Navigating air travel during times of grief requires understanding airline policies, especially bereavement policies. Air Canada provides a bereavement policy to support customers needing to travel due to a death or imminent death in their immediate family. This guide clarifies Air Canada’s bereavement travel policy, ensuring you can access compassionate fares during these challenging times.
Who is Eligible for Air Canada Bereavement Fares?
Air Canada’s bereavement policy is designed to assist immediate family members facing urgent travel needs. It applies under specific conditions to ensure support is available when it’s most needed.
Coverage Details:
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Immediate Family Members: The policy extends to immediate family members. To clarify who qualifies as immediate family, it’s best to confirm directly with Air Canada when booking.
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Applicable Flights: Bereavement fares are available on flights marketed and operated by:
- Air Canada
- Air Canada Rouge
- Air Canada Express
- Flights operated by Air Canada’s codeshare partners
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Eligible Fare Types: The policy covers a range of fares, including:
- Economy Standard
- Economy Flex
- Economy comfort
- Economy Latitude
- Economy Basic fares for travel outside North America
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Travel Window: Bereavement travel must be booked within 10 days of the required travel date and is valid for travel commencing within 60 days of the booking date.
When Does Air Canada’s Bereavement Policy Not Apply?
While comprehensive, Air Canada’s bereavement policy has specific exclusions. Understanding these will help manage expectations and plan accordingly.
Exclusions:
- Economy Basic Fares (Within North America): Bereavement fares are not applicable to Economy Basic fares when your travel is solely within North America.
- Retroactive Requests: Bereavement consideration cannot be applied after travel has already been completed. It’s crucial to arrange bereavement fares prior to or during the booking process, not after your trip concludes.
Booking Air Travel Bereavement Fares: Step-by-Step Guide
To access Air Canada’s bereavement fares, it’s essential to follow a specific booking procedure. This process ensures that your request is correctly processed and that you receive the appropriate fare.
Step 1: Contact Air Canada by Phone
- Initiate Contact: To begin, you must contact Air Canada directly by phone to request a bereavement fare. This is the primary method for starting your bereavement fare booking.
- Information Required: Be prepared to provide the Air Canada representative with the following details:
- Name of the family member who is dying or deceased.
- Your relationship to the family member.
- For Imminent Death:
- Name, address, and phone number of the hospital or residence.
- Name of the attending physician.
- For Bereavement (Following Death):
- Name, address, and phone number of the memorial or funeral home.
- Date of the memorial service or funeral.
Step 2: Submit Supporting Documentation via Email
- Documentation Submission: After completing your bereavement travel, you are required to send supporting documents to verify your bereavement claim. This must be done within 7 days of your return travel date.
- Email Address: Send your email to [email protected].
- Subject Line: Ensure your booking reference number is clearly stated in the subject line of your email.
- Required Attachments (Choose One): Attach one of the following documents as proof of imminent death or bereavement:
- Copy of the death certificate.
- Funeral director’s statement.
- Coroner’s statement.
- Registration of death (issued by a provincial government).
- Letter from the treating physician on official letterhead or prescription pad, clearly stating the imminent death of your immediate family member.
Important Note: Failure to provide the required supporting documentation may result in additional charges. If documents are not submitted, you may be required to pay the difference between the bereavement fare and the regular fare. Also, the provided email address is strictly for document submission. It is not monitored for inquiries or for making bereavement fare requests after travel has concluded. All initial requests must be made via phone.
By understanding and adhering to Air Canada’s Air Travel Bereavement policy, you can navigate your travel arrangements with a little more ease during difficult times. Remember to contact Air Canada directly by phone to initiate the process and ensure you have the necessary documentation to support your bereavement fare request.
