When facing the loss of a loved one, travel becomes a necessity, not a choice. Airlines understand this and some offer what are known as bereavement fares, or compassionate fares, designed to ease the financial burden and stress of last-minute travel. If you’re considering Bereavement Travel Southwest Airlines, it’s important to understand their policy and the alternatives available to ensure you can be with your family during these challenging times.
What is Bereavement Travel?
Bereavement travel, often facilitated through bereavement flights or compassion fares, is a service provided by some airlines to assist individuals needing to travel urgently due to the death or critical illness of a close family member. These special fares are intended to provide some relief during emotionally and financially difficult times.
Key benefits of bereavement flights typically include:
- Discounted Fares: While not always guaranteed to be the absolute lowest price, bereavement fares often offer a reduction from standard ticket costs.
- Flexibility: Airlines may waive change or cancellation fees, providing crucial flexibility when plans are uncertain.
- Supportive Services: Some airlines may offer additional assistance, such as expedited check-in, to ease the travel process.
FlyO Tip: Always inquire about all available support services when booking a bereavement flight to make your journey as smooth as possible.
How Bereavement Flights Function
Navigating travel arrangements during bereavement requires understanding how these special fares operate. Here’s a breakdown of the typical process:
📌 Eligibility: Eligibility usually extends to immediate family members such as spouses, children, siblings, and sometimes grandparents or grandchildren. Each airline defines ‘family member’ differently, so clarification is essential.
📌 Verification: Airlines require documentation to verify the bereavement situation. This usually includes a death certificate, obituary, or a doctor’s note in cases of critical illness.
📌 Booking Process: Bereavement fares are almost always booked by calling the airline directly. They are generally not available online to ensure proper verification and personalized assistance.
📌 Flexibility and Changes: One of the significant advantages of bereavement fares is the flexibility they offer. Changes or cancellations are typically easier and less costly than with standard tickets, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of bereavement travel.
Required Documentation for Bereavement Travel
Airlines require specific documentation to process bereavement fares and ensure the benefit is used appropriately. Here are the standard documents you should prepare:
- 📝 Death Certificate: This is the most common document, confirming the passing of the family member. If a death certificate isn’t immediately available, an obituary or funeral home documentation may suffice initially.
- 🏥 Hospital or Doctor’s Note: In cases of travel due to critical illness, a note from a hospital or doctor stating the patient’s condition and the urgency of travel is necessary.
- 📄 Proof of Relationship: To confirm your relationship to the deceased or ill family member, documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, or legal documents may be required.
Having these documents ready will streamline the booking process and help secure the most appropriate fare and flexible conditions for your urgent travel.
Airlines Offering Bereavement Fares: Are Southwest Airlines Included?
While many airlines have historically offered bereavement fares, the landscape has shifted. It’s crucial to know which airlines currently provide these options and, specifically, does Southwest offer bereavement fares?
Unfortunately, Southwest Airlines does not offer bereavement fares. Southwest’s business model focuses on providing consistently low fares and flexible booking policies for all passengers, rather than specific bereavement discounts. This approach means that while you won’t find a designated “bereavement fare” with Southwest, their standard fares are often competitive and come with inherent flexibility that can be beneficial during urgent travel needs.
However, for travelers specifically seeking bereavement fares, several other airlines do maintain these programs. Here’s a look at some airlines that offer bereavement fares as alternatives to consider when bereavement travel southwest airlines isn’t an option:
✈️ Delta Airlines Bereavement Flights
Delta Airlines continues to offer bereavement fares, providing some flexibility and potential discounts for those traveling due to the death or imminent death of an immediate family member.
✅ What They Offer: Flexible fares and possible discounts on published fares.
✅ Booking: Must be booked by calling Delta directly.
✅ Eligibility: Available to SkyMiles members traveling due to an immediate family member’s death or imminent death.
📝 Documents Needed:
- Death certificate
- Proof of relationship
- Funeral home or hospital contact details
🚫 Restrictions:
- Fares are subject to availability and may not always be the lowest.
- Flexibility includes waived service fees, but fare differences may apply.
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✈️ Alaska Airlines Bereavement Flights
Alaska Airlines offers a bereavement fare discount, providing a percentage off the lowest available fare, which can be helpful for urgent travel arrangements.
✅ What They Offer: 10% discount on the lowest available fare.
✅ Booking: Phone bookings only.
✅ Eligibility: Mileage Plan members traveling because of an immediate family member’s death.
📝 Documents Needed:
- Proof of relationship
- Death certificate
🚫 Restrictions:
- Not applicable for medical emergencies.
- Cannot be combined with other discounts.
- Discount applies only to new ticket purchases made through customer service.
Also read, Guide to Alaska Airlines Cancellation Policy
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✈️ WestJet Bereavement Fares
WestJet, popular for flights within Canada and to international destinations, also provides bereavement fares with flexible conditions.
✅ What They Offer: Flexible fares on Econo and EconoFlex fares.
✅ Booking: Phone booking required.
✅ Eligibility: Requires a WestJet Rewards account, and travel must be completed within 30 days.
📝 Documents Needed:
- Reason for travel
- Relationship to the deceased
🚫 Restrictions:
- Not available on UltraBasic, Member Exclusive, Premium, or Business fares.
- Cannot be combined with other discounts.
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✈️ Air Canada Bereavement Fares
Air Canada’s bereavement policy focuses on providing flexible travel options during difficult times, accommodating necessary travel changes.
✅ What They Offer: Flexible fares on Economy Standard, Flex, Comfort, and Latitude.
✅ Booking: Call Air Canada and provide documentation within 7 days post-travel.
✅ Eligibility: Flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express, and codeshare partners.
