Bereavement fares what is

Of course, there are many other considerations when it comes to booking a last-minute ticket, be it for a funeral, family emergency or another pressing need. The best way to find the lowest fare is to set a base price for your trip.

Start by finding the best non-bereavement fare on the applicable date s of travel, including discount carriers such as Southwest, Spirit, Allegiant and Frontier. Once you know the best standard fares available, call an airline listed above that offers bereavement fares and see how they compete. To quickly find which airlines offer nonstop service on your route, I like to consult the Wikipedia page for the departure and arrival airports. Each airport Wikipedia page has a section for airlines and destinations that lists all of the non-stop services offered.

Generally speaking, there are two times that your frequent flyer miles can have the most value: when booking international flights in business or first class, and when you need to purchase an expensive, last-minute flight.

That being said, you should also be aware that some airlines will impose fees for bookings made without advance notice. Fortunately, there are partner carriers that might allow you to book the same ticket without those fees, and you might even save some miles. Just be sure to check the transfer times for the airline partner that will receive the points, as some will take too long to be of any use for a last-minute reservation.

Airlines still permit their staff to exercise some amount of discretion over the phone, and this may be extended to passengers who are traveling for a funeral. For example, you could ask to have telephone booking fees or last-minute award booking fees waived. And when you arrive at the airport, you might try to standby for an earlier flight. If you politely request to be added to the standby list and offer some documentation, such as a copy of a death certificate, sympathetic airline staff may be wiling bend the rules for you.

For example, United once allowed one of my family members to standby for an international flight for no fee. And it was only because the traveler made the earlier flight that he was able to arrive in-time to attend a funeral. Finally, if a last-minute family emergency or funeral requires you to cancel or interrupt a previously-booked trip, remember that you may be covered by your travel rewards credit card.

If this happens, the credit card issuer should reimburse you for any prepaid travel expenses that you need to forfeit and might even cover change or cancellation fees.

Just be sure to document everything to make sure your claim is processed quickly after the fact. There are still a handful of airlines that offer discounted bereavement fares when you need to travel for a funeral, but these may not be the best option.

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Medical Emergency Fares. Bereavement Fares. Page Name: Bereavement Fares. In the event of a death or imminent death for international travel in your immediate family, you may have to travel at the last minute. We offer a bereavement policy, which offers additional flexibility on the best published fare for your itinerary when last minute travel is required. Call Delta Reservations at to book a bereavement fare. In-page Links. Any flight marketed and operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express in economy class is eligible for the airline's bereavement fare discount.

The reduced fare applies to travel due to the death or imminent death of an immediate family member. A list of who the airline considers as immediate family is available on its site.

Travel must occur within 10 days of booking, and passengers must call Air Canada 's reservation line to book Passengers can also apply for the discount retroactively by providing a copy of the death certificate or a letter from the attending physician or hospital. Discounted bereavement rates are available on WestJet's Econo, EconoFlex, and Premium fares and can only be booked by calling the airline's reservations line WestJet says the fares "offer maximum flexibility with no fees.

We encourage you to look for a lower price on our website before booking a bereavement fare, but please note that these fares would be subject to a change fee, if applicable. It's an unfortunate reality, but booking travel isn't always for a fun getaway. The Intel Tips and tricks from our travel experts along with the latest news from airlines, hotels, loyalty programs, and more, delivered to your inbox weekly.