The death of a loved one is among the most difficult times of anybody’s life. Beyond the emotional distress, it can often add financial distress as people travel to gather and support one another.
In the “small favors” department, many airlines offer discounted fares for family members traveling to a funeral. These are called “Bereavement Flights” or “Bereavement Fares” and can save you money at a time when you might need all the help you can get.
Does Lufthansa Offer Bereavement Flights?
Lufthansa Air offers such discounts, allowing family members in North America to reach Europe to grieve with their loved ones when it’s needed most.
This can be especially important because the cost of short-notice flights can be high. Skyscanner can help you find the best last-minute flight deals, and even same-day flights, but that may or may not be enough for your needs.
What Kind of Discount?
According to their website, Lufthansa bereavement flights are available for journeys which start in the USA or Canada. The discounts vary by season, destination and point of departure.
They encourage you to contact them directly at 1-800-634-3880. You can also find out which other major airlines offer bereavement flight discounts to the destinations you need to reach.
How Can You Qualify?
On Lufthansa, bereavement flights are available to immediate family members : parents, children, siblings, and spouses. You will need to provide proof of your identity, your relationship, and that your family member has in fact died.
Proof of death doesn’t necessarily have to be a death certificate. Contact information for a funeral home, hospital, hospice, or doctor is usually sufficient.
Compare flight prices to find your best option!
Reserving a Lufthansa Bereavement Flight
Although Lufthansa isn’t very forthcoming on their website about exactly how to book bereavement flight, the process is fortunately quite simple.
Call their customer service number and tell the agent you need to book a bereavement flight. They will help you find the best flight for your needs, then connect you with a team member who will help you identify what documentation you need.
After that, you’ll simply scan and email the documents to Lufthansa, and they’ll process your tickets.