Dealing with a serious illness or death in the family is difficult enough, and it only adds stress to book last-minute travel arrangements. Airline bereavement programs help lessen that burden with flexible tickets and discounted fares for passengers who need to fly ASAP due to the death of an immediate family member. Although many carriers have discontinued their program, Delta Airlines bereavement flights are still active. We'll review eligibility, how to book, and other ways to find low-cost airfare so you can ensure you're getting the best rate when you book travel at the last minute.

Delta Airlines bereavement flights

How to qualify

First, it's important to note that while some bereavement rates might be valid for the serious illness of a close family member, the Delta Airlines bereavement rate is only valid for an immediate family member who is facing imminent death or has already passed away. The carrier's definition of an immediate family member includes:

• Spouse or domestic partner

• Parent, stepparent or parent-in-law

• Child, stepchild or son/daughter-in-law

• Sibling, stepsibling or sibling-in-law

• Grandparent or grandchild

• Aunt, uncle, niece or nephew

If you qualify, you'll need to submit to Delta the name of the deceased person, their relationship to you, the name of the doctor (if applicable), and the name and phone number of the funeral home, hospital, or hospice. Additionally, you'll need to start your travel within seven days of the death or imminent death of your immediate family member.

How to book

You must be a SkyMiles Member to book Delta compassion fares. The program is free to join, so be sure you have an active membership before starting the booking process. Delta Airlines bereavement flights cannot be booked online. Your two options are to call 800-221-1212 or message a customer service representative.

Although you may technically qualify for a discounted rate, it's possible that one may not be available for your dates and route. (Don't worry, we'll give you tips for finding last-minute flight deals shortly.) However, under Delta's bereavement fare policy, qualified passengers will be given flexibility for the outbound and/or return portion of their trip with waived service fees (fare differences may still apply).

Other ways to find flight deals

Even if you're quoted a Delta Airlines bereavement rate, you should still do a quick flight search to ensure you're getting the best-available fare. Skyscanner has a few tools that will help you search across airlines and airports to find a flight that works for your schedule and wallet.

• Nearby airports. Before you tap Search, check the "Add nearby airports" boxes for your origin and destination cities. We'll include the airports that service the cities you're searching to widen your search and provide you with more options.

• Whole month. If your travel dates aren't set in stone, you can choose when to fly based on the price. In the depart and return fields, select "Flexible dates" and choose a month. After you click Search, we'll show you rates by day so you can zero in on the cheapest dates to fly.

• Price Alerts. Funeral arrangements can take time. If you aren't ready to book but want to keep an eye on flight prices, just tap the bell icon to activate a Price Alert. We'll monitor your chosen route and dates, and let you know any time airfare rises or falls.

Final thoughts: Booking Delta compassionate fares

Delta is one of the few airlines that still offers discounted bereavement flights and ticket flexibility to those who are about to lose or have just lost an immediate family member. Just remember that a small discount may on one airline may still be higher than a regular fare being offered by a competing carrier. Do a quick flight search on Skyscanner before you book to ensure you're not paying more than you need to during this already-taxing time.