Bereavement fares need to be changed
 

The last time I needed a bereavement fare, the airline graciously offered to sell me a full-priced ticket at half price. Over $500 to get across the country. I used frequent flier miles instead. <BR> <BR>I think this is unfair, particularly to those who don't have frequent flier miles. The bereavement fare ought to be half of the lowest discounted fare, which would have been more like $200. Perhaps 4 tickets per decedent could be available at the bereavement fare. <BR> <BR>I know the airlines would make less profit if they made these changes, but it seems to me that it wouldn't cost the airlines much to do this as a public service. How many people on any given flight are traveling on bereavement fares, anyway? The last thing you need at a time of personal hardship and suffering is a whopping airfare bill.

I don't know if 1/2 the lowest fare is reasonable, but certainly they should be offered the lowest fare or even the lowest fare offered within the last 2 weeks. That is very often much less than the 1/2 off full fare rate. We had a similar experience when my husband's father died. We actually got a promotional fare that was cheaper than the the bereavement fare.

I agree completely. When my grandmother passed away 7 months ago, I went online to check out fares (NY to CA) The cheapest was $610+taxes. I then called around to the airlines and found out that their so-called bereavement fares were actually HIGHER than the ones I found online! Most of the reservation agents did not seem at all surprised and seemed kind of apologetic and embarrassed by this. <BR>Fortunately, we had the means to make the trip but I really do feel bad for families who are basically getting gouged when they're already in the middle of a crisis and need to be with their families. Should they then have to come home to a financial crisis because they've had to lay out $1000-2000 unexpectedly and the airlines idea of a "break" is no break at all?! In my case I just bought my tickets online (I think it was expedia.com) and it saved my husband and I $200 over the airlines "bereavement" fares! The airlines really ought to be embarrassed by this. Either they should abolish the bereavement fare policy or offer a genuine discount (with documentation of course).

A bereavement fare 1) gets you on the flight (even if overbooked) 2) CAN be cheaper than last minute flying (but not often) and 3) is a remnant of airlines when they were regulated. <BR>

I disagree. <BR>Why should airlines be obligated to help you out in a crisis? <BR>Does the tailor owe you a discount for the funeral suit? <BR>The hotel you might have to overnight in? <BR>The restaurant that feeds you on the way? <BR>Where does it end? <BR>I'm not trying to be harsh....of course those would all be very thoughtful gestures, which some establishments would indeed take into consideration, but as far as being obligated to help out, I don't think so.

I could buy maybe giving you lowest discounted fare, but there is no reason why they should give you a fare for half of the lowest rate? You don't even understand the reason for the policy which is 1/2 coach, which is to give flyers who, through no reason of their own, could not book way ahead of time to get APEX fares. Why on earth should you get half off the lowest fare? Nobody owes you a present because you are bereaved. I personally think you are really cheap and whiney if you are complaining about a last-minute fare of $500 all the way across the country, that seems pretty reasonable to me. Try getting half off your meals at a restaurant or on a car rental during that time because you are bereaved, that makes as much sense as saying you should get special rates below any other fares just because you are bereaved.

When I've contact airlines about travel to a relative's funeral, we spent more time on funeral home documentation than fare or schedule. A year ago Delta generously issued a $450 ticket for my same-day travel, Tampa-Atlanta at noon, Atlanta-Tampa 5 p.m. Their policy, I'm pleased to report, did not exclude peanuts and soda at that price point. I suppose I didn't help the situation ... I failed to mention I'm their SkyTeam Partner. Ciao

I agree - airlines are in the business of making money for their stockholders - not subsidizing peolpe who choose to move thousands of miles away from their families. Rather than expecting something for free, you should have taken this possibility into consideration when you chose to live 3000 miles away form your loved ones.

To Jay and Christina: <BR>Nobody is saying that the airlines owe me or you or anybody anything because there's been a death. What I'm saying is that the airlines have these supposed policies about trying to accomodate people in a family crisis and all it is now is just public relations B***S***. Like I said in my FIRST POST, if they don't want to offer a discount, so be it, but they should at least have the balls to just SAY SO. <BR> <BR>

Sorry for the THIRD post but I just had to tell that a**hole XXX that I didn't move anywhere. My mom's family moved away from her in 1968 when they disowned her for marrying a black man (my father). I know that's got nothing to do with airfares but I'm not going to let a jackass remark like that pass without comment.

