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Bereavement Fares

In-page links.

• Bereavement Fare Policy , Go to footer note
• Definition of Immediate Family , Go to footer note
• Eligibility , Go to footer note
• Children and Infants , Go to footer note

Bereavement Fare Policy

While fares offered under the bereavement policy vary in price, the additional flexibility may be beneficial to accommodate unexpected changes in your travel plans. To apply the bereavement policy, please request a representative through the “Message Us” button on our Help Center page.

You cannot purchase bereavement fares on delta.com, and Delta bereavement fares are subject to the following restrictions:

• Tickets under the Bereavement policy are subject to availability and may not be available at time of booking
• Delta’s Bereavement policy provides flexibility to the outbound and/or return portion of your trip by waiving service fees; however, fare differences may still apply
• Lower promotional fares may be available on delta.com or through Delta Reservations and may serve as a better option in some markets
• Additional guidelines and restrictions apply

Visit Delta Cares™ for more information on professional services that might assist you in a time of need.

Definition of Immediate Family

Under the provisions of the Medical Fare guidelines, “Immediate Family” includes:

• Spouse                           
• Domestic partner
• Grandparent
• Stepbrother
• Mother-in-law
• Father-in-law
• Daughter-in-law
• Brother-in-law
• Sister-in-law

All spouse related relationships apply to domestic partner.

Eligibility

This program is valid for SkyMiles Members needing to travel due to death or imminent death of an immediate family member. If you are not currently a SkyMiles Member you may enroll immediately to qualify.

Required Documentation

The following information is required so that you can purchase a ticket under the Bereavement Policy:

• Deceased person’s name
• Customer's relationship to the deceased
• Name and phone number of funeral home, hospital, or hospice
• Name of doctor (if applicable)

Children and Infants

Children will be ticketed at the same fare as an adult under the Bereavement policy or applicable child's fare, whichever is lower.  The first infant without a seat under the age of 2 is at no charge, the second infant must purchase a seat. There is a 2-infant maximum per ticketed adult. The infant must be accompanied on all flights in the same compartment by an adult.

Reservations must be ticketed immediately. Tickets must be purchased with travel commencing within seven days of the death or imminent death of the immediate family member. Required documentation is subject to verification.

• Ticketing penalties are waived, however, fare differences may still apply
• International tickets are subject to additional restrictions
• Refunds are permitted only on unrestricted bereavement tickets

Domestic tickets must be purchased — and travel must start — within seven days of the death or imminent death of the immediate family member. Required documentation is subject to verification.

Medallion Complimentary Upgrades and Complimentary Companion Upgrades are permitted on domestic and international bereavement fares and are subject to the applicable terms and conditions of  Complimentary Upgrades . Mileage Upgrade Awards and Upgrade Certificates may only be used to upgrade on domestic bereavement fares. Contact Delta Reservations for more details.

Availability and Restrictions

Note that tickets sold under Delta’s Bereavement policy are only available on Delta marketed/Delta operated and Delta Connection® flights. Other lower, more restrictive fares may be available here on delta.com. Additional restrictions may apply.

Baggage Fees

Standard baggage fees apply and are the responsibility of the passenger.

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Bereavement fares: 5 airlines that still offer discounts.

Several airlines offer help in times of loss.

Bereavement Flights: Discounted Fares

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When you've lost a loved one, the last thing you want to do is search for flights. Travel can be stressful under the best circumstances, but the added mental and financial stress of unexpected travel while grieving can feel overwhelming.

Fortunately, the following airlines offer bereavement fares – cheaper flights with flexible booking options – to help make this difficult time easier to manage:

Alaska Airlines

Delta air lines, hawaiian airlines.

Keep in mind, policies on bereavement flights vary by airline, including the requirements to qualify for the fare, the flights a bereavement fare can be applied to and the benefits of said fare. Also note that bereavement flights may not be your cheapest option.

Alaska Airlines offers a bereavement flight option for grieving customers hoping to travel within seven days of the death of a loved one. If you're eligible, you receive a 10% discount off the lowest available fare for your desired trip. Keep in mind that all flights must happen within this seven-day period, so the airline won't match a cheaper rate found outside of this timeframe. Additionally, bereavement discounts cannot be combined with other rate reductions, such as miles or military discounts, so be sure to look at the base cost of a flight when searching for the lowest fares. Alaska Airlines' discounted bereavement fares are available on Alaska Airlines flights and flights operated on behalf of Alaska by Horizon or SkyWest.

Qualifications: The discount is only available to customers who have lost a member of their immediate family. The company classifies immediate family members as any of the following: spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, siblings or half-siblings, grandparents, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew. Stepfamily members and in-laws that fall into these categories are also recognized as immediate family, but cousins and other in-law relatives do not qualify for the discounted rate. Travelers older than 18 must also be Mileage Plan members to qualify for the discount.

To secure a bereavement fare, call the Alaska Airlines reservations and customer service line at 1-800-252-7522. The discounted rate can only be applied to new tickets purchased when calling this number, so don't try to book through the website first. If you have already begun your travel, you will not be eligible for a bereavement flight. All fees and rules associated with the fare will apply to your bereavement flight.

View Alaska Airlines' bereavement travel policy .

Air Canada offers a bereavement discount for any Economy Class fare (excluding Economy Basic) on flights marketed and operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or Air Canada Express.

Qualifications: Like other airlines, the bereavement policy only applies to immediate family members. You are considered immediate family if you are a spouse, child, parent, sibling, legal guardian or spouse of the legal guardian of the deceased. This includes step, half, in-law and common in-law as well as grand and great-grand relatives. Air Canada's policy is also inclusive of same-sex relationships as well as ex-spouses.

If you're hoping to secure a bereavement fare from Air Canada, you will also need to provide supporting documentation as evidence of your loss. This can be any of the following: a copy of the death certificate, the funeral director's statement, the coroner's statement, registration issued by a provincial government, or a letter from the treating physician on official letterhead or a prescription pad. If you go with the last option, make sure the physician knows that the letter will need to clearly define the situation as one of imminent death of your immediate family member. The supporting document should be emailed to [email protected] within seven days of your return flight. If you do not provide this documentation, you may be charged the regular fare price difference for your flight.

Bereavement flights can be booked by calling the Flight Info and Reservations customer support line for Air Canada at 1-888-247-2262. When you request a bereavement fare, you will be required to disclose the name of the family member and your relationship to them. You will be asked to disclose the name of the hospital or residence and the attending physician's name, address and phone number – or the date of the memorial or funeral and the name, address and phone number of the memorial or funeral home.

At first glance, this may seem like more work than it's worth, but Air Canada's bereavement flights come with a far more generous timeframe than most other bereavement flights. To qualify for the reduced fare, your travel must begin within 10 days of booking, a slightly longer timeframe than other bereavement flight options. However, your bereavement travel can extend as long as 60 days. This makes Air Canada's bereavement flights a particularly beneficial option if you will be handling your loved one's estate.

View Air Canada's bereavement travel policy .

Delta offers grieving customers domestic and international bereavement flights. Like other bereavement policies, the bereavement fare can only be secured via phone and is not available to those booking on the website. To secure a bereavement fare, call Delta Reservations at 1-800-221-1212 for domestic flights or 1-800-241-4141 for international flights. You will be required to reserve your ticket on the phone, and you must travel within seven days of the death or imminent death of an immediate family member.

Qualifications: Under Delta's policy, immediate family members include: spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, sister, brother, stepparent, stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, stepbrother, stepsister, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law. Domestic partnerships are provided the same relations as spouses under this policy.

Delta's bereavement policy offers additional flexibility on the best published fare for your itinerary. Tickets are still subject to availability and no additional discount is provided, but the flexibility provided by the policy can be helpful if you anticipate changes in your travel plans. In order to accommodate changes, the company waives service fees on all outbound and return bereavement flights.

Fare differences when changing a flight may still apply. Bereavement flights are available on Delta-marketed and -operated flights as well as Delta Connection flights. Frequent Delta flyers can also utilize their Medallion Complimentary Upgrades and Complimentary Companion Upgrades to upgrade their flight, both domestic and international. Under Delta's policy, international bereavement flights may be subject to further restrictions and are not eligible for Mileage Upgrade Awards and Upgrade Certificates, which can be used on domestic flights.

Another important restriction to note is that bereavement flights are only available to SkyMiles members. If you are not a SkyMiles member, don't fret. There is no waiting period for enrollment, so you can become a member right before calling Delta Reservations. In addition to being a SkyMiles member, to receive a bereavement fare for your flight you will need to provide the deceased person's name; your relationship to the deceased; the name and phone number of the funeral home, hospital, or hospice; and the name of the doctor (if applicable).

View Delta's bereavement travel policy .

While Hawaiian Airlines offers bereavement fares, they are some of the more restrictive options available. Namely, this is because a bereavement flight can only be booked for neighbor island travel between Hawaiian islands. The official bereavement policy is referred to as "Neighbor Island Emergency Travel." Urgent travel to or from North America or along international routes is not covered under Hawaiian Airlines' bereavement policy, but the airline will waive ticketing fees for phone reservations booked within 48 hours due to the death of a family member. If you are traveling within the state of Hawaii, you may be eligible for one-way, all-inclusive, emergency fare. Single-segment emergency fares are available for $83 in the main cabin and $133 in first class. Emergency fares with a connection are listed as $110 for main cabin tickets and $160 for first class tickets.

Qualifications: To qualify for an emergency fare, you must be traveling within 48 hours of ticketing and be a traveling companion or immediate family member to the hospitalized or deceased. Hawaiian Airlines classifies a traveling companion as someone booked under the same six-letter confirmation code as you, so you may not be eligible for emergency airfare if your travel companion booked separately.

The company classifies immediate family as spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents or grandchildren. Stepfamily members and in-laws are included in the policy, as are adopted children. To secure the emergency fare rate, you will need to book your trip at the normal rate and then submit the required documents – a copy of your ticket, proof of relation, and a death certificate (bereavement) or signed medical waiver form (hospitalization) – online, by fax or by mail. Your documents will be reviewed within seven days following receipt and, if approved, Hawaiian Airlines will refund you the fare difference between the fare you paid and the emergency fare.

