Can you travel due to bereavement?

Many airlines offer “bereavement fares” to immediate family members escorting a body on a plane and immediate family members attending a funeral with little advance notice. Generally, bereavement fares are a percentage off the normal ticket price, with discounts ranging from 5% to 25%, depending on the airline.



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We're sorry, we don't offer emergency or bereavement fares. We do offer government or military fares in some markets. Wholly unrestricted fares are fully refundable and do not have advance purchase requirements.

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Most people's best case scenario will be to obtain a credit for future travel, rather than an outright refund. Keep in mind that the airline reps do have a certain amount of latitude in what they will allow a passenger to recoup, but outright refunds are usually reserved for only the most serious situations.

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Close the eyes, and cover the body with a blanket up to the neck, IATA advises, if a body bag is not available. Once the plane lands, the body and anyone traveling with the deceased should stay where they are while the other passengers disembark.

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Not all airlines offer bereavement fares. Even a discounted bereavement fare may not be the cheapest option. Most fares of this nature need to be made via phone, so be prepared to talk to the airline.

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In 2014, American Airlines did away with bereavement fares following its merger with US Airways. Other major airlines stopped this service before that (or never offered it at all).

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In the United States and Canada, a bereavement flight is a flight purchased when a close relative has died or is dying. Bereavement fares used to be offered by many airlines, but as of 2015, most have stopped providing them. A death certificate (example shown) is required as proof before some bereavement flights.

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Common travel insurance plans will cover reasons such as a death in the family, common carrier-related issues, or an unforeseen natural disaster. Covered reasons do vary by plan, so be sure to review the details of your policy carefully.

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The 24 Hour Cancellation Rule
Many airlines offer a 24-hour cooling-off period as a customer service policy, allowing you to cancel your flight, incurring no fees if you change your mind or otherwise need to cancel within 24 hours of booking. This policy typically applies to both refundable and non-refundable tickets.

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Some common covered reasons include the serious covered illness or injury of the traveler, traveling companion or a family member; a natural disaster that renders your home or your destination uninhabitable; and the cessation of services by your airline, cruise line or other carrier, causing you to miss more than half ...

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These days, all airlines allow you to cancel a flight, and most make it extremely easy to do so. You can usually cancel a flight online, and many carriers let you get a refund in some capacity.

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