Hey Alexis - and you want to go back there? Sounds like youre the jackass. <BR> <BR>And its called a bereavement fare - not a discount - and I have never seen the airline market this as such.

Just ignore XXX ... it seems to be one of his off-brain days ... you know, plan ahead and never be away in the event someone might die. Odd thinking for a travel website. Ah, sweet mystery of life ... or is it just a gigantic actuarial process gone bonkers? Just the same, it could be worse ... we could have only UAL ... then, how would one explain death to an owner-operator? Ciao

Shut up Leone. Once again - another post from you that makes no sense.

I'm sorry, but I agree with Christina that demanding half-off the lowest discount fare is ridiculous. I think airlines should offer bereavement fares (not all do), because it makes the difference for many between not being able to manage to be by a loved on's side and being able to, but there's no reason they should charge you less than they do ANYONE else. It is a business, and in most seasins, $500 for a cross-country trip is near competitive for an advance-purchase fare. You didn't plan to have to spend this money now, but that hardly makes the airlines responsible for your unfortunate situation.

One thing about bereavement fares is that you can change your return flights and dates at no charge for up to a year. I also was furious about the high cost when I need one, but felt some what better when I was able to fly home when I was ready. In addition, how can the airlines really regulate who gets these? If they were really cheap, we'd all be bribing funeral homes to give us certificates!

I, too, find the bereavement fares to be a cruel hoax. Strikes me as akin to false advertising. A corporate shell game, for the reasons pointed out earlier. Either abolish the whole thing, or make them a product that better fits the stated need: a flexible, reasonably-priced ticket offered as a public service, with no right to earn FFB miles on the flight. Imagine the great PR for the airline that announced a true bereavement program. <BR> <BR>As for the hard-core folks out there who think the airlines owe us nothing, I would point to various charitable services that do put people up in hotels when loved ones are in distant hospitals, or transport sick people by air to distant hospitals.

Boy, Christine, you are not being very nice at all, are you? Why call names like "cheap" and "whiney"? And on what basis would you say I don't understand the basis for a bereavement fare. If you disagree with me, fine. Maybe half of the lowest fare is too deep a discount and would lead to cheating. No reason to be nasty and get personal, though.

Now, now, XXX ... first, some grammar. It's "Shut up, Leone" ... comma, comma, comma, guy. Kinda hear an R&B rhythm. Now, my mom wished to take issue with you (she calls you "porno") ... it made perfect sense to her. She's always kinda homiletic (under H, yikes), ya know ... she said life is thinking. Well, I couldn't have said it better myself. Ciao

Cindy - that is why they are called charities - not for profit businesses with the express purpose of making money for stockholders.

I see your point, xxx. But as you know, for-profit corporations frequently engage in "charity" work, and they often take out large ads to tell us all about what they're doing. <BR> <BR>Also, for-profit companies often give discounts to some folks over others without regard to need or financial hardship. Discounts for seniors. Discounts for children. Discount seats for infants on planes. Why not discounts for bereaved people? I'm not saying there ought to be a government mandate. But I think a little public pressure would probably do the trick. <BR> <BR>As an aside, it is a little funny that some folks would be furious at the idea of someone getting a big discount in an industry that already has some of the strangest pricing practices around. <BR> <BR>Anyway, I think the discussion is interesting.

Just an after-thought ... maybe what this debate lacks is realism ... a prismatic, defining event ... something after which things are never again the same. DEATH. Now, someone in your family has just died ... get on the horn and make the call. Get some real dualism going ... you're sad for the bereavement, but my god, it's the economy that must be protected. Suspend that grief and take the fare, and thank them ever so much, and yes, you understand, it's either documentation homebound, or you're out at 25,000 feet. Of course, the issue is clear: you need a healthy air industry for next year's vacation travel, and what would happen if all these poor, sad slobs suddenly showed up and pleaded for a break in the fare ... you know, on FF grounds. Afterward, lets hear some after-thoughts from the hard-eyed among us ... you know, the ones who confuse the B-L with eternity. Maybe this is outrageous, but what if the airlines tacked on a $1 death tax to every ticket and then gave free seats to immediate family? Heck, that's the way we build runways, and add radar, and new airports. Who would complain ... I mean, you never know when the phone will ring. Ciao

Oooh, L. That was downright spooky. Seriously, I only understand about 15% of your posts, but that one came through loud and clear. Thanks.

