Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The death of a loved one is hard enough without the hassle of attempting to make plans to attend an out-of-state funeral. Most airlines offer what is called bereavement airfare, steeply discounted plane tickets to passengers flying last minute to funerals or memorial services of loved ones. Bereavement airfare is not offered by all airlines and may not always be less expensive than the last-minute airfare deals offered by airlines.
Airlines that offer bereavement airfare discount tickets up to 50 percent. However, this discount is taken from the most expensive ticket offered for that flight, which on occasion can be considerably higher than tickets offered on discount travel sites, such as Expedia and Travelocity.
Bereavement airfare does offer an open-ended return, usually up to 30 days. Bereavement airfare is not limited to the attendance of a funeral or memorial service but also includes visits to be at the bedside of a loved one who is dying. When visiting the bedside of a loved one, you may not know when you'll be able to return home and airlines that offer bereavement airfare give you the benefit of not having to leave by a certain date.
Bereavement airfare is only available for the death of an immediate family member. It does not apply to close friends or extended relatives, and the airline you travel with may require a copy of your loved one's death certificate or doctor's note, for the seriously ill. Check with the airline you travel with for other requirements prior to booking your flight.
Purchasing bereavement airfare cannot be done over the Internet through airline's Web sites. You must call the airline directly to book a bereavement flight. Not all airlines offer bereavement flights, which is information that can be obtained by calling your airline of choice and simply asking.
Checking with other airlines and discount travel sites may find you a less expensive ticket than offered by airlines for bereavement fare. Airlines themselves may even have tickets for sale that are less expensive than a bereavement flight. Doing your research before booking your flight could save you money.