Unlike other airlines, Hawaiian Airlines offers a bereavement waiver request should you need to change or cancel an existing booking. If you were unable to travel due to the loss of an immediate family member or traveling companion, you may be eligible for a change fee waiver or ticket refund. In order to submit your request, you will need to fill out a form at HawaiianAirlines.com/CAO and attach the following documents: a copy of the death certificate, proof of your relationship to the deceased (such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate) and a copy of your ticket.

Bereavement waiver requests must be submitted after you have changed or canceled your flight online or by phone. Since this is a request, you will pay the full price for a change or cancellation upfront but will receive a refund of the appropriate amount if your request is approved. Keep in mind that this can take up to 30 days.

View Hawaiian Airlines' bereavement travel policy .

WestJet offers bereavement fares to travelers experiencing an imminent or recent death in their family. The company defines family as: parent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, child, nephew, niece, spouse, executor, and legal guardian or spouse of legal guardian. The policy is inclusive of same-sex couples as well as grand, step, common law and in-law versions of the listed relatives. Bereavement fares can be applied to WestJet's Econo, EconoFlex and Premium fares, but are not available on the company's partner airlines. Bereavement fares are not available on WestJet Vacations flights either.

Qualifications: To qualify for the bereavement fare, your travel must be completed within 14 days of when your first flight is booked. This includes your return trip. WestJet's bereavement fares are flexible and do not incur change fees. Like most airlines, the company advises that cheaper rates may be available elsewhere on the website, but regular fares are subject to change fees. To book a bereavement fare, you will need to call the company's general inquiries line at 1-888-937-8538. The customer service agent may require some general information at the time of booking, or you may receive a call back if they need to know a little more.

WestJet also offers civic funeral fares, a unique type of bereavement fare for guests traveling to the funeral of firefighters, police officers, military personnel or emergency services personnel who have died in the line of duty. These tickets can also be booked by calling the general inquiries line and are subject to the same restrictions as the bereavement fares offered by WestJet.

View WestJet's bereavement travel policy .

Airlines That Don't Offer Bereavement Flights

The following U.S.-based airlines do not offer bereavement fares:

• Allegiant Air
• American Airlines
• Frontier Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• United Airlines

Frequently Asked Questions

Though most airlines will try to accommodate the needs of grieving passengers, only a select few offer special fares to those dealing with a sudden loss. These bereavement flights, also known as bereavement fares, are discounted flexible fares offered by an airline to passengers who need to travel in the event of the imminent death or sudden recent death of a loved one (typically an immediate family member).

Bereavement fares usually provide travelers with a set discount on available flights operated by the airline. Some bereavement policies also provide additional flexibility to ensure customers can accommodate any other unexpected needs in their time of grief. Flights booked at the bereavement fare are typically discounted by a set percentage, though the extent of the bereavement fare discount can vary by airline and season.

Bereavement flights used to be quite abundant and were offered by many different airlines, but in recent years many airlines have done away with this option.

In 2014, American Airlines did away with bereavement fares following its merger with US Airways. Other major airlines stopped this service before that (or never offered it at all). Several airlines and travel experts pointed to an increasing amount of last-minute booking options for travelers – often at lower rates than bereavement fares – than in the past.

Bereavement flights can be a great asset during a time of grief, but they aren't always the cheapest airfare . Today, bereavement fares could get you anywhere from 5% to 25% off a flight, which might seem great at first glance. However, everyday discounted fares, as well as special flight deals offered by airlines or third-party sites, may end up being cheaper than the discount available with bereavement fares. Even the airlines that offer bereavement flights recommend checking current offerings for cheaper rates before booking.

Bereavement fares are only available to immediate family members of the deceased. This typically includes spouses, parents, siblings and children. What qualifies as immediate family varies by airline, so check each airline's policy to ensure you qualify.

Travel on bereavement flights is also subject to time restrictions. Each airline has a window of time in which the bereavement fare is valid. This can be anywhere from 48 hours to 60 days. Also, most bereavement flights must be booked by phone directly with the airline. The discounted fares are typically only eligible for flights on the primary airline and select partner airlines, and they cannot be combined with other discounts or offers.

You should note that qualifying for a bereavement fare at the outset is not always the only step to receiving the discounted fare. In order to avoid a regular price fare, you may need to email the airline official documents proving the loss of a loved one. This can include a copy of the death certificate, a coroner's statement or a letter from the treating physician on official letterhead. If you do not provide this documentation, the airline will charge you the remaining portion of the regular fare price, regardless of whether you met the earlier requirements.

The short answer? It depends.

As many travelers know, cheaper flights often come with the caveat that they are not flexible. Bereavement flights have the upper hand in this case. These rates often come with greater flexibility providing you travel within the window set by the airline. They can also be changed without incurring additional fees, a particularly useful asset if you are handling your loved one's estate or if another family emergency comes up. Balancing grief and logistics can be difficult, but bereavement flights can help take some of the stress out of travel.

Assuming you can find a ticket to your destination at the last minute, you are likely to encounter high costs for available tickets. This is because tickets purchased at the last minute are often bought by business travelers who are less restricted by cost, so airlines can charge higher prices for their standard fares. Bereavement fares will provide a reduction on this charge, but many do not allow you to use other discounts or your miles.

Use points and miles: If you are a frequent traveler, consider using your frequent flyer miles . You can redeem points or miles for a flight and will only have to pay the related taxes and fees. If you don't have frequent flyer miles, you may still qualify for other discounts that could be cheaper than the bereavement fare. Be sure to check all available flights for promotions or special discounts – like military or government discounts – and scour discount travel sites like Skyscanner or Kayak for deals.

Consider airfare promos: Keep in mind that discount sites often require sacrificing flexibility and convenience for significantly lower tickets. If you book through these sites, it is likely you won't have the flexibility of a bereavement fare and your options may be limited to late-night, multistop or nonrefundable flights. In this case, travel insurance can help mitigate extra costs should you need to change your discount flight.

In the end, the option you choose should be based on your needs. If price is a concern, you may be better off using frequent flyer miles or booking through a third-party site. If you need a quick flight, your best bet is to find the most direct flight available, which may not be offered by one of the airlines with bereavement fares. But if you're looking for a flexible flight at a discounted rate, a bereavement flight might just be the ticket.

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Comprehensive Guide to Airline Bereavement Fares

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

It's a phone call that you never want to get and one that you'll probably remember forever. When you've been informed that a loved one has died, it can feel like million thoughts are entering your head all at once — many emotional and perhaps some practical. Among your immediate logistical considerations may be finding a ticket to fly to a funeral with little advanced notice. Often, this task falls on friends or family members of those grieving a loss.

Complicating this endeavor is the fact that airlines usually have very high fares for last-minute purchases for a number of reasons. Flights are likely quite full within a week of departure, and last-minute business travelers tend to be less price-sensitive than others. While many carriers have traditionally offered discounted bereavement fares to those traveling to a funeral, those fares are largely a thing of the past. American and United have discontinued bereavement fares, and newer carriers like Southwest never even offered them.

Yet there are still some airlines that offer a discount when traveling to a funeral, so today we'll go through the list of airlines that offer formal, published policies for bereavement fares. We'll then follow this list up with some tips to help you save money on a last-minute trip for a funeral, a family emergency or any other reason.

Airlines With Bereavement Fares

Our neighbors to the north offer bereavement fares for either a death or an imminent death in the family. It applies to Air Canada-operated flights in all economy fare classes excluding North America Basic. It also applies to flights that depart within 10 days, giving you a decent window in which to book. In fact, the carrier will even apply the discount retroactively after you've booked as long as it was purchased within the last 90 days.

However, you will need to provide details about the relative, and the discount is only offered if the deceased or dying is an immediate family member. To book, call 1-888-247-2262.

You can read Air Canada's full bereavement policy here .

Alaska Airlines

The Seattle-based carrier will match and take an additional 10% off of on the lowest fare available within seven days of travel. This can be very useful if you need to depart within 24 or 48 hours, since the fares a week after your date of travel could be much less, and the lowest fare available could be a late-night, early morning or red-eye flight that you don't want to take. Like Air Canada, the discount is available to immediate family members, though Alaska uses a slightly broader definition (to include aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews).

Tickets must be booked by calling 1-800-252-7522, and it only applies to Alaska-operated flights. Interestingly enough, travelers over the age of 18 must be a Mileage Plan member, though younger passengers don't. These fares also can't be combined with the carrier's fantastic Companion Fare benefit from the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card.

You can read Alaska's full policy here .

Delta Air Lines

As one of the three legacy US carriers, Delta is the largest carrier to offer bereavement fares in the event of the death or imminent death of an immediate family member (using the same, broader definition as Alaska noted above). You can only book these fares by calling Delta Reservations at 1-800-221-1212 for domestic flights or at 1-800-241-4141 for international flights. You also must be a SkyMiles member and be prepared to provide the following information:

• Deceased person's name
• Customer's relationship to the deceased
• Name and phone number of funeral home, hospital, or hospice
• Name of doctor (if applicable)

The policy also indicates that these fares are subject to availability and even points out that lower promotional fares may be available on Delta.com for certain markets, so be sure to compare regularly-priced tickets before jumping on a bereavement fare.

You can read Delta's entire policy at this page .

Hawaiian Airlines

The main carrier in the Aloha State doesn't specifically offer bereavement fares, but it will waive telephone service charges for flights departing within 48 hours of booking. You can contact Hawaiian's reservations line at 1-800-367-5320.

Need to get to Europe for a relative's passing? Germany's flag carrier offers bereavement fares for travelers from the US and Canada, but it doesn't specify any details online. If you have to travel overseas for a funeral, it can be worth contacting them at 1-800-645-3880.

The final airline on the list is another Canadian discount carrier. WestJet offers bereavement fares but only by calling 1-888-937-8538. It also extends its offer to immediate family and includes aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews. Even more interesting, the carrier also offers civic funeral fares that are available to anyone traveling to a funeral for firefighters, police officers, military personnel and emergency services personnel who have died in the line of duty.

Like most of the above carriers, these fares on only available on WestJet-operated flights, though they do apply to Econo, EconoFlex and Premium fares. You also have to complete your travel within a 14-day period, so you can't turn them into an extended time at home with your family.

