Guys, I need some help. How do I go about getting an immediate airline booking with a breavement fare for a trip to England?
My grandmother died and my mother has to get home immediately. We have called several airlines but because my mother is not an American citizen, they will not offer her the fare. I know airlines offer these discount fares because I get calls at the hospital all the time where I have to confirm a death so the traveller can get the rate.
Does anyone know how to get around this? Is there some sort of special terminology we can use to get them to understand? I need this info ASAP.
I’ve used a bereavement fair on Delta before, but in was in the US. They didn’t call to check on anything, they asked me to bring the death notice with me when I checked in. I forgot, and they said it was no big deal. It would seem if the citizenship thing is a problem, I would call British Airways.
Tip number two… as soon as you speak to someone in reservations, don’t talk to them. Instead, immediately ask to speak to their supervisor. I find it’s always easier to start at the top and work my way down.
Is your mother a permanent resident in the US? If so, they may allow the bereivement fare on that basis. Otherwise, I think your SOL. Did you try British Airways? I have no idea what their policies are, but maybe they would be more sympathetic to one of their own.
There is also the possibility of getting a cheap last minute fare either directly from the airline (if they are way undersold), or through a consolidator. You can find consolidators listed in the travel scetions of a Sunday paper, or you can call a travel agent–most deal with consolidators and can contact them for you.
Lastly, have you checked on-line? I know the last minute thing usually means really high fares, but occasionally there will be something cheap, especially at this time of year when no one in their right mind wants to vacation in England.
My condolances on the loss of your gandmother. I wish you luck in finding a fare.
“I should not take bribes and Minister Bal Bahadur KC should not do so either. But if clerks take a bribe of Rs 50-60 after a hard day’s work, it is not an issue.” ----Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Current Prime Minister of Nepal
You might also try Travel Information Software Systems. They are an on-line consolidator with whom I’ve always had good luck. I don’t have a link, but you can find them easily by doing a seach for either their full name or simply TISS.
Also note, sometimes you can find online fares that are cheaper than the bereavement fares. I flew Delta and saved 30% with an online fare over the bereavement rate.
You always use violence. I should’ve ordered glutinous rice chicken.
We did try British Airways–they were the first to tell us no because of the citizenship thing.
My mom got a flight through a special deal that Delta and British Airways were offering–round trip for $109 each way plus a connecting flight for $70 more. The fare was only good if reserved 7 days in advance. The only problem is that she flies out this Friday (25th) My grandmother died this past Thursday (18th) There is going to be an inquest and autopsy performed so the delay isn’t as bad as it could have been but it is still sad that they have to delay the funeral until 11 days after she died.
Incidentally, if my mother had flown at any time previous to this Friday (for $400), the ticket would have been anywhere from $1900 to $3500.
I have a hobby. I have the world’s largest collection of seashells. I keep it scattered on beaches all over the world. Maybe you’ve seen some of it.
When my Brother-in-Law died (he was a pilot for a major airlines) I was not allowed to get the direct bereavement fair to get back home. Your best bet would be to go to the airline bidding sites and place a bid. I have gotten fairs significantly cheaper than what the bereavement fairs are supposed to be that way. I had a thread devoted to getting cheap airfair in GQ. I will look for the link and post it here. Back, here’s the link http://204.95.48.199/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001873.html
I don’t know if this is too late, but I hope that this helps.