according to our contract of carriage (just search contract of carriage on delta.com) international rule number 65 section E specifically. she shouldn't have to pay the reissue charge. rule 65 also talks about ticket validity periods
E) WAIVERS FOR ILLNESS When a passenger is unable to travel due to his/her illness or physical
incapacity, or the illness or physical incapacity of a member of his/her immediate family (traveling or not),
or his/her traveling companion, DL will waive fare requirements as specified below. The illness or
physical incapacity must be certified in writing by a physician on his/her letterhead stationery verifying
that the passenger could not travel on the date of travel because of illness or physical incapacity. This
statement may not be on a doctor's prescription pad.
NOTE: Immediate Family, as used herein, means spouse, domestic partner, children, step-children
parents, step parents, brothers, step-brothers, sisters, step-sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, fathersin-
law, mothers-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, aunts, uncles,
nieces, nephews
1) Any waiver will also apply to associates with whom the passenger is traveling.
2) Normal Fare Tickets: The validity of the ticket will be extended up to 30 days beyond the original
limit.
3) Special Fare Tickets: Once travel has commenced, the minimum stay requirement as shown on
the ticket with regard to any fare will be waived or the maximum stay requirement as shown on
the ticket will be extended up to 30 days beyond the original limit, without service charge/penalty
if applicable, in the event of illness or hospitalization of a passenger or any member of the
passenger's immediate family as defined in (E) above. In the event the minimum stay
requirement is waived, the ticket must be endorsed "earlier return on account of illness
of...(name of passenger's immediate family/relationship)".
4) When the passenger has not departed from point of origin, and the fare is:
a) A Group Fare, the passenger may travel with a group traveling later at the same type of
fare. Advance reservations/ticketing requirements and service charges (if applicable)
will be waived. Individual travel will be permitted only if the passengers group fare
allows it.
b) An Individual Fare, the passenger may travel later. Advance reservations/ticketing
requirements and service charges (if applicable) will be waived.
NOTE: Travel will not be permitted on an earlier flight than originally ticketed; at a time
when the fare does not apply; nor will travel be permitted to commence at a fare that
has expired. When necessary, the appropriate difference in fare will be refunded or
collected.
5) The waiver is also subject to the following conditions:
a) If a satisfactory written document is not submitted, the passenger must pay the
applicable fare for transportation used. The passenger may later submit a refund
application with the supporting written document.
b) If the circumstances necessitate that the passenger stop en route, one additional
stopover will be permitted free of charge.
c) An upgrade in class of service (i.e., from Coach Class to First Class) will be permitted
only when the difference in fare is collected from the passenger