You can read WestJet's entire bereavement fare policy at this link .

Important Advice for Last-Minute Travel

Of course, there are many other considerations when it comes to booking a last-minute ticket, be it for a funeral, family emergency or another pressing need. Here's my advice if you find yourself in need of a plane ticket with limited notice:

1. Look beyond bereavement fares.

With the exception of Alaska, airlines really don't share much information about how they price their bereavement fares, and they might not be much of a discount. For example, United Airline's now discontinued bereavement policy offered a mere 5% discount, and these tickets were often more expensive than those from low-cost carriers that didn't offer any discount.

The best way to find the lowest fare is to set a base price for your trip. Start by finding the best non-bereavement fare on the applicable date(s) of travel, including discount carriers such as Southwest, Spirit, Allegiant and Frontier. Note that these carriers typically won't appear in all online travel agencies, so you might have to go directly to their respective websites. Once you know the best standard fares available, call an airline listed above that offers bereavement fares and see how they compete. That way, you can make your decision while you're on the phone by quickly comparing the lowest fare you found with the bereavement fare being offered.

2. Focus on nonstop flights.

When we take a vacation, we're always willing to consider making an extra stop in order to save money or miles. But I would never think of doing so when traveling to a funeral, as I wouldn't want to miss it due to irregular operations by the airline. To quickly find which airlines offer nonstop service on your route, I like to consult the Wikipedia page for the departure and arrival airports. Each airport Wikipedia page has a section for airlines and destinations that lists all of the non-stop services offered.

You could also leverage Google Flights for a quick comparison of routes, and don't forget to consider alternate airports for both arrival and departure.

3. Strongly consider using your frequent flyer miles.

Generally speaking, there are two times that your frequent flyer miles can have the most value: when booking international flights in business or first class, and when you need to purchase an expensive, last-minute flight. That's why many people try to keep a cache of frequent flyer miles available for last-minute travel needs like attending a funeral. In fact, it can even be worth it to redeem you miles for the "standard" awards that cost double or even triple a "saver" award rather than pay over $1,000 for a relatively short domestic flight.

That being said, you should also be aware that some airlines will impose fees for bookings made without advance notice. American and United are both guilty here, as award tickets booked less than 21 days before departure are subject to a $75 fee per passengers (though these are discounted or waived for certain AAdvantage elite and United Premier travelers). Fortunately, there are partner carriers that might allow you to book the same ticket without those fees, and you might even save some miles.

For more information, read TPG Points & Miles Editor Nick Ewen's post on The Best Points and Miles for Last-Minute Awards .

4. Leverage flexible travel rewards programs.

When you have credit card rewards that can be transferred to frequent flyer miles with multiple airlines, you'll have the maximum flexibility when you need to book a last-minute flight. Currencies like this include American Express Membership Rewards , Capital One miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards and the Marriott Bonvoy program . Just be sure to check the transfer times for the airline partner that will receive the points, as some will take too long to be of any use for a last-minute reservation.

For more information read our posts on:

• How Long Do American Express Membership Rewards Take to Transfer?
• How Long Do Capital One Miles Take to Transfer?
• How Long Do Chase Ultimate Rewards Take to Transfer?
• How Long Do Citi ThankYou Points Take to Transfer?
• How Long Do Marriott Bonvoy Points Take to Transfer?

5. Ask for fee waivers.

Airlines still permit their staff to exercise some amount of discretion over the phone, and this may be extended to passengers who are traveling for a funeral. For example, you could ask to have telephone booking fees or last-minute award booking fees waived. And if you're calling to change or cancel an existing ticket due to a last-minute death in the family, you could try asking for any applicable change or cancellation fees to be waived.

And when you arrive at the airport, you might try to standby for an earlier flight. If you politely request to be added to the standby list and offer some documentation, such as a copy of a death certificate, sympathetic airline staff may be wiling bend the rules for you. For example, United once allowed one of my family members to standby for an international flight for no fee. And it was only because the traveler made the earlier flight that he was able to arrive in-time to attend a funeral.

6. Don't forget trip cancellation/interruption coverage.

Finally, if a last-minute family emergency or funeral requires you to cancel or interrupt a previously-booked trip, remember that you may be covered by your travel rewards credit card . Top cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Citi Premier® Card include trip cancellation and interruption insurance , and the death of an immediate family member is usually a covered reason. If this happens, the credit card issuer should reimburse you for any prepaid travel expenses that you need to forfeit and might even cover change or cancellation fees. Just be sure to document everything to make sure your claim is processed quickly after the fact.

Bottom Line

Learning about a death in the family isn't an easy thing, and when you add in an expensive, last-minute plane ticket, the stress and anxiety can be overwhelming. There are still a handful of airlines that offer discounted bereavement fares when you need to travel for a funeral, but these may not be the best option. Be sure to carefully consider alternatives that'll get you to your destination with minimal stress and out-of-pocket expenditures, as there's no need for travel to contribute to the pain of a loved one's passing.

How to Get a Bereavement Fare from an Airline

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It's an unfortunate reality, but booking travel isn't always for a fun getaway.

If a loved one passes away, you might need to book a last-minute flight, which is generally an expensive prospect. This is when airline bereavement fares come into play—discounted rates for grieving passengers who've had a death (or have an imminent death) of a family member.

At one point, all three U.S. legacy carriers— Delta , American , and United —offered bereavement discounts to passengers booking a flight on short notice due to a deceased or dying relative. American and United, however, both ended the practice in 2014.

"Last-minute fares have generally decreased, making bereavement discounts less valuable for travelers," United said when it canceled the policy, which had offered customers a 5 percent bereavement discount. That statement makes a solid point: bereavement fares aren't always the best deal out there—especially with the proliferation of low-cost airlines and cheaper airfares in general—so it's best to compare prices if there's time. Many other airlines have also nixed the service based on this logic, while some budget carriers, like Southwest and JetBlue, never offered them in the first place.

Several airlines do still offer special services or discounts to those who suddenly need to travel due to a loved one's death. That's fortunate because when a travel emergency occurs, it's good to have as many options as possible. Keep in mind that to get most of these cheaper rates, you must call the airline reservation number to book. Depending on the airline policy, you'll also want some information on hand, like the name and contact information of your loved one's doctor or hospital, funeral home, and date of the service.

Here is a closer look at the airline bereavement fare policies still in place:

Delta Air Lines

Delta offers bereavement fares to customers under certain circumstances and can only be booked over the phone. (Call at 800-221-1212 for domestic flights or 800-241-4141 for international flights.) The service is only available to Delta SkyMiles members traveling due to "the death or imminent death of an immediate family member." Passengers can sign up to become a SkyMiles member to immediately qualify for the special fare. There's also a list of relations that count as an immediate family member on Delta's bereavement fares page . Customers must provide the following information to receive the fare: the deceased person’s name; customer's relationship to the deceased; name and phone number of funeral home, hospital, or hospice; and name of doctor (if applicable). The airline also notes that bereavement fares are subject to availability and that "lower promotional fares may be available on delta.com or through Delta Reservations and may serve as a better option in some markets."

Alaska Airlines

Alaska offers a 10 percent discount off the lowest priced Alaska Airlines fare available within seven days of travel to customers whose immediate family members have passed away. A list of relations that the airline deems immediate family is available on its bereavement fares page . Passengers must be members of Alaska's MileagePlan frequent flier program to qualify for the fares, and can immediately join in order to be eligible. The fares are only available by booking over the phone (800-252-7522).

"In the event of a death abroad, Lufthansa offers immediate family members special fares for outbound and return flights to attend the funeral if their journey starts in the USA or Canada," the German carrier says, although its policy does not specifically mention any other guidelines. The airline says customers in the U.S. and Canada can call their respective reservation numbers to book these fares over the phone.

Any flight marketed and operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express in economy class is eligible for the airline's bereavement fare discount. The reduced fare applies to travel due to the death or imminent death of an immediate family member. A list of who the airline considers as immediate family is available on its site . Travel must occur within 10 days of booking, and passengers must call Air Canada 's reservation line to book (888-247-2262). Customers will be asked to provide the name of the family member and how they are related; the name of the hospital; the attending physician’s name, address, and phone number; or the name, address, and phone number of the memorial or funeral home; along with the date of the memorial or funeral. Passengers can also apply for the discount retroactively by providing a copy of the death certificate or a letter from the attending physician or hospital.

Discounted bereavement rates are available on WestJet's Econo, EconoFlex, and Premium fares and can only be booked by calling the airline's reservations line (888-937-8538). WestJet says the fares "offer maximum flexibility with no fees. We encourage you to look for a lower price on our website before booking a bereavement fare, but please note that these fares would be subject to a change fee, if applicable." All travel must be completed within 14 days of booking, and the special fares only apply to immediate family, with a list of applicable relatives on WestJet's bereavement page .

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If There’s a Death in Your Family, These Airlines Offer Discounted Fares

Discounted or flexible bereavement fares lessen the financial burden if you need to travel urgently due to the death of a close family member..

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If you live far away from loved ones, you may need to book a last-minute plane ticket to attend a funeral in the future.

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There are a great many things that need to be done after the loss of a loved one, and if you live far away, purchasing a flight is often one of them.

Because funerals typically happen shortly after someone passes away, the airline fares for getting there at the last minute tend to be high. While not a common practice, some airlines do offer bereavement fares, a type of discounted or flexible airline tickets provided to those who need to travel urgently due to the death (or imminent death) of a close family member. The fares are designed to ease the financial burden on passengers during a difficult time, offering some relief in terms of cost and flexibility in booking and travel changes.

Policies for bereavement fares vary from airline to airline, though typically, passengers need to provide proof of the bereavement situation, such as a death certificate, a statement from a hospital, or contact information for the funeral home.

Read on for which airlines in North America currently offer bereavement fares and what the requirements for qualifying are.

Alaska Airlines

For those mourning the loss of a loved one, Alaska Airlines offers 10 percent off the lowest available fare for your desired trip to all of its destinations, provided travel falls within seven days of the death. The flights are also available for flights operated on behalf of Alaska by Horizon or SkyWest.

The reduced fare is available to customers who have lost a spouse or domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew. It also includes stepfamily members and in-laws that fall into those categories.

