Originally Posted by
livebetter_travelmore
No, actually I didn't. I was in such a hurry to get Mom booked ASAP. Since you mention it, I have looked into bereavement fares in the past. I don't recall the airline(s), but I do remember being told some of them phased out bereavement fares presumably due to fraudulent use. I'll keep in mind to ask Delta specifically in the future if and when such a need arises. I did relay to the agent that it was for a death in the family, but she made no mention of the availability of bereavement fares whatsoever (though offered her condolences). Is there a special fare class designation to reflect a bereavement fare?
No, there is no special fare class for bereavement fares. They book into the same classes as normal fares, but are simply discounted. (Airlines always point out that if you don't need the flexibility, there may be non-flexible fares that are cheaper than the bereavement fares.) Delta still offers them, while United and AA stopped.
Delta also is fairly generous with waiving change fees in circumstances involving death of a family member, even if you bought a non-flexible fare. No guarantees, because this is an exception made at an agent's discretion, but Delta is widely known to do this.
Originally Posted by
livebetter_travelmore
Thanks for sharing that. Is that only true if one is rebooked on Delta? Granted, that would be the more likely scenario, but I'm curious how Delta would operate if one is really pressed for time and needs to jump onto another carrier. On a recent flight where a MX resulted in the cancellation of a (non-Delta) flight, the assisting agent for that scenario mumbled some comment about checking availability to rebook me on another airline and specifically stated he was looking in the same fare bucket of the other airline. For that particular scenario, I was in a discounted (first) fare bucket and the OAL did appear, at least initially, to have space. However, it implied that if there was no space in that fare bucket, he wouldn't be able to book me though it wasn't clear to me if that meant he merely couldn't get me into the same cabin but might could have in a lesser fare class and, in that case, cabin. Borrowing on that assumption, if one is in a true F fare class, then it improves the odds of full re-accommodation, yes?
Airlines arbitrarily define their own fare classes; the letters are meaningless to compare across airlines. It doesn't matter whether you had an A fare or an F fare from Delta - they treat it as a First Class ticket. (Or are supposed to, per Delta policy. If you find someone who tries to tell you otherwise, they are wrong.) It doesn't matter what the fare classes on the other airline are - if there's any inventory available in the front cabin, they can make that happen. Though keep in mind Delta is never required to rebook you on another airline, even in the event of a delay or cancellation that is their fault... it is within their "sole discretion" per the contract of carriage.