laws are included in the policy, as are adopted children, 
• The passenger here must be able to provide proof of their relation to the hospitalized or deceased.
• The passenger has to travel within 48 hours of ticketing. 

How to Book?

To be able to secure an emergency fare rate, one has to book their trip at the normal booking price ranges and then submit the required documents, that is, a copy of your ticket, proof of relation, and proof of death or hospitalisation. The many documents will be reviewed in the seven days following the receipt, and if approved, the airlines will refund you the fare differences between the fare that you have paid and the emergency fare.

Additionally, Hawaiian Airlines offers a bereavement waiver request that allows the passenger to change or cancel an existing flight due to the death of a loved one. And in order to close your request, you will need to fill out a form at the original site of Hawaiian Airlines, and then attach the many documents, along with the death certificate, relationship proof to the deceased, and a copy of your ticket. 

Bereavement waiver requests must be made after you have modified or canceled your flight online or over the phone. Because this is a request, you will pay the entire fee for a change or cancellation up front, but you will be refunded the appropriate amount if your request is approved. Keep in mind that this may take up to 30 days.

5. Delta Air Lines Bereavement Flights

According to Delta Air Lines, they offer special fares for immediate family emergencies. Here, one has to have a SkyMiles membership and then can easily book through the airlines customer care department. Make sure that you are carrying all the needed documentation (deceased's info, funeral home/hospital contact).

Things To Keep In Mind

• Under the Delta Airlines policy, you have to be an immediate family member of the deceased, which includes a spouse, domestic partner, sister, child, brother, parent, stepparent, stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, stepbrother, stepsister, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, or sister-in-law. 
• Also, you are supposed to be a SkyMiles member, and if you are not a SkyMiles member, don't worry, you can look forward to the ways to get enrolled, to be able to become a member right before calling the Delta Reservations. 
• Here, the passenger will need to provide the deceased person's name, and the relationship that you have with the deceased, the name and phone number of the funeral home, hospital, or hospice, and the name of the attending doctor.
• You must travel within the seven days of the death or imminent death of an immediate family member.

How To Book?

The bereavement fare can is supposed to be secured via phone call. Here, the Delta Airlines phone number is 1-800-221-1212 for domestic flight reservations, and for international flights, call upon +1-800-241-4141. 

Delta requires a SkyMiles membership to access these fares. If you're booking last-minute, make sure you also understand their boarding process by reading our Delta Airlines Check-in Guide.

6. Lufthansa Airlines Bereavement Flights

It's worth noting that Lufthansa Airlines offers bereavement fare options, or say compassionate fare ranges, if the flight takes off from the US or Canada. The many flights here offer financial relief and also help those who are dealing with such difficult circumstances, and the airline will help to plan the flight accordingly. 

Things To Keep In Mind

• Lufthansa does not officially advertise a global "bereavement fare," so availability may vary by route and region. Travel is typically restricted to immediate family members only. Policies can differ between domestic, European, and international routes.
• You must contact Lufthansa customer service directly; these fares are not usually visible online. Be prepared to provide proof, such as a death certificate, hospital letter, or funeral notice.
• Know that the discounts, if offered, are often limited and apply mainly to economy class tickets. Flexible change options may be included, but cancellation and refund rules still apply. 
• Same-day or urgent departures may still have limited seat availability.
• Mileage accrual and upgrades may be restricted on special fares.
• Always ask about change fees and rebooking flexibility in advance.
• Keep all documentation ready to avoid delays in booking from the death certificate, doctor declaration, funeral papers, hospital, and others. 

How To Book?

Booking a Lufthansa bereavement flight is intended to be sympathetic and uncomplicated for passengers experiencing an emergency due to the death or critical illness of an immediate family member. Unlike ordinary internet reservations, bereavement fares typically need direct contact with Lufthansa. Begin by contacting Lufthansa customer support or visiting a local ticket agency. Inform the agent that you require a bereavement fare and provide specifics about your circumstances. You may be required to provide paperwork such as a death certificate, a hospital letter, or the name and contact information for the medical facility or funeral home.

Once verified, the agent will show qualified routes, available seats, and discounted fare alternatives, which are frequently flexible and have lower change penalties. After you've chosen your itinerary, call or come into the office to make your reservation. Lufthansa's team supports urgent travel needs, providing faster processing, flexible scheduling, and emotional support during challenging times.

What Counts as Bereavement for Airlines?

Every airline has its own rules and regulations, but generally every airline offers bereavement flights for the death or imminent death of a family member. This option covers here for the parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, spouses, and legal guardians as well, and to qualify for most of the airlines, one has to present the many proofs, which are as follows:- 

•  Proof of death (obituary or death certificate) 
• Documentation of your relationships to the deceased. 
• Funeral home or hospital contact information. 
• Travel to happen within 7-14 days of the event. 

Note: By providing the above mentioned documents, you can use the cheapest available flights that are often time sensitive. Furthermore, the airlines may request the name and contact details of the funeral home, hospital name, or hospice for further verification.

Which Airlines Offer Bereavement Flights?

There are airlines that can understand grieving. Due to which you get to avail the many options of exploring the bereavement flights. Read through to have a hold upon the best airlines that you can rely upon:-

Delta Air Lines:-

The airline's policy might also differ. It is worth noting that Delta Air Lines offer bereavement flight booking option for both domestic and international flights. The flights are subject to availability, and they may also have certain restrictions, but that is not a big thing to worry about. The available flights are operated by Delta Air Lines or by Delta Connection. Due to the death or imminent death of a family member who would easily qualify as a passenger for a bereavement fare type can be:-

•  A parent, stepparent, or parent-in-law. 
• A spouse or domestic partner. 
• A sibling, stepsibling, or sibling-in-law
• A child, son, stepchild, or daughter-in-law
• An aunt, niece, uncle, or nephew. 
• A grandparent, or grandchild

Alaska Airlines:

Alaska Airlines can offer bereavement fare options to help people fly within 7 days after the death of an immediate family member. Most of the family members who are allowed by Delta Air Lines are similar, but the cousins and some in-laws are not allowed. 

