FlyingWelshie

A family member recently passed away. One of her wishes was to spread part of her ashes at her favourite holiday spots in the USA. The funeral director has arranged a customs certificate for collection.

Any advice what I need to do, to take the ashes re: flight with BA, dealing with US customs and any other paperwork needed eg death certificate required?

Thanks in advance.

mikeyfly

I did this in April. I took some of them in a Tupperware pot in my hand baggage and nothing else. No questions or paperwork required at any point.

bafan

Put them in your suitcase and keep quiet about it - well, that’s what I’d do, without a thought…

mikeyfly

My itinerary was LHR-MIA-LAX-LAS / LAS-TPA at which point they were sprinkled in Florida. No issues at any point

Lioneye

Condolences to you and your family.

And yes I agree with the advice to just do it.

Bongodog1964

Never ever put them in a checked bag, just imagine the distress if the bag didn't appear at the end.
Get the Funeral Director to place them in a polytainer, (screw top hard plastic urn), place in hand luggage produce customs certificate if challenged.
I've been doing this for clients for 30 years with zero problems

jerry a. laska

US requirements:
https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/documen...uent-cremation
Also see:
https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Artic...language=en_US

mikeyfly

I believe this is what I checked and therefore didn’t need anything

chrisl137

I think most or all US airlines require you to carry the ashes in your carry-on rather than checked luggage. I traveled with my mom’s ashes about 7 years ago and TSA noticed them but were very respectful.

FlyingWelshie

THANKS for the advice everyone. Sounds quite straightforward

FlyingUnderTheRadar

No never put cremains in checked luggage. Checked luggage can be inspected and get bounced around. There are stories of the container getting opened and the contents spilled. even in hand luggage one should make sure the container is clearly marked human cremains.

onlyairfare

I agree - I fretted even about mailing my brother's cremains from Florida to North Carolina, and had planned on going to Florida, picking them up in person and carrying them in my hand baggage on a flight to North Carolina. Then Hurricane Ike hit the day I was supposed to arrive in Florida.

A family friend mailed them and they arrived safely in NC, but I'd always carry them in hand myself if possible. While we decide what to do with the cremains, they are now in the hands of my previously long-lost nephew, my brother's son who happens to live an hour from my NC place. We had just finally "found him" on the internet - a wonderful young man with a lovely family - after years of no contact . A happy consequence of an otherwise sad series of events.

bisonrav

Way off topic, but to bring a touch of comfort to a rather sad subject, there's a rather wonderful song by Colin Moulding, one of the main songwriters of Swindon's finest, XTC, which seems appropriate. The lyrics are lovely. I believe the film inserts are of his parents.


All best wishes to the OP and anyone else who is touched by this sort of thing.

Bongodog1964

In the UK most if not all of the parcel companies refuse to accept cremated remains, entirely due to potential fallout if they are lost. The only way we can officially send them is by a door to door courier, likewise I would never suggest that they be placed in a checked bag

FlyingWelshie

Thanks, and I am just old enough to remember XTC from the late 1970s