My 2 cents for anyone reading this....
....my mom was at her place in AZ when her mom passed.
One call to WN got her home (well to BUF) the same day for under $200, when the lowest pub o/w was over $400 and that was not the direct flight.
mom said the SW folks couldnt have been nicer and they didnt ask her to provide any proof even tho she offered.