Cindy - I'm neither sympathetic to blanket discounts for seniors (collectively the wealthiest age group in the country) or for children (your ability to procreate should not qualify you for automatic discounts). <BR> <BR>And based on other threads in this forum (ie. should i lie about my childs age to get on the rides at disney land cheaper,)I suspect that if airlines provided drastic discounts for the "bereaved", the number of so called bereaved people in this country would skyrocket. I just might become bereaved every time I needed or wanted to travel.

xx-Last time I flew on bereavment I had to have documentation from the funeral home for the airlines, so you see x it would be impossible for people to fake it. BTW, people like you should be kept away from the rest of us.

Lowest reasonable fare -- sure. Discounted after that. No way. Get your hands back in your own pockets. Would you also like to bump people who booked ahead of you? <BR>

Hey, being at 15% is really spooky ... I can do an 11 or 12 on a good day, and my mom's personal best is 17, but she's my mom, and you know moms. But what's really, really spooky is XXX ... can you imagine someone countering an argument for fare decency with a fear of feigned, widespread bereavement? It would almost be worthwhile getting to the airport early ... just to get a seat near the counter to hear all the sad tales with straight faces. Ciao

But anyone traveling on a cheap fare can already be bumped in favor of someone who is a fave of the airline. So what else is new? Also, sooner or later, all of us will be able to get a real bereavement fare, so it will all work out even-Steven in the "end." (Get it? The "end?" That was for L.)

Some of us haven't done our abc's ... ashes to ashes, dust to dust ... and it's onboard as carry-on into the overhead. Just a demeaning final trip through x-ray. No tick, no ticket, and that's a fair. And we can wait for the sales, even if it takes an eternity. Ciao

I don't think the airlines would go broke offering people the lowest fare when someone has had a death in the family. If they could afford to let the guy next to me fly to wherever, USA for some bargain fare because they booked ahead then they ought to be able to afford to offer that same fare to a last minute traveler in this type of dire circumstances. We're not talking about people who just didn't plan ahead. We're talking about people who's father or mother (or other loved one) just died. I harldy think the airlines would be flooded by mourners looking for great deals. I simply think their fare should be the same rate as the the lowest ticketed fare already booked for that flight. It seems like the right thing to do.

I feel that the bereavement fares are priced very fairly considering what they give you. You can get same-day flights on flights that are already full. A few years ago I had to use one from Oakland to Minneapolis when my grandmother was very ill. At the time Delta didn't require any documentation. Sure I paid a little over $600 BUT I flew the next morning and they even managed to make my mother (coming from WA) and my connection in Salt Lake at the same time...(I had just had a baby a week earlier) I know we had people bumped from those flights, they were FULL. When we called to reschedule our return flight after she passed away there were no problems or additional fees, the reservation agent even inquired about my grandmother from out of nowhere! The airlines don't have to do this, that $600 was a heck of a lot cheaper than a full fare bought the night before for a full flight. Sure I might have found a cheaper fare WITH restrictions and additional fees to change the return date if I scoured the Web, but at a time like this, who has the time and energy to do that? Asking for 1/2 off the lowest fare is just down right tacky.

Getting an unrestricted ticket on very short notice at half the going rate is a very significant accommodation on the part of the airline, IMHO. It's a very different rate for the same conditions of service as those that would normally generate the highest possible revenue -- and it is based entirely on WHY you are flying. (Is that an issue for the airline, really?) It sounds like a reasonable compromise on the part of the airline, albeit not necessarily what many would consider a "good deal" in terms of a travel value.

