Here's my take on bereavement/ill family trips:

I really don't think it's any of the airline's business why I am travelling. While it's true they don't take the initiative and ask you why you are travelling, I just don't see why it should be necessary to prove why one needs to travel at the last minute (i.e., it's not a business trip, which presumably has no limit on ticket price).

This is just my opinion. If it works out better for someone to call and explain to get a reasonably priced ticket, that's fine (25,000 miles is a "price" in that you can't use it for some other trip).

Personally, if I have a family situation, I will fly on Southwest Airlines before I explain/beg at another airline. SWA is dead last on my list of domestic airlines; that's how much I dislike being forced to justify a reasonable price for last minute travel.


Should a grocery store charge 200% more for using the express lane (presumably to provide lower prices for the non-express lanes), unless you can provide a valid reason? (including notarized documentation of non-business-related hurriness)


[This message has been edited by JS (edited 12-07-2000).]