Unfortunately, the discount cannot be combined with other discounts, including miles or the once-a-year buy one ticket, get the companion ticket for just taxes and fees deal given to all Alaska Air–branded credit card holders. Travelers over the age of 18 must be Alaska Mileage Plan members and have their plan numbers added to their reservation. (Those age 17 and younger do not need to be Mileage Plan members to qualify for these fares.)

To book, call Alaska’s reservations line at 1-800-252-7522. The lower rate can only be applied to new tickets, so don’t try to book through the website first.

Air Canada also offers discounted bereavement fares (which vary case by case) for economy-class tickets worldwide. While travel must begin within 10 days of booking, the return can be anytime within 60 days, which could prove helpful if you’re handling the deceased’s estate.

To qualify, the departed needs to be a current or former spouse, child, parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, or legal guardian. This also includes step, half, and in-law versions of these relationships. You’ll also need to prove the loved one passed, through a copy of the death certificate, the funeral director’s or coroner’s statement, or a letter from the treating physician on official letterhead. That documentation needs to be emailed to [email protected] within seven days of the return flight, otherwise, you may be charged the full fare.

To book, you’ll need to call the customer service line for Air Canada at 1-888-247-2262.

Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines offers bereavement tickets on domestic and international flights when the deceased is an immediate family member. (Under Delta’s policy, that includes a spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, sibling or stepsibling, stepparent, stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law). While the carrier doesn’t offer a discount, it does waive service and change fees on the itineraries, which may be helpful for those who anticipate changes to their travel plans.

To book these fares, passengers need to contact Delta’s reservations directly by phone (the fares aren’t bookable online) at 1-800-221-1212 for domestic or 1-800-241-4141 for international flights. You do need to be a member of SkyMiles (the free loyalty program for Delta) and will need to provide the deceased’s name, your relationship to them, and the phone number for the funeral home, hospital, or hospice.

Notifications

A guide to bereavement flights.

When a loved one dies, family members often come from all over the country to pay their respects, attend services, and to be with family. However, funeral services are often held within a week, offering very little notice to those who need to travel and purchase tickets. Bereavement airline flights are one way that a select number of companies choose to help their grieving customers during a difficult time.

What are bereavement flights?

A bereavement flight is a special type of airline ticket offered at a discounted rate to individuals who need to travel due to the death or imminent death of a close family member or loved one. These flights are typically intended to provide flexibility and support to passengers who require immediate travel for funeral arrangements, to attend a memorial service, or to be with a terminally ill family member. Bereavement airfare often comes with specific terms and conditions, such as flexible booking options and reduced fares, although their availability and terms vary between airlines. While bereavement fares used to be more common, many airlines have phased them out or replaced them with other types of discounted fares. However, some airlines still offer bereavement fares or compassionate travel policies to assist passengers during times of loss or crisis.

Do airlines in the US have or offer bereavement fares?

Yes, a handful of airlines based in the US do offer a discount for bereavement flights.

How much cheaper are bereavement flights?

Depending on the airline, bereavement flights are often offered at around a 10-20% discount off the original flight fare. Many airlines require that you contact a representative of the airline in order to purchase one of these tickets and will prevent you from purchasing the ticket online.

How to get bereavement flights

Only a few airlines offer bereavement flights and each airline has its own set of rules and requirements for qualifying for one of these flights. Typically, in order to qualify for a bereavement flight, you need to have experienced a loss of a family member. Some airlines restrict this to the loss of an immediate family member instead of an extended family member. If you’ve experienced a loss and are looking for bereavement fares, you can find major airlines and their bereavement policies below. Most airlines that do offer bereavement flights will require you to speak with a representative to purchase the bereavement flight. They may request some type of proof or documentation showing that a loss has occurred in order for you to qualify for the bereavement fare.

Major airlines in the United States and bereavement flights

Unfortunately, finding discounted flights for bereavement isn’t as easy as letting an airline know you’ve lost a loved one and need some assistance. Not every airline offers bereavement fares, and the ones that do may have certain requirements for qualification. Here’s a list of major airlines in the US and what airlines offer bereavement fares and flights from them.

Does American Airlines offer bereavement flights or fares?

American Airlines does not offer bereavement flights for those who are looking for discounted flights.

Does Alaska Airlines offer bereavement flights or fares?

Alaska Airlines does offer cheaper bereavement fares for those who have lost an immediate family member. The discount is 10% off of the lowest fare available within the next 7 days. You’ll need to speak with one of their customer representatives over the phone to receive one of these flights for bereavement.

Does Delta Airlines offer bereavement flights or fares?

Delta Airlines does offer bereavement flights for those who qualify, subject to a few restrictions. In order to take advantage of these fares, these fares, you need to contact a customer service representative through their Help Center .

Here are the requirements to qualify for bereavement fares:

• You must provide documentation include the deceased person’s name, your relationship to the deceased, the name and phone number of the hospital, hospice or funeral home, and the name of the doctor caring for the patient, if applicable.
• You must be part of their SkyMiles Members , which you can apply for immediately to qualify.

Does Hawaiian Airlines offer bereavement flights or fares?

Hawaiian Airlines is one of the airlines with bereavement fares, but only offers it for neighboring islands in Hawaii. They will also waive ticketing fees for flights that need to be purchased within 48 hours due to an emergency, which you can qualify for after speaking with a representative on the phone.

You must meet the following requirements to qualify for the emergency flight: 1. You must be an immediate family member to the hospitalized or deceased 2. Have proof of relation 3. Your desired travel date is within 48 hours (ticketing fees will be waived) 4. You are traveling wholly within the state of Hawaii

Hawaii Airlines offers the following fairs for emergency flights:

• One-way ticket for a single segment flight will cost $83 for a main cabin seat and $133 for a first class seat.
• One-way ticket for a multi-segment flight will cost $110 for a main cabin seat and $160 for a first class seat

Does United Airlines offer bereavement flights or fares?

While United Airlines used to offer bereavement flights, they haven’t offered bereavement flights or fares since 2014. You can try reaching out to their customer service team to see if they’d be able to offer any discounts or if you can get lucky with a representative.

Does Southwest Airlines offer bereavement flights or fares?

Southwest Airlines does not offer bereavement flights or fares. While Southwest Airlines doesn’t officially offer bereavement flights, you may be able to get a coupon or discount by contacting customer service and explaining your situation.

Does JetBlue Airlines offer bereavement flights or fares?

JetBlue does not offer bereavement discount flights or fares. If you’d like a discount, it can help to get in touch with customer service and ask if they have any possible discounts they can offer for bereavement.

If you’re working with a smaller airline and aren’t sure if they offer bereavement flights, simply get in touch with them and let them know you’ve experienced a loss and want to know if they offer a bereavement flight discount.

Taking a flight is one of the many things you may need to do after someone dies – it can feel overwhelming to manage and keep track of all the tasks needed and Ever Loved can help you deal with this. Ever Loved offers a free checklist that you can use to manage and tackle all the tasks you need to after someone dies – the checklist is always online, easy to use, and simple to share.

Use the checklist

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Find a funeral home, get free grief support, meet a funeral director: colby voigt.

How long have you worked at SendOff? How did you first get into the profession? I have been with SendOff since it's inception and launch in November of 2022, but I've been working as a licensed funeral

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Your guide to understanding what a bereavement flight is

Grief never happens in a convenient booking window. When my own husband suddenly died while I was hundreds of miles away, in 2010, I remember a blur of travel logistics. It didn’t even occur to us to call the airlines and ask for a bereavement fare. But this is what bereavement discount flights are built for: the sometimes-bewildering days leading up to or following a family member’s death.

What are bereavement flights?

Bereavement flights offer special fares, typically to immediate family members of a person who is near death or deceased. The fares are typically less expensive than a regular flight and have more flexible booking options. In the last decade or so, more and more airlines have eliminated bereavement fares. But some airlines still offer them, though their policies may differ from each other.

Airlines offering bereavement fares

Five North American carriers offer bereavement fares. Keep in mind that travelers must meet an airline’s criteria to qualify for one of these fares, and the fares may come with restrictions on flexibility, travel times, and destinations.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines offers a bereavement discount of 10% for those immediate family members of a deceased person who need to travel within 7 days. They will discount the lowest-available fare for your trip, and all the flights need to happen within this window.

Like most airlines, Alaska offers the fare to immediate family members, which it defines as a spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, siblings or half-siblings, grandchild, grandparents, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, and in-laws.

Cousins and other in-law relatives don’t qualify for the rate. Travelers older than 18 must belong to the airline’s Mileage Plan (but you can join easily and for free). Bereavement fares can’t be combined with other discounts like military fares.

Keep in mind that you won’t be able to book a bereavement fare online; rather, you’ll need to call the Alaska Airlines reservations line.

Air Canada offers flexibility for bereavement travelers, reducing fares for people who begin their travel within 10 days of booking, and extending for as long as 60 days. This flexibility is good for people who need to stay longer to take care of a loved one’s affairs. Keep in mind that the fares are available for certain fare classes only.

All this flexibility comes with some work. You’ll need to contact the airline’s customer service and give them the name of the family member and contacts for hospitals or the funeral home. You’ll need to provide more documentation within 7 days of your return or be charged a fare difference. Air Canada will offer bereavement fares to immediate family already listed and to common-law spouses, same-sex partners, and ex-spouses.

Bereavement flights with Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines offers domestic and international bereavement flights. Like policies on other airlines, you can only book through its reservations line. You must travel within 7 days, but Delta’s policy also waives service fees if you need to change your outbound or return flight. You may still have to pay fare differences.

The program is available for SkyMiles Members, and if you’re not a member you can enroll immediately. Delta honors upgrades for bereavement fares on domestic flights. You will need to provide some documentation at the time of booking, like the name of your family member and the contact for their funeral home, hospital, or hospice.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines has a bereavement policy that only extends to travel within the Hawaiian Islands. The policy is called Neighbor Island Emergency Travel, with set prices for one-way tickets on single- and multi-segment travel. You must be traveling within 48 hours of ticketing for these fares. The fares are extended to the traveling companion of an immediate family member, but you must book together to qualify.

