[Scotchlass]

I emailed Southwest to ask if they had any help for visiting a gravely ill family member. There response was "We realize that there are times when Customers must make last-minute travel arrangements due to unexpected circumstances, and we know how trying these situations can be. However, we do not offer emergency or bereavement fares at Southwest Airlines. Simply put, our goal is to offer low fares to our Customers at all times, and we can only do that by upholding our fare structures and requiring that Customers purchase whatever fare is available when a reservation is made. We're truly sorry to have to disappoint you, but we hope you can understand our position as well". Last minute travel, due to these circumstances, can never be a low fare.

[azstar]

Try Frontier, if they fly where you want to go. Their fares are usually rock-bottom, even at the last minute.

[Welks]

Unfortunately, since people abused them, airlines no longer offer bereavement fares. The abuse wasn't by normal leisure travelers; it was by businessmen who often paid the last minute walk up fares suddenly having a "death in the family."

Source: Sister worked for an airline (not SWA) when the change was made.

[The_Judge]

Originally Posted by Welks

Unfortunately, since people abused them, airlines no longer offer bereavement fares. The abuse wasn't by normal leisure travelers; it was by businessmen who often paid the last minute walk up fares suddenly having a "death in the family."

Source: Sister worked for an airline (not SWA) when the change was made.

Wrong info given above. I checked only one airline and found this........

Delta's bereavement policy

So to say "airlines no longer offer bereavement fares" is completely wrong.

Source: DL's website and 20 years experience of working for a major airline

[Gromit801]

Many airlines take these on a case by case basis, and have discounts they can apply at the counter.

[The_Judge]

Negative. There are set policies, as I've just pointed out.

[The_Judge]

Ok.......I'll do the work.

UA's compassion fare policy

AA has one

As does Alaska Airlines

You Asked: do you offer bereavement fares
Jenn: Alaska Airlines offers a bereavement discount to customers who are traveling last minute due to the death of an immediate family member. This discount is only available within 7 days of travel and must be booked in advance. For further assistance, please contact Alaska Airlines Reservations.

Westjet even has it

There are some that don't offer them but the major carriers have them. The statement made earlier that "airlines no longer offer bereavement fares" is completely false and the comment about case by case basis is also false.

[azstar]

To some people who say "bereavement fare" think "cheap fare" at the last minute. That's definitely not the case. Bereavement fares may waive the advance purchase requirement on a ridiculously high fare, or they may have a special fare between cities, but they can be very, very, expensive.