A death knell is supposedly sounding for airline bereavement fares now. The
long-standing practice by most U.S. carriers has reached an abysmal low in
2014. Many airlines in the United States have done away with the practice or on
the verge of putting an end to breaks for grieving fliers.
Media reports said that the bereavement fares have been eliminated by American Airlines in February this year. United Airlines was the next to follow suit and ended the practice of providing bereavement fares in March 2014. The airline has however shown some leniency and said that if the planned travel could not be undertaken by the passenger or a companion because of a serious illness or death then the tickets might just be refunded.
Airlines such as Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Virgin America, AirTran Airways and JetBlue Airways don’t offer bereavement fares in any case whatsoever. These airlines don’t see any reason in doing so as they often argue that they are already offering cheap airfares as they are low-cost carriers.
Delta Air Lines is among the few airlines that continue to offer some kind of a bereavement discount, which though is relatively slight. Paul Skrbec, Spokesman of Delta Air Lines, said that the change fees are waived off by the airline when proof of death is furnished. The airline however grants the waiver only via phone.
Alaska Airlines is yet another airline offering a bereavement fare in the event of the death of an immediate family member. This must however be booked by phone only.
Bereavement fares earlier used to be of significant benefit to customers. It helped in lowering the price of last-minute airfare in a major way. A study said that the bereavement fares were rarely used by people, thus making it to be more of a legend than an important component of pricing.
Experts say that the demise of classic bereavement fares gradually seems to be true, but at the same time this also appears to be another belt-tightening measure for the cash-strapped airlines.
Media reports said that the bereavement fares have been eliminated by American Airlines in February this year. United Airlines was the next to follow suit and ended the practice of providing bereavement fares in March 2014. The airline has however shown some leniency and said that if the planned travel could not be undertaken by the passenger or a companion because of a serious illness or death then the tickets might just be refunded.
Airlines such as Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Virgin America, AirTran Airways and JetBlue Airways don’t offer bereavement fares in any case whatsoever. These airlines don’t see any reason in doing so as they often argue that they are already offering cheap airfares as they are low-cost carriers.
Delta Air Lines is among the few airlines that continue to offer some kind of a bereavement discount, which though is relatively slight. Paul Skrbec, Spokesman of Delta Air Lines, said that the change fees are waived off by the airline when proof of death is furnished. The airline however grants the waiver only via phone.
Alaska Airlines is yet another airline offering a bereavement fare in the event of the death of an immediate family member. This must however be booked by phone only.
Bereavement fares earlier used to be of significant benefit to customers. It helped in lowering the price of last-minute airfare in a major way. A study said that the bereavement fares were rarely used by people, thus making it to be more of a legend than an important component of pricing.
Experts say that the demise of classic bereavement fares gradually seems to be true, but at the same time this also appears to be another belt-tightening measure for the cash-strapped airlines.