Although it’s not an official bereavement fare, Hawaiian Airlines may issue a waiver of your change fees if you had to change a flight because your family member passed away. You’ll need to submit a request through the Hawaiian Airlines website and attach a copy of the death certificate, a copy of your ticket, and proof of your relationship to the deceased.

WestJet offers bereavement fares to immediate family, including same-sex couples and common-law spouses. To qualify, you must complete your travel within 14 days of when the first flight is booked; however, the airline waives change fees. Like other airlines, you’ll need to book over the phone, and the customer service agent may need additional information. You can also request post-travel bereavement fares — a refund of the difference between what you paid and a bereavement fare, which is credited to your WestJet rewards account (and is only available to those booking directly through WestJet).

How to get bereavement flight information from airlines not publicly advertising it

None of these airlines allow you to book a bereavement fare through their website; usually because a customer service agent must vet requests. In fact, the airline’s fees do not advertise these fares. You’ll need to call their customer service lines. And while airlines define their own classes, generally speaking, they will offer bereavement fares only for fares above  basic economy .

While many airlines no longer offer bereavement fares per se, I find that it’s never a bad idea to pick up the phone and ask a human to help you.

How was this guide created?

I’m a longtime former travel writer who wrote a consumer advice column for Travel + Leisure magazine for years and wrote the “Takeoffs and Landings” column in The Wall Street Journal. All that experience can go out the window when you’re dealing with grief, so I offer this simple guide for those times.

Dealing with the death or imminent death of a loved one can often come without warning, leaving travelers in a last-minute booking  situation. Those who find themselves in this circumstance may wonder how much cheaper bereavement fights are. If you are in the state of mind to compare prices, remember that bereavement fares may not be lower than what you can find on KAYAK . If you can find more budget-friendly options online, those are best for when you know exactly when you need to go and return. Remember that the waived booking fees are often where bereavement fares are the better deal.

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• Funerals & Memorial Services

11 Main Types of Funeral Transportation (And Their Costs)

Updated 06/6/2024

Published 07/2/2021

Joe Oliveto, BA in English

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

Arranging transportation is among the many steps that planning a funeral might involve. If you’re planning a deceased loved one’s funeral, you may likely need to plan transportation for yourself and other members of the immediate family. Not only that, but you might also need to make transportation arrangements for out-of-town guests, elderly adults, and the body itself.

This process doesn’t need to be as overwhelming as it might seem. Getting started simply involves learning about your funeral transportation options. This blog will cover some of the more noteworthy possibilities that can help you complete this step.

Jump ahead to these sections:

Types of funeral transportation for the deceased’s body, types of funeral transportation for the deceased’s immediate family , types of funeral transportation ideas for out-of-town guests or aging adults.

The following are among the most popular options to consider when choosing how to transport a deceased loved one’s body from the funeral home to its burial site. For more information on similar topics, read our glossary of funeral terms .

1. Traditional hearse

For several decades now, a traditional hearse has been a relatively large rear-drive automobile with space in the back for the deceased’s coffin. While the typical hearse is black, hearses can actually come in a wide range of colors (although multiple color options might not be available at all funeral homes).

Until recently, the majority of traditional hearses in America have been Cadillacs. This trend shifted in the 1990s when the company slowed production on vehicles that could serve as hearses.

The cost of a hearse can vary from one funeral home to another, and does not factor in things such as the distance the hearse must travel to the cemetery. That said, the average starting cost is about $340.

2. Large rear window hearse

This type of funeral transportation is almost identical to a traditional hearse. The only key difference is that most hearses have opaque panels, making it difficult to see the coffin inside the hearse. 

This type has large rear windows instead of panels. Some choose it if they want the coffin to be on display during the drive to the cemetery. Typically, this funeral transportation option costs as much as a basic hearse.

3. Motorcycle hearses

A motorcycle hearse isn’t an option all funeral homes offer. However, if your loved one was a motorcycle enthusiast and you found a funeral home in your area offering this form of transportation, it’s one you might keep in mind.

A motorcycle hearse may come in two main forms. One consists of a motorcycle with a sidecar large enough for a casket (although some carry urns instead). The other consists of a “trike” style motorcycle with a trailer for the casket.

As with a traditional hearse, the cost of renting a motorcycle hearse for a funeral can vary. But the many funeral homes that offer this option advertise it as costing no more than a hearse.

4. Carriage hearses

Before automobiles were common, hearses often consisted of horse-drawn carriages. Like large rear window hearses, these carriages sometimes featured large windows to display a casket.

This option isn’t common today, but some funeral homes still offer it. Additionally, some independent funeral transportation companies also work with funeral homes to provide this option.

Some transportation companies and funeral homes also offer an alternative to a traditional horse-drawn carriage that can add some classic charm or Victorian elegance to a funeral while costing less than an actual horse-drawn carriage.

These types of hearses can vary somewhat in design, but they essentially consist of a car, van, or trike motorcycle pulling a trailer whose design resembles that of a traditional horse-drawn carriage.

5. First call vehicles

A first call vehicle isn’t actually a form of funeral transportation. It’s technically a vehicle (usually one the funeral home owns) that serves to transport a body from a hospital or morgue to the funeral home. However, because some people may wonder how transporting a deceased loved one’s body to a funeral home works, it deserves a spot on this list simply for the purposes of education.

Whether you’re a member of the deceased’s immediate family or you’re arranging transportation on behalf of their immediate family, the following are options worth keeping in mind:

6. Matching sedans

Choosing a form of funeral transportation for yourself and other members of your immediate family is a personal decision. You should consider your own preferences and needs when making this choice. Typically, funeral transportation for immediate family members often consists of sedans whose color matches that of the hearse. This ensures a respectful procession.

Funeral homes often have their own fleets of sedans for family member transportation. However, if a funeral home doesn’t offer sedans directly, they may work with local companies to help customers make arrangements. The average starting cost of an individual service car is $150.

7. Limousines

Limousines are also common options families consider when arranging funeral transportation. Like sedans, a funeral home may provide its own limousines or work with nearby companies to provide them.

A limousine will naturally cost more than a sedan. As always, pricing varies, but funeral limos usually cost between $200 to $400 (not accounting for miles traveled).

Funeral transportation options for out-of-town guests or guests who may be too elderly to arrange their own transportation are generally the same as they would be in any instance when you’re arranging transportation for someone who’s visiting from far away or is otherwise unable to make their own arrangements. Ideas to consider include the following:

A funeral home’s fleet may have enough limos to transport both immediate family and guests. If it doesn't, it’s still possible to arrange limousine transportation via another company. Many specialize in funeral transportation. 

Factors such as the size of the limousine you’re renting and the amount of time you’re renting it for will contribute to the cost of a limo. The average cost tends to range between $70 and $150 an hour.

9. Funeral SUVs and vans

A limousine is a funeral transportation option some consider for out-of-town guests not only because it offers comfort and convenience, but also because a limousine can typically transport more people than an average car.

However, the cost of renting a limousine can be too great for some. If this is the case, an SUV or van is another option to consider. Many rental companies offering funeral transportation services offer SUVs and vans as another means of transporting multiple guests.

It can be difficult to determine precisely how much you should expect to pay if you choose this option. Hourly rates can vary substantially from company to company. Luckily, most companies offering this service give you the option to get a free quote by easily submitting a form via their websites. Get quotes from well-reviewed companies in your area to get a better sense of how much you might spend. Again, you’ll still pay less than you would for a limo.

10. Charter bus

A charter bus is an option to consider if a relatively large number of your guests will be arriving from out-of-town together at both the same time and location. This isn’t necessarily as formal an option as some of the others listed here, but it’s one to keep in mind if you need a practical way of transporting guests from an airport or train station to the funeral home. Naturally, the charter bus won’t be part of the funeral procession, though.

Charter buses can also range in size. This is one of many factors that will influence the cost of renting one. In fact, the cost of renting a charter bus can range from $300 to $2,500 per day. Again, it’s wise to research bus rental companies in your area, getting multiple quotes from those that have generally positive reputations.

That’s an important point! You don’t want to add to your stress on what will already be a stressful day by working with a company that fails to serve your needs. When considering your options, be sure to thoroughly check online reviews on a variety of platforms (not just the glowing testimonials on a company’s website!) to ensure you’re hiring trustworthy professionals.

11. Taxis or rideshare services

If you’re trying to help a nearby elderly relative or friend reach the funeral easily, you can arrange for a ride with a local taxi service, ridesharing services like Uber or Lyft, or various senior transportation alternatives . Many services throughout the country exist solely to help elderly, disabled, or ill people travel to appointments and important destinations.

Funeral Transportation: A Range of Options

Hopefully, this guide has simplified one of the steps involved in funeral planning. For more help with similar tasks, check our guide on how to plan a funeral for someone else .

• Appel, Tom. “Dying To Be Different: 10 Hearses That Aren’t Cadillacs.” Consumer Guide Automotive , Publication International, Ltd., blog.consumerguide.com
• “How much are charter bus prices?” Thumbtack , Thumbtack, Inc., 26 August 2020, thumbtack.com
• “How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Limo?” Fash , Liaison Ventures, Inc., fash.com/costs .

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How Do You Qualify For Bereavement Fares?

Depending on your relationship to the person who died you may qualify for bereavement fares, which are discounted airfares for people buying last-minute tickets to attend a funeral.

What Are Bereavement Fares?

Many airlines offer “bereavement fares” to immediate family members escorting a body on a plane and immediate family members attending a funeral with little advance notice. Generally, bereavement fares are a percentage off the normal ticket price, with discounts ranging from 5% to 25%, depending on the airline. In addition, if you're traveling with little advance notice and are unable to find a seat on a plane, the airline may be able help you find a seat or give you priority on a stand-by list.

Who Qualifies For Bereavement Fares

Bereavement fares are usually only available to immediate family, and require information that will verify your situation. Most airlines define “immediate family” as:

• Spouse/domestic partner/fiancé
• Parent/step-parent/parent-in-law/foster parent/legal guardian
• Child/step-child/child-in-law/foster child
• Sibling/step- or half-sibling/sibling-in-law/foster sibling
• Nephew/niece
• Grandparent

Required Information For Bereavement Fares

In order to qualify for a bereavement fare, you may have to provide the airline with information about the person who died, including:

• The name of the person who died
• The passenger’s relationship to the person who died
• The name, phone number, and address of the funeral home
• The name of the funeral director

Some airlines will also require the date of the funeral service and a copy of the  death certificate . While some airlines will request this information up front, others will allow you to submit this information after the funeral has taken place. If you will be submitting this information after the flight for a refund in the amount of the discount, it’s a good idea to save all receipts, boarding passes, and other travel documents.

