American Airlines ends bereavement fares
American Airlines is the latest major U.S. airline to stop offering bereavement fares. CNN's Alison Kosik reports.
A much appreciated convenience won't be available from American Airlines anymore. The airline says it will no longer offer special fares to passengers who have to book a sudden flight because of a relative's death. American explains to CNN why it made the decision, saying in order to have a single, consistent program for American and US Airways, we will adopt the US Airways' policy and now offer customers the option to purchase changeable and refundable fares.
American and US Airways recently merged. And US Airways has no bereavement discounts, so essentially American will drop its special fare as well. Prices for walk-up tickets are generally higher and that puts additional pressure on passengers dealing with the loss of a loved one. Other airlines still offer bereavement fare. United offers a discount of 5% on fares in the event of a death or serious illness of an immediate family member. Delta's website says it offers additional flexibility on the best-published fare for such situations. So discounts are still available at least for now.