Originally posted by selfdestrc:
I am just wondering how you go about proving to the airline that your family member is indeed ill or passed away? I mean do you have to provide them actual medical documents proving that someone's in the hospital? And if so, when does that happen? I mean surely they dont expect you to have the paperwork ready when you're calling last minute to buy a ticket...so do you have to provide them some proof after the flight? Thanks for any explanation, but hope I never have to face such a situation...
Each airline has its own policy. Some only require the name of the ill/deceased and the hospital/funeral home. Others require more information.
Airlines also have different policies as to how near the relationship must be in order to qualify for a bereavement fare. US Airways seems to be the least restrictive, offering them to cousins.
The Wall Street Journal did a story on bereavement fares in August in which I was interviewed. The story is available on the publicly accessible part of the Wall Street Journal's website at
http://travel.wsj.com/n/SB9675742109...ir-travel.html