How To Purchase A Bereavement Fare Ticket

Most airlines require that the ticket be reserved over the phone with an airline representative, rather than online or though a third-party ticket seller. When you speak to the airline ticketing agent, be sure to tell them that you will be attending a funeral and are looking to purchase a bereavement fare ticket. Also, before you speak to the agent make sure you qualify for the bereavement fare, and that you have all the necessary information that the airline might require. Some airlines will discount the ticket at the time of purchase, while others will offer a refund for the value of the discount after the flight.

Bereavement Fare Costs

While bereavement rates may reduce the cost of last-minute emergency travel, many people find that there are less expensive tickets to be found on third-party ticket sales websites. If cost is a concern for you and you need help finding an affordable ticket, you might consider  reaching out to a friend asking for help .

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How to Book Bereavement Fares and Travel with Cremated Remains

Travelling can be stressful, even at the best of times. But travelling due to the death or imminent death of a beloved family member comes with its own struggles. On top of the emotional toll of illness or death, events like funerals often can’t be anticipated far in advance, so travellers are left to book last-minute flights and accommodations. Travelling with a loved one’s remains can be equally difficult, with its own unique set of rules to follow. If you have to travel for either reason, we’ve broken down bereavement fares with Canadian airlines and what you need to know if you’ll be travelling with cremated remains.

What are bereavement fares?

Bereavement fares are reduced fares for grieving passengers who need to travel last-minute. They’re intended to help make travellers’ journeys as straightforward as possible in unfortunate times.

How to book bereavement fares with Air Canada

Air Canada offers bereavement fares if you need to travel due to the imminent death or death of an immediate family member: spouse, child, parent, sibling or legal guardian and spouse of legal guardian. You must travel within 10 days of booking, and must return within 60 days. To book with Air Canada, there are two options:

• Your family member’s name and your relationship to them
• The name of the attending physician and hospital/residence phone number and address of the hospital or
• Contact info for the funeral home and the date of funeral
• Go to the airport and book at an Air Canada ticket counter . You’ll need to provide all of the same information as above, in addition to a copy of the death certificate, a statement from the funeral director or coroner, or a letter form the treating physician on official letterhead and/or a prescription pad which describes the situation.

Note : Flights are available on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express for any economy class fare, except North American base fare, and doesn’t apply to flights operated by other airlines.

How to book bereavement fares with WestJet

WestJet offers bereavement fares to people who’ve had a death in their family or are experiencing an imminent death. Family includes: spouse, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, legal guardian and spouse of legal guardian or executor. Plus, they also offer civic funeral fares: reduced fares for travellers going to a funeral for firefighters, police officers, military personnel, or emergency service providers who’ve died in the line of duty.

To book with WestJet, call 1-888-937-8538 (1-888-WESTJET) . Currently, call wait times are high, so they recommend scheduling a call back . WestJet requires travel (outbound and return) to be done within 14 days of the flight booking. They’ll also ask for general information about the bereavement at the time of booking, and may follow up if more details are needed. WestJet’s fares offer flexibility without fees on their Econo, EconoFlex and Premium fares. Travel through partner airlines isn’t available for bereavement fares.

How to book bereavement fares with low-cost Canadian airline carriers

Unfortunately, according to Flair Air , Porter and Swoop , these airlines don’t offer discounted fares for bereavement because they offer competitive market prices. However, it may still be worth exploring these options for low-cost alternatives.

How to travel with cremated remains

While most bereavement fares are requested to attend a memorial or funeral, it is possible that cremated remains may also need to be brought onboard enroute to a final resting place. If this is the case, you’ll need to ensure certain standards are met, governed by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). CATSA specifies how to fly with remains , including what materials are best for a travel urn since the cremation container must pass x-ray and security scanning. Some airlines don’t allow cremated remains in checked luggage, so you’ll need to check with the airline first. Air Canada allows carrying on remains but also offers Dignified and Caring Assistance . WestJet allows cremated remains in carry-on luggage as well as checked baggage and cargo shipping .

How travel insurance responds to death while you’re on vacation

Let’s face it—no one wants to talk about passing away. But in the event this happens to you while on vacation, your travel insurance should have benefits in place to assist in the return home.

TuGo’s “Repatriation” benefit, in our Traveller policy states we “will pay up to $6,000 for the preparation and return of your body, including the cost of a standard shipping container and one death certificate (excluding the cost of funeral and related expenses or a burial coffin), to your province/territory of residence.”

Our international assistance services can help with arrangements and coordination of repatriation remains. Additional benefits in the policy may also cover the return of your travelling companion and dependent children travelling with you back to their original departure point. It’s a really difficult matter to think about, but knowing you have travel insurance to support you and your loved ones may help alleviate some concern, especially at a vulnerable time.

Note : Keep in mind that this benefit is subject to the policy’s terms and conditions; for example, if you have an unstable pre-existing condition and pass away on your trip, if the reason for death is related to the unstable pre-existing condition, benefits wouldn’t be provided for repatriation.

In closing, the bereavement of a loved one is never an easy thing to experience. Hopefully, in your time of need, this information gives you a quick reference to pull from, to find the right bereavement fare for your travel needs or instructions for travelling with remains. If we can be of further assistance, please let us know in the comments section below or by emailing [email protected].

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in January 2019 and has been updated for freshness and/or accuracy.

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How Much Does a Funeral Cost?

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Table of Contents

Funeral cost breakdown

How to pay for a funeral, how to save money on a funeral.

The median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial was $8,300 in 2023, and the median cost of a funeral with viewing and cremation was $6,280, according to the most recent information available from the National Funeral Directors Association [0] National Funeral Directors Association . 2023 NFDA General Price List Study Shows Inflation Increasing Faster than the Cost of a Funeral . Accessed Apr 16, 2024. View all sources .

These are only the national medians; a funeral might cost more or less depending on the state and the services you decide to include. Understanding these costs and how they break down may help ease the burden of planning a funeral for family members. When a loved one dies, finances are the last thing many of us want to think about, and funeral expenses can add up quickly.

Here is a quick breakdown of what you might expect to pay for an adult funeral with viewing and burial services: [0] National Funeral Directors Association . 2023 NFDA General Price List Study Shows Inflation Increasing Faster than the Cost of a Funeral . Accessed Apr 16, 2024. View all sources

These cost estimates do not include cemetery fees, grave markers, monument costs or items from outside the funeral home, such as flower arrangements or obituaries.

» MORE: How a burial at sea works

Basic services fee

This fee covers services that are common for any funeral, but it varies by state and funeral home. However, the basic services fee generally covers:

Funeral planning.  

Procurement of permits and copies of death certificates .

Preparing notices.

Storing the remains of the deceased.

Coordinating with a cemetery or crematorium .

MORE: How much cremation costs and what to know

Fees for additional funeral services

There are several optional services and features that families can add, such as:

Embalming: The national median cost for embalming services was $845 in 2023. Additional services (preparing the body, cosmetology, etc.) typically cost around $295, according to the National Funeral Directors Association, or NFDA.

Transporting remains: The national median cost for transferring the body to a funeral home was $395 in 2023, the NFDA says. It may cost an additional $375 to rent a hearse to move the body from the funeral home to the cemetery.

Viewing hours or memorial services: The national median cost to use a funeral home’s facilities and staff was $475 in 2023. There can be additional fees if the family chooses to have a memorial service , and the national median cost for this is $550, according to the NFDA.

Caskets and vaults: The NFDA says the median cost for a metal burial casket is about $2,500, and a burial vault can cost an additional $1,695.

Cash advances

Cash advances are fees charged for goods and services that the funeral home buys from third parties as part of the funeral planning process. They might include payments made to florists, musicians, clergy, pallbearers or newspapers for obituary notices [0] Federal Trade Commission . Funeral Costs and Pricing Checklist . View all sources .

MORE: See our picks for the year's best online will makers

Funerals can be expensive, but a few options can ease the cost burden.

Life Insurance: Owning a life insurance policy is one of the most straightforward and affordable ways to cover your funeral expenses. The cost of life insurance can vary depending on your age, health status and the specific kind of policy you buy. You may want to compare the differences between term and whole life insurance before deciding what’s best for you.

Funeral trusts: Funeral trusts are often irrevocable trusts funded with a specified amount set aside to pay for all funeral expenses [0] State of California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau . Pre-Need Q & A . View all sources . The trust can be prefunded with cash or named as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

» MORE: Revocable vs. irrevocable trusts: How they affect estate plans

James Ryan II, a licensed funeral director at Farrell-Ryan Funeral Home in Rochester, New York, emphasizes the importance of funeral trusts for people receiving long-term care. “Nursing home costs can be astronomical,” Ryan says. “I’ve seen places that cost as much as $26,000 per month, so people in that situation can run out of money very quickly. In New York state, they allow you to set aside money in a funeral trust. Once the money is in that trust, creditors can’t come after those dollars even if they run out of funds to pay for their care.”

NFDA President Jack Mitchell IV, who is also a licensed funeral director at Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home in Baltimore, shared similar sentiments. “If it’s a situation where someone is going to need to apply for medical assistance, the most important part is that the money is placed in an irrevocable trust,” he says.

» MORE: How trusts work and how to set one up

Payable on death, or POD, accounts: These bank accounts allow you to set aside funds for your funeral expenses. The person you name as beneficiary gains access to and control of the account after your death, so be sure the person handling the account is someone trustworthy. POD accounts do not have to go through probate , so your beneficiaries can access the funds in the account immediately upon your death.

Prepaid funerals: Some funeral homes will allow you to prepay for your funeral, and in some cases you can lock in the cost of your funeral today to avoid paying more later [0] State of Texas Department of Banking . Cemetery & Prepaid Funeral Businesses . View all sources . “It’s a good way to allow people and their families some peace of mind about rising funeral costs,” Ryan says. “Not every funeral home does this, but some will actually offer a price guarantee. So if you came in today and we estimated that your funeral would cost $10,000, you’d prepay that amount upfront. Then, if you pass away in 2050, the cost of that same funeral might be $25,000. But since it’s prepaid, we consider your funeral to be paid in full perpetually.”