📝 Documents Needed:
- Death certificate or equivalent proof
- Hospital or funeral home contact details
🚫 Restrictions:
- No refunds for completed travel.
- Less flexible, potentially lower fares might be available online.
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✈️ Hawaiian Airlines Bereavement Fares
Hawaiian Airlines offers bereavement fares specifically for inter-island travel within Hawaii, catering to the unique needs of its island communities.
✅ What They Offer: Discounts for travel within Hawaii.
✅ Booking: Available for travel within 48 hours.
✅ Eligibility: Extends to immediate family members, including in-laws and step-relatives.
📝 Documents Needed:
- Death certificate
- Proof of relationship (birth or marriage certificate)
🚫 Restrictions:
- Limited to travel within Hawaii.
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Airlines Without Bereavement Fares: Alternatives to Consider
Since Southwest Airlines bereavement travel is not an option, and other airlines like JetBlue, American Airlines, Spirit, and United also do not offer dedicated bereavement fares, it’s important to know how to navigate urgent travel needs with these carriers.
⏩JetBlue Bereavement Flights
🔸 No bereavement fares.
🔸 Focus on competitive standard fares.
🔸 Offers flexible fare options that can be beneficial for urgent travel.
⏩ American Airlines Bereavement Flights
🔹 No specific bereavement fares.
🔹 May offer ticket refunds or changes in certain cases with required documentation.
🔹 Contact customer service to explore fare adjustments or refunds.
Learn More: American Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Guide
⏩Spirit Bereavement Flights
💠 No bereavement fares.
💠 Low-cost model means fares are generally kept low for all bookings.
💠 Booking in advance can secure lower rates even for urgent travel.
⏩United Bereavement Flights
➰ Bereavement fare program discontinued in 2014.
➰ Standard fare options are available for travel.
➰ For international travel, explore fare options and contact customer service for potential assistance.
For those considering international bereavement flights, it’s especially important to compare fares across different airlines, including those that do and do not offer bereavement fares, to find the most suitable option.
FlyO Tip: Check if your credit card or travel insurance provides any benefits or coverage for bereavement travel, as these can offer unexpected support.
Booking Bereavement Travel: Steps and Tips
Whether you are looking into airlines that offer bereavement fares or navigating options with airlines like Southwest Airlines for bereavement travel (where you’ll be using standard fares), the booking process requires specific steps. Here’s how to proceed:
- 📞 Contact the Airline Directly: For airlines offering bereavement fares, calling is essential. Even for airlines like Southwest, speaking directly with customer service can help manage complex itineraries or explore flexible options. For assistance, you can also call FlyOfinder at +1-571-378-7016.
- 🗂️ Prepare and Present Documents: Have all necessary documents ready for verification. Be prepared to send these via email or fax as requested by the airline.
- 📋 Confirm Flexibility and Terms: Clearly understand the fare conditions, change policies, and cancellation terms associated with bereavement travel.
- 📱 Complete Booking Over the Phone: Bereavement fares are typically finalized through phone bookings to ensure all conditions are properly applied and understood.
- 🔍 Compare All Available Fares: Even when bereavement fares are available, or when using airlines like Southwest, compare these against standard fares and consider any flexibility offered to ensure you are getting the best overall value and terms for your situation.
Final Thoughts on Bereavement Travel
Navigating travel during bereavement is undoubtedly challenging. Understanding your options, including which airlines offer bereavement fares and how airlines like Southwest Airlines handle bereavement travel through their standard policies, is crucial. While bereavement travel on southwest airlines might not come with a specific discount, their flexible policies and generally competitive fares can still be beneficial.
For personalized assistance and to explore all available flight options during these difficult times, contact FlyOfinder at +1-571-378-7016 for support in securing flights that meet your needs.
FAQ’s
Are bereavement flights significantly cheaper?
Bereavement flights typically offer a discount ranging from 5% to 20% off the standard fare. However, the actual savings can vary greatly depending on the airline’s fare structure and availability.
Can you avail of bereavement discounts on all flights?
Bereavement discounts are not universally available across all airlines. Many airlines, including Southwest, do not offer specific bereavement fares. Those that do, like Delta and Alaska, have specific eligibility criteria and booking procedures.
How do I book bereavement flights?
To book bereavement flights, you need to call the airline directly. Be prepared to provide necessary documentation such as a death certificate or a doctor’s letter, and proof of your relationship to the deceased or critically ill family member.
Is it possible to get a free flight for bereavement?
Airlines generally do not offer free flights for bereavement. The support usually comes in the form of discounted fares or waived change/cancellation fees, subject to providing proper documentation.
Does American Airlines offer bereavement fares?
No, American Airlines has discontinued its bereavement fare program. However, they may consider offering refunds or changes on existing tickets in emergency situations with the provision of necessary documentation.
What about bereavement fares on Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines does not offer bereavement fares. Their strategy is to provide consistently low fares and flexible booking policies to all customers. For bereavement travel with Southwest, you would book a standard fare and utilize their existing flexible change and cancellation policies if needed.
When did airlines start phasing out bereavement fares?
The trend of discontinuing bereavement fares started over the last decade, with many airlines phasing them out gradually. United Airlines, for example, ended its program in 2014.
Are there bereavement discounts with United Airlines?
No, United Airlines no longer offers bereavement flight discounts. Travelers needing to travel for bereavement purposes must book standard fares, although some flexibility in changes or cancellations might be available.
What is JetBlue’s bereavement policy?
JetBlue does not have a specific bereavement policy or fares. They advise travelers to use their standard fares, which are designed to be competitive and flexible for last-minute travel needs.
Do bereavement discounts apply with United Airlines?
No, United Airlines stopped offering bereavement discounts in 2014. Travelers are advised to book regular fares and explore any other available discounts or flexible options.