Hawaiian Airlines:-

The airline offers 'Neighbour Island Emergency Travel' other than the bereavement airline tickets. This is applicable in case if 'hospitalization' or 'death'. The fares are restricted to one-way flights only, between the Hawaiian Islands only. You must provide the proof of documentation or death, which can fly to and from North America, as the international routes are not covered. 

Bereavement Flight Discounts: What To Expect?

Its bit obvious to set expectations around what the bereavement flight discounts actually cover and where they fall short to help. These many discounts are generally modest ones to get around the discounts and savings off standard fares, and not the lowest available flight price ranges, and that may also include limited flexibility for the many flight changes or refunds. Additionally, they come with several limitations, including limited availability, strict documentation requirements, and being non-transferable.

The bereavement airline tickets has to be booked by phone call, as they are not available online. So, despite the name, the bereavement fares are often comparable to or even more costly than the prices on the oblic search engines.

How to Apply for Bereavement Fares?

To apply for the bereavement fares that you might need, know about the many options to get support from the airlines:-

1. Contact The Airline - Make sure that you get in touch with your chosen airline partner to discuss your situation and to also confirm the availability of the bereavement fares.
2. Maintain Documentation - Here, you will have to present a death certificate or other official documentation to prove the bereavement. Other possible documentation includes funeral home records, hospital information, and death registration.
3. Book Your Flight - Once your eligibility gets confirmed, you can book a bereavement fare. Some of the airlines may also offer flexibility with booking changes and cancellations. 

Unknown Facts Of Berevement Flights

• A lot of passengers have heard about bereavement fares, but not many people know how it actually works, how unusual and subtle they have become. Previously, most airlines used to market heavily discounted tickets to passengers who were traveling because of a death or serious illness in the family. There are only a few carriers today who provide formal bereavement flights and even then, those have their conditions which most people do not anticipate.
• Another obscure fact is that bereavement fares are not necessarily cheaper than regular tickets. The discount in most of the situations is applied to the flexible economy fares, which are already more expensive than simple promotions available online. Due to this, passengers can find that a typical price quoted by one of the comparison sites is cheaper than the airline's special bereavement price.
• The other shocking information is the required documentation. Airlines offering such fares still usually require the full name of the deceased, contact information of a hospital or funeral home, and, in some cases, the name of a doctor. This procedure may be invasive at the period of a heart-rending emotion, and consent is not immediate, maybe hours, and this is important in the case of emergencies.
• Other carriers do not offer discounted prices anymore, but, in fact, offer flexibility benefits. Such can be waived change fees, short-term reservations with a holding fee, or same-day flight changes without an additional fee. These features may not be much, but they can pay off more than a percentage discount applied to a given plan, when it is unpredictable.
• Compassionate rebooking is another option that must not be disregarded. Even those airlines that do not have formal bereavement policies occasionally make an exception out of customer support, especially in the case of frequent fliers. Requesting compassion consideration may open the flexibility that is not publicly touted, and in the process, it proves that empathy in travel is still possible just under the rug.
• Relationship limits bereavement fares as well. The majority of airlines limit it to immediate family members like parents, siblings, spouses, children or grandparents. Uncle and aunt, close friends or selected relatives are not included, whether it is important emotionally or not.

Many Airlines That Don't Offer Bereavement Flights

There are many airlines that used to offer bereavement fares and have phased out this option, that is, they do not offer such operational flights anymore:- 

• American Airlines: They do not offer specific bereavement fares, but they do consider ticket refunds in case of a death, provided all the required relationship documentation is provided.
• JetBlue Airlines:-  The airlines does not offer bereavement fares; here one can rely upon the fare structure.
• United Airlines: The United Bereavement Fares discontinued its bereavement fare program in 2014, which no longer provides this very benefit.
• Spirit Airlines:- The airlines does not offer bereavement fares due to their already low fare pricing and policy restrictions. 

While United Airlines discontinued their formal program, they still offer various last-minute deals. If you are a student or young adult, you might find a better price through the United Airlines Young Adult Discount.

Are Bereavement Flights Worthy?

The answer to this question depends on the many needs and upon the airline polices as well. While air travel bereavement provides mental peace during the tough time, its availability and advantages may vary. Weighing the savings against potential restrictions and also comparing them with all the above-discussed airlines will help you to book the most convenient and service-oriented airlines to you. 

What are the Tips for Travelling During Bereavement?

The many tips will help to know to be on the right path:-

Be Informed

• Every airline here has its own policy, so do not guess and be sure about the information that you need to supply to one air carrier which will be similar for others. Contact each airlines directly for the most up-to-date information.

Seek Customer Care Support 

• Do not be reluctant to seek support from friends, family, or a therapist who can help you to navigate the process. 

Stay Organised

• The airlines generally offers the bereavement fares will require you to provide additional information and documentation to make the funeral arrangements. Ask the airline for all the requirements so you can ensure you gather everything in a timely manner.

Conclusion

The airline policies can differ as to who is eligible for taking very advantage of the bereavement fares. Keep in mind that some of the airlines can only accept immediate family members, whereas others (airlines) have become more inclusive with time. The names of many bereavement airlines are mentioned to help you book the right airline when you are in such circumstances.