While comfort, cost, and convenience can be high priorities when travelling for vacations and business, getting there quickly is the major travel goal in cases of family death or serious illness. The following is a sampling of family bereavement and illness discount policies for Canadian, charter, American, and international airlines, as well as Via Rail. Air Canada/Canadian Bereavement and imminent-death fares are 75 per cent off the full economy fare. The discounts apply to Air Canada and Canadian Airlines for travel to and from Canada, the U.S., and international destinations, with the exception of travel originating in Japan. Certification. To obtain the bereavement discount, a passenger requires a copy of the death certificate, or a funeral director's statement, including the funeral date and details of the memorial or funeral home name, address, and telephone number.
To obtain an imminent-death discount, a passenger requires a letter from the treating physician, on the physician's letterhead, which clearly states that travel is due to imminent death and specifies the location (e.g., hospital) of the family member.
If the traveller does not have required documentation, he or she can purchase the lowest fare applicable and, when proper documentation is available, apply for a refund of the difference between the fare he or she paid and the discount. Relationship. Spouse, including common-law or same-sex partner; child, including adopted children and stepchildren; grandchildren; parents, which includes stepparents; grandparents, great grandparents; parents-in-law; brother and sister, including step-brother or step-sister, half-brother or brother- or sister-in-law; aunt; uncle; niece; nephew; and legal guardian and guardian's spouse.
American Bereavement/compassion fares can vary by market, but are generally 50 per cent off the full fare price of an unrestricted coach seat. They also apply to cases of medical emergency and are applicable within the 48 U.S. contiguous states, Hawaii, and Canada. Certification: In cases of family death, the name of the deceased and the name, address, and phone number of the funeral home handling arrangements are required. In cases of family medical emergency, the name and address of the ailing family member and the name, address, and phone number of the attending physician or hospital are required. Relationship: Spouse or domestic partners, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts and uncles, and in-laws. Some flexibility can be applied for unique family relationships.
Canada 3000 The airline does not offer a special bereavement fare or one for serious family illness. However, their regular fare prices can be cheaper than some other airlines, even after discounts.
WestJet Offers a bereavement fare but not a discount for imminent death or serious illness. The bereavement fare is WestJet's lowest published regular, or advanced booking fare, to the particular destination. Certification: Name, address, and telephone number of the funeral home; the date of the service; and the name of the deceased, as well as the passenger's relationship to the deceased. Relationship: Immediate family members including aunts, uncles, and in-laws. This applies to common-law, same-sex partners, and step families. Air Transat It does not offer discounts in cases of family death or serious family illness. They do not sell tickets directly to the public, but sell seats through tour operators and travel agents. If the passenger has time flexibility, reasonable fares can be obtained by booking through travel agents.
Lufthansa The airline offers 75 per cent discount on full economy fare in case of death in the family or imminent death of a family member. Certification and qualification policies match those of Air Canada and Canadian Airlines.
Delta Fifty per cent off full coach fares in the event of death or imminent death in passenger's immediate family. Certification: In cases of family death, indication of relationship of the passenger to the deceased and the name and phone number of the funeral home. In cases of imminent death, the name and phone number of the hospital or hospice and name of the attending doctor, as well as relationship of the ailing person to the passenger. Relationship: Spouse, child, parent, sister, brother, stepparent, stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, stepbrother, stepsister, in-laws (mother, father, son, daughter, bother, sister).
British Airways They offer 75 per cent off the full economy fare in cases of family death; doesn't apply to serious illness. Certification: A copy of the death certificate. If the passenger does not have required documentation, he or she pays full fare and then can apply for a refund with British Airways in Canada on their return. Relationship: Immediate family member, which includes spouse, child, parent, daughter, son, brother, sister, uncle or aunt, and legal guardian and spouse with proof of judgment.
Via Rail There is a 25 per cent bereavement discount. No discount is offered in case of serious illness. Certification: Death certificate or funeral notice (newspaper clipping); name, phone number and address of the funeral home and burial date; name of deceased and relationship to passenger. If certification is not available at the time of purchase, the passenger pays full fare and then can apply for a refund of the discount when proper certification is available. Relationship: Spouse or common-law spouse, parent, grandparents, great grandparents, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brothers, brother in-law, sisters, sister in-laws, father-in-law, mother-in-law, or spouse of one of the above. Uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins do not qualify.
A good travel agent can help immeasurably when, in a stressed-out state, you're trying to navigate travel options. Says Alison Hastings, a partner in Travel Masters Victoria and agent for 18 years, "Travel agents can offer all the perspectives without green-lighting one travel product, since we're representing everything." In difficult travel times, too, it doesn't hurt to have a supportive "domestic partner."