I guess there could be two kinds of bereavement fares. The first kind is the "funeral" fare. Someone dies, you need to go there in the next day or so, and you can come back on a pre-determined date. Usually no need to bump someone, because I can fly anytime of day, so long as get there for the funeral, etc. I think this is what most people require. <BR> <BR>The other kind is the "grave illness" fare, where you have all of the flexibility some folks mentioned, and a higher potential for abuse. <BR> <BR>When I have needed bereavement fares, the flexibility part is unimportant because I know when I have to be there and for how long. No reason to charge a whopping fare if I'm able to accept all of the flexibility restrictions that normally accompany an advance purchase ticket. <BR> <BR>The airlines need to revisit this issue.

I'm amazed at the number of people who only see the world revolving around them, their circumstances, their problems.....to heck with everyone else, MY problems take precedent! <BR>The airline business is a business. They don't owe bereaved people jack squat. If they want to offer reduced fares as a goodwill gesture, good for them. And no, they shouldn't misrepresent these fares (I'm not aware that ANY airline ever advertises a bereavement policy in plain view, though). <BR>Biggest problem with the USA at present: too many whiny people who think they're ENTITLED to whatever it is that they need at the moment, but don't want to EARN or work for what they get. <BR>Sad.

Each year businesses donate lots of money to charities, comunity events, the arts, research for diseases... You more cynical posters probably think it's for the "tax write-off." I happen to think that it's because businesses are run by people that are in a position to do good by donating money. It feels good to be generous and feel like you can do something to make a difference. Maybe you think that the CEO's should all give themselves a big raise instead.

No disrespect to our elders, but OldGrandDad is aptly named. Is this the voice of business, or just an echo out of the Great Depression? Either way, hope we don't have too many of his kind in charge. Ciao

Dead is dead, right? Sooo, what's the rush? Is the deceased going to haunt you because you didn't prostrate yourself in front of their coffin? Grandma's silver might go to your cousin instead of you? The dead don't know you're there. Ah, but cousin xxx does, and IS keeping count, right? I want to be remembered by those who love me, rather than have someone call attendance at my funeral. <BR> <BR>Emergency flights for a loved one in another city who has had an accident or is seriously ill makes sense. Help them heal, or say your good-byes. Time can be of the essence then. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Well, blackheart, I guess you aren't familiar with the Jewish tradition of burying the dead within 24 hours. And some of us actually want to be there to say a final good-bye to that loved one.

Ah, but the point of a funeral (and the only fun part, by the way), is the gathering of distant friends and family. So you go not for the dead but for the living.

What an amazing collection of sharks, who are too evil to be intelligent! Mean-spirited, greedy, intolerant, non-compassionate, yes, absolutely black-hearted! Add coward for venting all your misanthropic vitriol here anonymously and continuously. XXX you can be counted on to trash whatever you touch. There's medication for that, but you apparently don't think you owe it to society to be anything other than sheer poison. <BR> <BR>The first responsibility of an airline is not to the shareholders but to the public. They are not banks nor holding companies, even though they are trying to act that way. Their mission is to fly planes with people in them safely, and making enough money to keep doing that doesn't mean that investors' interests take precedence over public interests like safety. <BR> <BR>As to bereavement fares, I think it's a measure of what we as a society think is important. If the seat would otherwise be empty, why not charge the lowest recent fare, which is at least not $.00? If there is a demand for the seat, I still think a compassionate discount is merited. And as to what airlines stand to gain or lose here? <BR> <BR>You'd better believe I'll always remember a sweet American Airlines agent who gave me the promotional fare when my father died, telling me I didn't want to get into the mess with documentation, etc. <BR> <BR>And you'd better believe I'll never forget when Midway put us through all kinds of hoops getting doctor's and funeral director's notes to pay $400 instead of $800 when my father-in-law got suddenly ill and died. <BR> <BR>It's a moment in your life when everything is magnified, and good or bad treatment on such occasions becomes the subject of discussion with lots of other people. <BR> <BR>

But you still don't get it Winsley. <BR>The airline is running a BUSINESS. <BR>That business owes the public NOTHING. <BR>Nothing more than the plumber who works on your home or the gas station which gouges you for gas. Nothing more, nothing less. <BR>Why do you people think airlines are like government agencies which are beholden to their constituents? <BR>Why do you think an airline owes you special favors if you're bereaved? <BR> <BR>Does AMTRAK owe you something? <BR>How about Greyhound? <BR>The taxi cab driver should cut you a break because you're bereaved? <BR>Huh?