When the unexpected happens and you suddenly need to book a flight to say goodbye to a loved one, you’ll likely be looking for a discounted ticket since last-minute travel can be expensive (and stressful). If you’re part of American Airlines’ loyalty program, AAdvantage, then earning miles and Loyalty Points is a good incentive to book with them. Read on to find out how bereavement tickets on American Airlines are handled and if you can get a discount.

Unfortunately, American Airlines does not offer compassionate fares, also known as bereavement tickets. In fact, the carrier stopped offering these discounted tickets in 2014. 

Although American Airlines no longer offers bereavement flights, there are other ways you can find cheaper flights. Take these 4 steps:

1. Check American Airlines’ website for flight deals. It’s possible that your destination or a nearby airport is on the promo list. 

2. Look at other airlines’ bereavement fare policies to see if you can get a deal with a different carrier. 

3. Review our tips for finding last-minute flights and see if they help you book a good deal.

4. Use Skyscanner’s flight search tools (more below) to compare the deals we can find for you to any bereavement tickets or other airfare you found.

Additionally, if you or a family member need additional support while you undertake your journey, you can reach out to American Airlines' customer service directly at 800-433-7300. Although bereavement fares may no longer be available, representatives can often provide guidance or suggest the best rates and options for urgent travel.

You can always count on our flight search to compare results from dozens of airlines and online travel agencies and show you the top flights that are cheapest, fastest, and the overall best options. If you don’t need to book a ticket immediately, there are a couple other tools we have that can help you get a better deal. 

Once you have a set route and travel dates, set a Price Alert on our desktop site so we can track airfare in the background for you. We’ll notify you as soon as the price changes so you can book your flight without overpaying. 

If your travel dates happen to be flexible, we recommend checking “Flexible dates” for your departure and return. After you select a whole month, we’ll bring up a calendar and flight prices by day so you can select the one that’s best for your trip and budget.

Lastly, if your travel plans will take you to multiple destinations, skip the cobbled-together itinerary of one-way tickets. Use the Multi-city search feature to let us find the most affordable way to book your flights.

Final thoughts: Bereavement tickets on American Airlines

While American Airlines no longer offers specific bereavement fares, there are other airlines that do, including Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Delta, and WestJet. But before you take out your credit card for one of these offers, use our flight search tools mentioned above to compare the bereavement fare to the search results for your route and travel dates. Keep in mind the fare class and any add-ons you may need to buy, like seats and bags, so you don’t pay more than you need to during this difficult time.