Travelling due to emergency? These four airlines offer bereavement fares

The airline market is fiercely competitive, so many airlines are vying for customers. At the same time, this encourages them to come up with many competitive advantages that may be of interest to passengers.

There is a special fare for people who are flying because of the loss of a loved one. These are usually last-minute flights, FodosTravel writes.

Several airlines offer a bereavement fare, which is a specific discount for people who are flying due to the death of a loved one.

Alaska Airlines

The airline notes that if you are travelling within seven days of the death of a loved one, you are entitled to a 10% discount on the lowest fare offered for your flight route. The airline defines immediate family members as spouses or domestic partners, parents, children, siblings or half-siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, nieces, uncles, or nephews. Sons-in-law are also considered immediate family members.

At the same time, the website contains additional rules and requirements, including that this discount cannot be combined with other promotional discounts. In addition, the discount is not available after the start of travel.

Air Canada

Passengers are entitled to a discount on economy-class tickets for any flight. The airline defines immediate family as a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or legal guardian. Immediate family also includes step, half, brother-in-law, and father-in-law from a common-law marriage. Air Canada also recognizes grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, former spouses, same-sex couples, and the spouse of the legal guardian of the deceased as immediate family.

Travel must begin within seven days, but can be extended up to 60 days. At the same time, proof of loss must be provided through supporting documentation sent by email within seven days of the return flight. Examples of accepted documents include a copy of the death certificate or a letter from the attending physician.

Delta Air Lines

The airline does not specify a specific rate or percentage for its bereavement tickets. However, bereavement fares are an option for domestic and international flights within seven days of death. The airline defines an immediate family member as a spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, sibling, sister, step-parent, step-child, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, half-brother, half-sister, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law. Spouses in a common-law marriage are also considered immediate family members. Their website lists the following bereavement fare restrictions.

WestJet

A unique offer of the airline is the "civilian funeral fare". These preferential fares are available to passengers to help them travel to the funerals of military personnel, emergency service workers, firefighters, and police officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

At the same time, the trip must be made within 30 days of booking the flight, including weekend and return flights. In addition, the fares cannot be combined with any other discount codes, promotional offers, or companion voucher bookings. WestJet also allows travellers to request a bereavement discount after a trip via an online form, as long as it is submitted within seven days of the end of the trip. Every passenger who travels must submit the form to receive a reimbursement.