Air Canada Bereavement Fares | What you need to know

Travel is usually associated with something fun and exciting, but the unfortunate reality is that sometimes we need to travel or change existing travel plans because of a tragedy. Those of us who find ourselves in these situations don’t have the time to go back and forth and figure out how to get last-minute flights, change flights, or even apply for a refund in these circumstances. This guide to Air Canada’s Bereavement policy should help in these stressful situations, so you know your options and what to do should the worst happen.

Air Canada’s bereavement policy for passengers who need to travel

If you need to book a last-minute flight due to an immediate family member’s death or imminent death, you may be eligible for Air Canada bereavement fares.

Immediate family for the purpose of this policy is defined as:

• Spouse (including common law, same-sex partners and ex-spouse)
• Child (includes step/grand/great grand/in-law/common law in-law)
• Parents (includes step/grand/great grand/in-law/common law in-law)
• Siblings (includes step/grand/great grand/in-law/common law in-law)
• Legal guardian and spouse of legal guardian (with proof of judgment)

*All above include in-laws of a same-sex partner

The Bereavement policy will apply to any flight marketed and operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express. This includes Economy Standard, Flex, Comfort, and Latitude Fares and tickets. Note that Economy Basic fares are only included in the policy when travelling outside of North America. Bereavement travel must also occur within 10 days of the booking and cannot exceed 60 days.

You must request bereavement travel before the travel has been completed.

Air Canada bereavement application

If you meet the above eligibility requirements, then your first step is to call Air Canada at 1.888.247.2262 if you are in North America. If you are abroad, you can search for the appropriate international number here.

You will need to provide:

• The name of the dying/deceased and your relationship to them
• The name of the hospital or residence (including address and phone number) as well as the name of the attending physician OR
• The name, address, and phone number of the memorial/funeral home and the date of the service

Within seven days of returning from your bereavement travel, you need to email bereavement@AirCanada.Ca with your booking reference and include one of the following documents:

• A copy of the death certificate
• The funeral director’s statement
• The coroner’s statement
• The registration of death
• A letter from the treating physician which clearly defines the situation as one of the imminent death of the immediate family member (must be on official letterhead or a prescription pad)

Note that failure to send in the appropriate documentation may result if having to pay the regular fare price difference. 

Air Canada bereavement policy for passengers who need to extend their travel

In cases where the passenger is already travelling, for example, visiting home when the death or situation of imminent death occurs, it is also possible to extend the flight or request a deferred refund for the ticket.

If the passenger knows when he/she wants to change the flight date, then this has to be done over the phone. In North America, the number to call is 1.888.247.2262. If you are abroad you can search for the appropriate international number here.

For passengers who are no longer travelling due to death/imminent death situations, you can request a deferred refund for your ticket. The form to do that can be filled out online here. You will need to fill out personal information as well as include one of the following official documents.

• A copy of the death certificate
• The funeral director’s statement
• The coroner’s statement
• The registration of death
• A letter from the treating physician which clearly defines the situation as one of the imminent death of the immediate family member (must be on official letterhead or a prescription pad)

This form should be filled out as soon as possible and must be filled out before the date of the pre-existing flight.

How much can you save with Air Canada bereavement fares?

The Air Canada bereavement policy is designed to offer maximum flexibility. That means it won’t be cheaper than the price of a regular last-minute flight. That said, since the focus is on flexibility, you get free itinerary change fees, free seat selection, and two free checked bags. That could save you a few hundred dollars.

When searching for airfare, you may be able to find lower fares online with a different airline. However, these fares typically offer less flexibility and could be subject to restrictions and/or additional fees. Think of Air Canada bereavement fares as a different fare class instead of a discounted ticket.

Use your travel insurance

The Air Canada bereavement policy can be incredibly handy in difficult times, but the steps must be followed correctly, or you may not qualify. If you are unable to qualify for Air Canada’s bereavement fares then check with your travel insurance. Many credit cards have travel insurance policies that can help in these situations. Check this post for a list of the best credit cards with travel insurance.

With credit card travel insurance, you won’t get access to cheaper or more flexible if you have yet to travel. However, if you have a flight booked or you’re already travelling, and someone in your family suddenly passes away, you can claim your trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.

Like bereavement fares, only eligible deaths would trigger your insurance policy. In addition, trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance typically have a price cap. That means you may not get the entire cost of your trip covered. In addition, you usually need to charge the whole cost of your airfare, hotels, and car rental to your credit card with travel insurance for your claim to be eligible.