I've learned that this type of a situation is great time to use frequent flyer miles -- it's better than spending time, energy and effort to get a decent fare.

Sorry about your loss..... (and bring warm clothes to Michigan -- we've already had a lot of snow !)

Bob H

[Post removed - I just realized that this was a NW thread]

[...........]

I've never found this to be a problem. Obits often mention the funeral home. Just scan the destination's local paper a few days before the trip and claim that the deceased was a close family friend. The airline isn't going to ask for proof of attendence - I suppose if you are really paranoid you can work in 5 minutes to drop by during the visitation (it can be awkward is the visitation is lightly attended and the family asks who you are . . . acting like you are too overrought to speak can sometimes get you out of these conversations).

An added benefit is that on some airlines your return is totally flexible on a bereavement rate.

Hotwire/PL are better alternatives if time of day isn't an issue.

FWIW when my grandma passed, found a cheaper restricted fare than what a Bereavement fare was, by chance, on NW.

And we wonder why bereavement fares have gone up in price over the years?

I don't think they have. However, the cheapest fares have come down enormously making the bereavement fares far less attractive.

But the key advantage for the bereavement fares is the flexibility that the cheap fares don't offer. As most F/T'ers know, there's usually 100 different ways of booking/routing a trip.

Depending on the situation, it may be cheaper to fly one of the LCCs on last-minute one-way tickets if the loads are light and you're somewhat flexible with your schedule. As always, YMMV.

When I had to travel for a family medical emergency, I went with a cheap Roundtrip S/T(?) fare. Wound up paying a $100 change fee when the trip had to be extended. Even with the change fee, it was cheaper than the bereavement fare.

Bereavement fares, with their full-Y flexibility (hence the cost), can make sense when you're going to visit someone who is very sick or on their death bed but you really don't know how long you're going to be there; e.g., how long before they're out of the hospital or how long before they actually die, how long before the funeral happens, how long before affairs are finished up. Even so, a cheap round trip plus change fees can still be cheaper, as djerikd mentions.

If you're travelling to a funeral where you already know the date, just get whatever cheapest roundtrip you can. Or use miles.

In the last year we have lost 3 family members and each time I was able to use NWA miles to get them home with a standard award. Would this be a possiblily? If you are short of miles maybe someone could do a trade with you. Sorry for your loss..

As this was originally a discussion regarding NW bereavement fares & changed into a discussion about bereavement fares as a whole, I'm going to move this to TravelBuzz.

bhatnasx
Mileage Run Moderator

Sure, if you believe in such fairy tales.

Since some folks have asked: No, I've never used a bereavement fare for a MR (or for the usual reason). Sometimes my sense of humor is a bit dry.

I do so hope this is your idea of humour and that you would not seriously do this. Though strongly suspect you might considering the nature of the post, and the truly pathetic nature of your subsequent post (and I am not the 'God-fearing' type).

We live in such a sick world, and it is only getting worst if people think that saving a few Dollars justifies any form of behavior, i.e. making money a 'value' to be attained over real values. Morally despicable does not even cover it - by abusing these fares and getting the airlines to pull them you stop people who really need to use them from being able to afford to attend the funerals of their loved ones. People (i.e. the vast majority of the public) who may not have the luxury of having miles to burn. Sick.

About time certain people had a long hard look at themselves, and started to look at their life priorities. Your fellow man will not respect you if you don't respect him, and I for one don't want to live in a dog-eat-dog world. Sounds like you frederoil may be the type who does though.

Sickest and most selfish thing I have ever read on FT to date. If you don't feel ashamed of yourself frederoil you need professional help.

While (as I posted above) I haven't abused bereavement fares and I think at the least doing so would be in bad taste, I don't really think what is being suggested is as bad as what the airlines do themselves.

Consider the "Donate your miles to TragedyVictims/KidsWith/Cancer/ServicemenOnLeave/etc." Programs that the airlines often run:

Let's say they sell 25K mile to a credit card company for $200 (probably a low figure). Then someone who earns the miles from the CC company donates them back to help some deserving soul get a free Domestic Saver Award. The marginal cost to them on this award is likely to be less than $30. So They are making $170 bucks on someone's generosity.

If they had any integrity they would make an offer of "donate 5K miles and we'll give someone in need an award seat". . . .and they'd still likely make a slight profit on the transaction. Until they do that, I am not going to look down on someone that abuses bereavement fares and costs the airlines some extra profit.

But bereavement fares arent cheap, their advantage is that they're flexible. If you need a bereavement fare to save money on a MR, you didn't plan well...