New Domestic Medical/Bereavement Fare Policy (Updated on 12/13)
Bereavement Program
Northwest Airlines offers its WorldPerks members a discounted bereavement fare for last minute one way and roundtrip coach travel within the 50 U.S. and Canada when travel is due to the death of an immediate family member or in the case of clergy who must preside over the funeral of a parishioner. These fares apply only if the customer advises of bereavement situation at time of booking. The customer must be traveling to or from the location of the funeral. Customers unaware of this policy may submit for a refund (see Bereavement Policy After Departure.)
To be eligible for these special fares, customers must be enrolled in the Northwest WorldPerks program. Membership in any other airline partner frequent flyer program does not qualify. The WorldPerks number must be entered in the customer’s PNR. Each customer in the PNR must have their own WorldPerks number. The WorldPerks number must be the only frequent flyer number entered in the customer’s PNR. The customer will only be eligible for WorldPerks frequent flyer mileage. If the customer is not a WorldPerks member, they can enroll on nwa.com or through Northwest/KLM Reservations at 1-800-225-2525.
Eligible Family Members
This fare is valid for eligible family members who need to travel due to the death of an immediate family member including: spouse, domestic partner, mother, father, sister, brother, grandparent, son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle (including any adopted, great, half, step and in-law versions of family members listed.) This fare may also be used in the case of a clergy who must preside over the funeral of a parishioner.
Flight Application
Travel is permitted on Northwest, Mesaba, Pinnacle, Continental, Continental Express, Hawaiian*, Alaska Airlines* and Horizon* (*only when connecting to/from Northwest operated flights.)
Reservation
Travel must originate within 3 days of booking a reservation. Circle trips are permitted. Open jaws are permitted provided one of the outbound destinations is the location of the funeral. Open returns are permitted. Minimum stay for roundtrip travel is a Saturday night. The Maximum stay is 60 days from date of departure. Each customer must have a Northwest WorldPerks number entered in the SSR field of the PNR at the time of booking. The Northwest WorldPerks number should be the only frequent flyer number in the PNR.
Ticketing and Queues
E-Ticket is the preferred ticketing method. MCOs and PTAs are permitted. TBMs are not permitted. PTA constitutes ticket issuance. Tickets can be issued by Northwest, KLM, participating Airlink, affiliate or travel agency. Tickets must be validated on Northwest, Hawaiian or Continental. Offline space must be ticketed separately.
Ticket designator * * *RV
Endorsement box * Northwest only/waiver code
Minimum Stay
None on one way fares.
Saturday night for roundtrip fares.
Maximum Stay
60 days
Stopovers
No stopovers.
Changes
Permitted anytime.
1. Difference in fare will be paid or refunded at time of ticket issuance.
2. The value of any unused domestic ticket, including those issued against certificates/coupons, may be applied towards the bereavement fare provided all conditions of the bereavement fare are met. Exceptions: Fares with ticket designators BN/BT/BA and CyberSaver/CyberSaver extra, bulk and charter may not be applied toward bereavement fares.
3. If the bereavement fare is higher than the original ticket, the passenger must pay the difference in fares.
4. Any applicable administrative fees will be waived.
5. If the fare is lower, the difference will be refunded back to the original form of payment and the administrative fee waived.
6. Any nonrefundable provisions of the original ticket must be noted in the endorsement box.
7. The above applies to any ticketed passenger including nonrefundable tickets.
8. Partially used tickets may be applied towards the purchase of a one way bereavement fare provided that the customer's travel has begun / no unused tickets / past date ticket and all conditions of the bereavement fare are met.
9. Changes to the city pairs are permitted and provisions of the original fare no longer apply.
10. Changes made to return that do not meet the minimum stay restrictions may be reissued to a one way bereavement fare. If the new fare is higher, collect fare difference. No administrative fee applies. If the new fare is lower, refund the fare difference.
Combination/Standby/Upgrades
Combinations are not valid with any other coupon, certificate, discount, including infant, child, senior or student. Paid upgrades/upgrade certificates, banked mileage upgrades not permitted. WorldPerks Platinum Elite and Gold Elite upgrades permitted. Standby is permitted for earlier/later same day travel for no fee when travel is between the same origin/destination and connection airport. No co-terminal standby permitted. Customers standing by for a Northwest flight operated by a partner airline may be assessed a fee.
Refunds
Cancellations are permitted.
1. Unused coupons will be refunded provided a previously issued non-refundable ticket was not applied toward the bereavement fare.
2. Wholly unused tickets are fully refundable.
3. Partially used ticket – roundtrip bereavement fare – if the outbound portion has been traveled and passenger is requesting a refund of the return portion, the refund must be calculated. (outbound fare must be recalculated using one way bereavement fare.)
How to Apply for a Refund
Customers must request a refund in writing. Advise the customer to submit name, address, phone number, relationship to deceased, notarized or certified photocopy of death certificate of immediate family member and passenger coupon of the unused ticket to:
Northwest Airlines/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Passenger Refunds – MS-6591
7500 Airline Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55450-1101
Miscellaneous
Customers are eligible for WorldPerks mileage credit.
Excess baggage, special baggage items, oxygen, PTA charges are not eligible for discount.
Previously Ticketed Customers
Eligible customers who paid any *coach* fare and also traveled in coach class that were not aware of Northwest’s bereavement policy will be credited an amount equal to the difference between the fare paid and the applicable published bereavement emergency fare valid at the time of ticketing provided that the booking class of the bereavement fare was available on the ticketed flights.
Contact Northwest Reservations for an approximate quote on the bereavement fare for the original booking date.
Example:
Customer paid Y26 fare OW $429.00USD
Fare quote from Northwest $183.00USD
Refund Amount $246.00USD
International Bereavement Policy Before Departure
Please contact Northwest/KLM Reservations for assistance with International bereavement travel.
International Bereavement After Departure
Customers who were unaware of Northwest/KLM bereavement assistance policy prior to travel may request a refund in writing. All travel had to be via Northwest/KLM. Customers who traveled in World Business Class are not eligible. Advise customer to submit name, address, phone number, relationship to deceased, notarized or certified photocopy of death certificate of immediate family member and passenger coupon of the unused ticket to:
Northwest Airlines/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Passenger Refunds – MS-6591
7500 Airline Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55450-1101
Actual refund amount will be calculated in the Refund Department on case-by-case basis due to inventory constraints associated with the program.