[John&Sue]

My wife sister had terminal cancer. She booked a flight to NY from Atlanta using frequent Flier miles. Her sister passed away before the flight. When we went to cancel the flight and redeposit the miles we were charged $150. We were told that to not be charged the fee we would have to give Delta the orginal death certificate. Who could ask the husband for a death certificate for 150 dollar refund. I told delta I'll give them the hospital name, a copy of the obit etc. Is this any way to treat Platimium members.

[HoustonFlyer]

You are getting a waiver of $150 and you think it difficult to present the airline with a Death Certificate? The person dealing with you must keep some kind of record as to why the fee was waived. The name of the hospital says nothing and neither really does an orbituary. Anyone can request of the Registry of Births and Deaths in the district a Death Certificate as this is a public record that is not confidential. It can be ordered by mail and usually costs $5 or $10 depending on the district. You don't need to trouble the deceased's husband.

[HoustonFlyer]

I just checked it and you can order a certified Death Certificate for the state of Georgia for $25 and they will mail it out to you. Additional certified copies after the first will be $5.

If you are interested here is the link

http://health.state.ga.us/programs/v.../deathform.asp

[tomo]

Whether this fee is competitive or not, it is still an outrageous fee. It is not aligned with a people cost, a systems cost nor is it aligned with lost opportunity cost. The fact that multiple airlines charge this kind of fee means that all airlines are willing to take advantage of their best customers. Once miles are used to book travel, a traveller does not have an option to change airlines to redeposit them so the fact that other airlines charge the same or different does not matter at that time since that is not an option. The fee is not aligned with the value of the service.

[jimworcs]

This is exactly right.. it is exploitative and outrageous.