Bereavement fares?

[Handbag Lady]

Can you book a trip (guess the dates) with Southwest and then re-book as needed?

They don't charge to change flights/dates (but you do have to pay the difference if the flight you need is more) and if you get lucky when the need arises, you can even get a credit if the flight you really need is less.

 

[bumbershoot]

I am 99.9999999% sure that SW does NOT do bereavement fares. In my own case, I flew with them, but it's b/c I had a ticket with them for the following week to visit my mom (sigh). My kind sister in law called them and got it all switched for me.

I know you want to go there, but you said you're pregnant, and it's going to be a monetary stretch...I'm not sure people would fault you if you didn't go. I know from supporting my husband when his dad died, and from my own experience with my mom...it's the years after the funeral that count, not the actual funeral. Well, that's been our experience (for us, funerals are a special little bit of torture that we could easily do without).

I'm sorry to talk as though this is a "given"...I hope he pulls through most definitely! Just trying to give you the answers you need to help the burden a little bit.




Offshoot continuing....

Off the original topic but still not quite....when my best friend's husband passed away several years ago (this was my first first-hand experience with making arrangements) I was appalled at all the add on fees, such as being charged for multiple death certificates. Some situations called for the certificate for filing purposes. I took the original to KINKOS and made copies. Not one situation that called for the death certificate balked at the copy and not the original. IMHO the funeral parlors take advantage of emotions and charge for unnecessary add-ons. It just happened this past week with my daughter's godfather's mother's death. Sorry to rant but I hate greed....

Interestingly, AARP suggests buying something like TEN certified copies of the official certificate. Ridiculous. FIL was Buddhist and had no money or life insurance, and thankfully there's a mausoleum with a crematorium right here in town, so we cut out the middleman of the funeral home entirely and dealt with them. They *asked* us how many we needed; I think we cut it down to 3. They charged only the amount that the Registrar's office charged (trust me, we checked).

There were two places that needed a certified copy sent by mail to them (SS and pension, I believe), and we had to do things as FAST as possible so that MIL didn't miss any pension or SS payments (no savings, no nothing to help her), and we figured that the two could be sent out, then the one could be faxed to the places that were cool with a fax. Worked out really well. Sure, it was $18x3, but MIL never missed a payment at all, and got the SS "death benefit" within a month of FIL dying (something like $300...since the cremation was only $800 that was helpful).

I can't even imagine dealing with a funeral home. Thankfully everyone in the extended family whose "arrangements" I might have to take care of is Buddhist or otherwise fine with cremation, so hopefully I never will have to deal with one of those money-sucking places.

 

[WDWAurora]

VERY interesting that we might not be considered to be close enough relatives to qualify. I know we don't have to go, but we would both want to go, and we'll manage the cost-I just want to keep it as affordable as possible. We'll substitute this trip for our Thanksgiving vacation out there if we have to go sooner, and only make the trip once.

I'm afraid to book with guessed dates because honestly, I have no idea how quick this will happen. I'm a little more convinced he's in bad shape because DH's uncle said so (DH's mom and sister are much more emotional, nothing wrong with that, and it's harder for them to see him sick at all, the uncle is more logical and detached emotionally). I think there's a definite possibility he'll still be here at Thanksgiving, as we'll be out there in a little over 3 weeks.

I did ask DH if he wanted to go ahead and get out there, then not go to the funeral, so that he could definitely see him alive, but he doesn't want to see him this sick if he can avoid it, which I also understand.

 

[disney1990]

Do any airlines still do this? DH's grandfather is NOT doing well, at all. We're planning to drive out at Thanksgiving, but DH's family says it is doubtful he will make it that long. We will have to rush out to make it to the funeral, and, with a baby on the way, I'm hoping to make it as budget of a trip as possible, despite having to buy last minute plane tickets. We're both going, no matter what the cost, but it would be wonderful to get some savings. We could bring any documentation necessary-we won't be flying out there unless something happens, and I'm hoping he's still doing ok at Thanksgiving, but if he's in pain...we want him to be comfortable.

Anyway, more info than you guys needed, I'm sure, but I was just curious.

(and the only reason I've ever heard of this is George on Seinfeld, so it may very well have never existed, so feel free to laugh at me!)

I am so sorry about your DGF. SW is having a great sale right now. If it were me, I would rather go now while he is still alive than wait until he passes. It gives your DH a chance to say goodbye.

 

[WDWAurora]

Unfortunately the southwest sale doesn't cover dates that would work-they are in Dec. I was excited when I heard about the low fares, but can't do it then.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

The Bereavement rate on Delta was ridiculous.

I found a much better regular internet fare from another airline after my MIL died and we had to fly to MN so we wouldn't miss her funeral.

 

[fatuhiva]

Both my grandparents died 5 years ago 9 months apart. Both times I got a bereavement fare. I called around & got a lot of different prices but ended up with a decent fare both times. The airline didn't need a copy of the death certificate ala Seinfeld, but they did ask for the name/phone number of the funeral home handling the funeral & my grandparent's names so they could call & verify it.