Mitchell clarified that in many cases, price guarantees will apply only to basic services fees and merchandise from the funeral home. “We don’t have any control over pricing for things like flowers or clergy, so those things are not guaranteed. If prices go up, the family may need to settle the difference with the funeral home,” he says.

Directly from the estate: Assets from the deceased person’s estate can be used to cover funeral expenses. However, estate assets are generally not available until the probate process is over — which can take several months. In such cases, the executor of the estate typically pays the funeral expenses and then is reimbursed from the estate once funds become available.

Borrowing: You can get a loan to pay for funeral services, but this option should be a last resort for family members. Funeral loans are personal loans, which means they are often difficult to get, and they often have unfavorable interest rates.

MORE: Estate planning: A 7-step checklist of the basics

Get quotes from different funeral homes. Under the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, you have the right to compare prices from different funeral homes. The rule also requires funeral directors to give you pricing information on the phone as well as a written itemized pricing sheet. You also have the right to select only the services you want [0] Federal Trade Commission . The FTC Funeral Rule . Accessed Feb 3, 2023. View all sources . Costs can vary widely. For example, according to the NFDA data from 2021, the minimum basic service fee among the 802 funeral homes surveyed was $365, but the highest fee was $5,910. “The first thing I tell people is to call around and ask for quotes from different funeral homes,” Ryan says. “I’ve seen quotes as high as double what we charge for the same services, so it’s important for people to understand that they can shop around.”

Be thoughtful about caskets and burial vaults. According to the NFDA, casket prices can range from $300 to $9,360. “There is no reason to spend a lot of money on a casket or a vault,” Ryan says. “There are caskets that are better for aesthetic purposes, so to speak. But functionally, they all do the same thing.”

Know your options on obituaries. The cost of running an obituary in the local newspaper can range from under $100 to $800 or more. However, most funeral homes allow you to post an obituary on the funeral home website, which can then be shared to Facebook or other social media platforms.

See whether the funeral home can arrange transportation of remains. It is usually far cheaper to ship cremated remains. “For cremations, the best option is usually to have the cremation take place in the state where the person died,” says Ryan, who is based in New York. “It’s also beneficial to call the funeral home where you want them to be buried instead of where they died. A funeral home in a different state will charge me trade rates to transport remains, which means it will cost a lot less to transport the remains if I call the funeral home in Florida as a funeral director, rather than as a family member.”

Get fewer copies of death certificates. Death certificates are often necessary to manage the transfer of a loved one’s assets and accounts. However, courts often charge fees for certified copies of a death certificate, and the fee is typically per document. Some funeral homes will recommend that you order 8-10 copies, but if you’re trying to save on processing fees, you may want to start with 3-5 copies. You can always order more if needed.

Reconsider the viewing or ceremony. “In my experience, there are some families who were instructed by the deceased person to simply cremate the remains without a funeral service,” Mitchell says. “There are cremation societies that don’t have viewing or other services you typically find at a funeral home; they only specialize in cremating remains. This option is typically much cheaper than what you would find at a funeral home because their operating costs are much lower.”

» MORE: What Swedish Death Cleaning is

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How Much Does A Funeral Cost?

If you’re reading this article, you may be wondering, “how much does a funeral cost?” When dealing with end-of-life arrangements, funeral and burial costs can be challenging. A funeral service should celebrate the deceased loved one’s life and pay tribute to them. Sadly, the average burial cost can shift the focus to money instead.

Many families have no idea of the typical costs of funeral services; when someone dies, they are unprepared for the expenses. Family members should be aware of arrangements the deceased has made to be buried or cremated. If nothing is in place, it’s essential to understand what funeral home fees and other expenses will involve. Whether you’re arranging your own funeral or someone else’s, it’s vital to be prepared.

In this article, we’ll explore the national median cost for funeral services and how different types of funerals affect overall costs. We’ll also look at how life insurance can cover costs and what to do if it doesn’t. Finally, we’ll explore additional associated expenses and what you can do to avoid incurring debt with personal loans or desperately looking for financial assistance at the last minute.

Funeral Services – Basic Costs To Consider

Before planning funeral arrangements, it’s essential to know how average funeral costs add up – the ceremony is only a minor part of it! Here’s a breakdown of the elements typically included in funeral expenses based on where you will likely incur costs.

At the funeral home

Before you choose a funeral home, you must know and understand your options. It’s best to contact several funeral homes to get a range of prices and services. According to the Funeral Rule, funeral homes have to give you general pricing over the phone.

Here are some of the basic expenses you expect to incur at the funeral home:

Funeral home service fees

Funeral homes usually charge a basic services fee regardless of specific goods, services, or arrangements. These are non-optional service fees and average around $2,000 to $2,500.

Included in the basic services fee are:

• Obtaining copies of the death certificate.
• Securing permits required.
• Housing the remains.
• Coordinating funeral and burial or cremation arrangements.

Embalming and preparing the remains

Embalming costs can start at around $500 and rarely exceeds $1,000. It’s not always required, depending on how quickly the remains are buried or cremated. An alternative to embalming is refrigeration, which can cost several hundred dollars. You can avoid embalming costs if you choose to have a direct burial or direct cremation, but embalming is essential for visitation.

Preparing the body for viewing requires makeup and hair styling, which can incur an additional fee of between $250 and $400.

A headstone or grave marker

A standing headstone can cost more than $2,000 to $5,000. Grave markers lie flat and are significantly cheaper at around $1,000, depending on the material and design. Headstones and grave markers in stone and bronze are generally the most affordable options.

You can purchase them from most funeral homes and cemeteries or buy them from third-party retailers. With this option, you may come across exceptional savings while also enjoying the opportunity to have a highly customized headstone or grave marker made. The type of headstone or grave marker you choose depends on personal preference and on which section of the cemetery the gravesite is. Cemeteries have different rules for different areas; checking with them is best to ensure your choices are compliant. 

Caskets vary widely in design, style, material, and price. It is usually the most expensive part of the average funeral cost and can run between $2,000 and $5,000 – some even as expensive as $10,000 or more.

Again, it’s essential to know that you don’t have to buy all the funeral items from the funeral home. Buying a casket from a third party can save you thousands of dollars. Most retailers will ship the casket directly to the funeral home. By law, funeral homes must use the casket you choose and can’t charge additional fees to handle a casket not sold by them. An eco-friendly casket is a cost-effective option. We’ll discuss eco-friendly funerals further on in this article.

Flowers and wreaths

For an elegant flower display, you can set aside between $500 and $700. If you would like to save costs, you could ask guests to bring flowers to the service. A family member may find this a comforting way to pay tribute to the deceased loved one. Alternatively, look for a funeral home that has arrangements with local florists and can provide flowers as part of the funeral package and include it in the overall cost of the funeral.

Wreaths are displayed around the casket during the service and typically cost around $100 to $200 each. Casket wreaths can cost up to $700, depending on the size, the type of flowers used, and the florist.

Church fees

Talk to the funeral home about a potential “church fee,” which can be around $100 if the family wants to conduct a memorial service at a church or anywhere other than the funeral home’s chapel. It covers the cost of transporting personnel and equipment to the funeral site.

If you want to play recorded music during the service, check with the funeral home if a licensing fee is payable or if it’s part of the basic service fee. Some funeral homes charge for it separately, amounting to $50 or more.

If you plan to use live music, there shouldn’t be additional costs, but check to ensure it’s allowed and that there are no additional fees. Some facilities will only allow certain types of music.

Placing an obituary

Some funeral homes cover the cost of placing an obituary announcement in the local news, but others pass this change to the family. Since it can cost several hundred dollars, it’s essential to consider whether a printed obituary is necessary. There are more cost-effective options available. For example, you can create an online obituary that you can share with relatives and friends worldwide.

Transportation

Transporting your loved one’s remains to the funeral home and the burial site or crematorium would incur around $350 to $900, depending on the type of van or hearse used, the cost of the driver, and whether it is included in the funeral home’s package.

A hearse costs around $200 to $400, and a service car will be approximately $100 to $150 extra if the funeral home does not include it in their service fee. For those who want to have a stylish and elegant funeral, there is an option to have a horse and carriage funeral. It’s not available everywhere, and the cost of it is usually significantly higher than a hearse.

Viewing costs

Besides the cost of embalming and other viewing preparations, there are usually additional fees to pay. These fees are for using the facilities and staff to manage the viewing process and will add around $400 to $500 to the cost of a funeral.

Ceremony or funeral service costs

Whether you have a service at the funeral home, in a church, or a graveside service, somebody has to preside over the proceedings. Even those who do a direct cremation or burial will likely choose to have a memorial for the deceased. It honors the dearly departed and comforts those who attend.

This cost depends on whether it is included as part of the basic service fee by the funeral home or if the family has a religious official they would prefer to lead the funeral ceremony in a church or at the burial plot. It can be anything from a $50 voluntary donation to around $200.

At the cemetery

Unless a pre-purchased funeral plot is available, the burial site will likely be the most significant funeral expense. This is more or less what costs you can expect to incur at the cemetery.

The funeral plot

Funeral homes and cemeteries are separate, and each carries its own costs. Many people don’t realize that the burial plot will be an additional cost of anything between $350 and $5,000. In some metropolitan areas, a plot may even cost more. There’s also a fee to open the grave, place the casket, and close the grave, which can cost around $1,000 at a public cemetery and can be as much as $3,000 at a private cemetery.

When you purchase a funeral plot, ask how the cemetery will maintain the gravesite, whether the maintenance is included in the price, or if there is an annual or monthly service fee.

Grave liners or burial vaults

Most cemeteries require grave liners or burial vaults . These pieces of steel or concrete are installed in a grave before the casket is lowered into it. Cemetery owners insist on this for landscaping purposes so the dirt doesn’t cave in around the casket, keeping the ground level and safe.

Grave liners or burial vaults can cost between $800 and $5,000. It’s usually best to go for the least expensive version since most cemeteries require them, and it won’t make much difference to the funeral proceedings.

Headstone setting fee

Most cemeteries require a set fee for installing the headstone. It is unavoidable and will cost between $50 and $500.

At the attorney’s office

In addition to the funeral home and cemetery bills, families must also pay legal fees related to settling the estate. A simple, uncontested will can usually go through a probate system with minimal hassle and very little to no fees.

However, even a slight abnormality could result in thousands of dollars in legal fees and court costs. If there is a risk of a contested will, it’s best to talk to an attorney who will give you an idea of what to expect and budget for.

Other funeral and burial costs included in final expenses may include:

Thank you cards

Most families have much help from friends and loved ones during the time. Thanking them for their help and care and others for attending the funeral is a meaningful and therapeutic act. Compare prices from the funeral home and local stationery or office supply stores.

Thank you cards can sell for as much as $2 each, plus postage. You may also need to sign up for an online address-searching service if it’s a large funeral and you don’t have everyone’s address details.

Time off work

This is one of the most often overlooked final expenses of a funeral. Sometimes one family member takes more responsibility for this because they have better organizational skills or knowledge of the estate, or their work schedule is flexible. Families should discuss some form of compensation for this time spent.

Travel, accommodation, and food

When a loved one dies, family and friends may travel long distances to get together for the funeral. This incurs expenses for travel, accommodation, and food. Some families will chip in for this, and others will expect each person to look after their own arrangements. Depending on where everyone is coming from, costs will vary.

Why People Tend To Overspend On Funeral Arrangements

It’s common for families to overspend by hundreds, and even thousands, when arranging a funeral service for various reasons. The emotional impact of losing someone dear to us can cloud judgment, and some funeral homes and cemeteries take advantage of this. Many families have never had to plan funeral services before, and there are usually time constraints.

When we shop for cars, computers, or other items, we shop around and get the best price for the best product. When you’re arranging a funeral, you must make many on-the-spot decisions while going through an emotionally charged time. It makes it challenging to price shop for funeral costs. The average funeral can cost as much as any other large purchase, but because it’s not a pleasant or common purchase, people tend to pay the “sticker price” for funeral services.

You can save money if you plan for funeral expenses and shop around for a funeral home and cemetery. Since the average funeral cost is as much as $10,000, it’s a good idea to find ways to cut costs instead of depleting your entire savings account. Let’s look at some handy hints to help you save money.

Save Money On Funeral Costs

These tips can help you to save money if a loved one dies without a life insurance policy that covers their funeral expenses.

#1. Shop around

Talk to several funeral homes about general pricing based on the services you’re considering. Take note of their service fee and other costs and compare prices. Also, consider the cost of funeral items like caskets, liners, flowers, and memorial stones . These items don’t have to form part of the funeral home fees; you can shop around and purchase them from other vendors outside the funeral home.

#2. Save on embalming costs

According to the Federal Trade Commission, you don’t have to embalm the remains for every death. However, there are regulations about preserving remains before burial or cremation. It is related to the time between death and disposal.

If you choose to have an immediate burial or cremation, you can have a direct burial or direct cremation, which means you may eliminate the embalming process. Please note that this means you cannot arrange visitation or memorial services with the casket present. So if this is important to the family, direct burial may not be an option.

#3. Have a private memorial

You can hold a memorial at home or in a place that has special meaning to the deceased loved one. Many people choose to have a graveside service, especially families that are not religious. You can still have a meaningful service at a fraction of the average funeral cost.

#4. Was the deceased loved one a veteran?

Talk to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) about burial allowances. The organization will cover an honorably discharged veteran’s funeral and cremation costs to a family member like a spouse, child, or parent. This allowance includes the costs of transporting the remains but does not cover additional funeral expenses like catering, family transportation, flowers, and obituary notices.

#5. Did the person die in a disaster area?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers FEMA Funeral Assistance that takes care of the final funeral costs for a person who has died in a federally declared disaster area.

The Funeral Rule

Before you begin making funeral arrangements for yourself or a family member, you must know that you have rights. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) created the “Funeral Rule” in 1984 to prevent funeral homes from overcharging anyone arranging a funeral or pressuring them into buying funeral goods and services they don’t need or want. The Funeral Rule gives you the following rights:

• To only purchase the goods and services you want.
• To be offered prices and information by phone.
• To see a price list for caskets.
• To see a price list for outer burial containers.
• An itemized statement of all items and services provided.
• To see a written statement before making any payments.
• The option to select an alternative container for a cremation.
• To provide your own vessel, such as a casket or an urn.
• The choice to decline embalming.

With the Funeral Rule, the person arranging the funeral can be protected from depleting their traditional savings account for the funeral’s final expenses. However, there is still the risk of not being able to afford a burial. Cremation costs can be significantly less. Let’s explore that.

What To Ask Your Funeral Provider

Whether planning a funeral for someone who has recently died or for the future, one of the most important questions to ask a funeral home is whether it is independent or part of a corporation. Prices from corporation-owned funeral homes can be up to 70% higher than from independent funeral homes.

Sometimes the more prominent corporate funeral homes offer packaged deals for different types of funerals and won’t sell goods and services separately. According to the Funeral Rule, you are entitled to buy goods and services as you see fit. You don’t have to include items not part of your funeral planning.

Other questions you should ask the funeral home are:

• May I have your general price list?
• Are the prices for items like caskets and urns on the list? If not, may I see a general price list for those items?
• Does the price list cover options for embalming, viewing, visitation, cremation, and the type of funeral or memorial service?
• What is your payment policy?
• Do you work directly with insurance companies?

Average Funeral Cost: Cremation Costs vs. Burial

A cremation can be a cost-saving option depending on the various fees paid to the funeral home. Cremation costs range from $1,000 to $8,000, while the average funeral cost is up to $10,000 and more.

A casket can cost several thousand dollars, and other items like headstones, grave liners, and transportation costs can also add thousands to the bill. To establish an average funeral cost breakdown, we look at  a survey  by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA.)

Average costs according to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)

This survey , done in 2021, established the median cost of a basic funeral without a burial plot, headstone, flower arrangements, or an obituary. The survey concluded that the average funeral cost  was  $9,420 with a vault included and $7,848 without a vault. The median cost of a basic cremation was $6,970.

Paying For Funeral Costs: What You Should Know

When a loved one has died, it’s challenging to think about things like the median price of a funeral or typical expenses associated with it. However, once a valid death certificate is produced, the next of kin has to make arrangements.

The first step is to consider how you will cover funeral costs. If something is in place to cover the median price of an adult funeral, you can start making arrangements and cover any sundries out of pocket. But, what if the person did not have an end-of-life insurance policy or a savings account available to make a lump-sum payment to cover funeral costs? Here are some of the options to consider.

Life insurance and funeral costs

Any life insurance policy can help cover funeral costs. More people are taking out life insurance policies to cover burial costs or cremation fees when they die. They want to help prevent their families from the financial burden.

Monthly funeral insurance costs are generally affordable and cover funeral costs and other end-of-life expenses. Even a modest policy should cover the median price of a funeral. Life insurance is the most efficient and trusted way to cover final expenses like medical and burial costs.

It’s important to note that sometimes life insurance only pays out smaller death benefits, and it’s best to look at the insurance specifically for funeral expenses.

Pre-paying funeral expenses

If you don’t have life insurance and you’re worried about rising average funeral costs and leaving the financial burden of your death on your family, you can pre-pay funeral costs. It’s an excellent way to ensure your final wishes are carried out.

A smart way to pre-pay your funeral and burial expenses is to take out a final expense insurance policy. Also called funeral insurance or burial insurance , the purpose of this policy is to make a lump-sum payment of between $10,000 and $25,000 as a death benefit. The payment covers funeral and other end-of-life expenses like travel costs for family members, medical expenses, and unpaid bills.

Talk to a final expense insurance company about a quote to help you determine what type of burial insurance is available to you. Final expense life insurance usually doesn’t require a physical or medical exam and is generally affordable and easy to apply for.

What if I don’t have burial insurance or life insurance?

Those who are not comfortable with life insurance or final expense insurance can use what they would spend on monthly premiums and start a savings account to cover costs. It is a sensible way to ensure your final wishes are taken care of and that your loved ones are not left without financial assistance or forced to take out personal loans to cover funeral expenses.

Saving Funeral Costs With Different Types Of Funerals

Funerals can be as unique as the people they are honoring. Different cultures, religions, and races have different types of funeral services with different associated costs. Depending on your financial situation, you may want to consider a different kind of funeral that will save on funeral costs.

Low-cost funerals

For those arranging a funeral for someone who didn’t have burial insurance or savings, the cost of a funeral service and burial or cremation could be impossible to cover. If someone can’t afford funeral home fees and other end-of-life expenses, they could consider a direct burial or direct cremation.

With this option, the remains are not embalmed, and there is no visitation. This service is more affordable and will cost several thousand dollars less. A direct cremation also does not require a burial plot, grave liner, transportation, or other funeral-related costs. It will, however, require a cremation fee.

Military funeral costs

Military veterans and their spouses and children are entitled to a free, dignified burial in a national cemetery as well as a grave marker if they were honorably discharged. If the person died as a veteran, the surviving family members might also avail of death benefits depending on eligibility.

Although military funeral costs are usually several thousand dollars less than civilian funerals, it doesn’t cover all expenses. Contact your local VA office for help with the funeral costs and funeral planning.

A green funeral

Eco-friendly funerals save families hundreds or thousands of dollars on funeral costs and are also a planet-friendly choice. Biodegradable caskets are significantly cheaper than traditional caskets. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), these caskets cost around $1,500. They’re simple structures made from sustainable wood and are not treated with chemicals.

Final Thoughts

Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult things a person can experience, and the median cost of funerals is rising. The funeral cost could be a massive burden on family members left behind if the deceased did not have a death benefit or a life insurance policy covering the funeral costs.

Some funeral homes take advantage of this by recommending unnecessary funeral expenses that drive up the cost of a funeral beyond what the family can afford. Because they feel pressured to ensure their loved one’s final wishes are respected, family members may go into debt or deplete a savings account instead of going for the cheapest funeral costs available. With careful planning, you can avoid this from happening.

Here to help you through the loss of a loved one

Personal Finance

How much does the average funeral cost.

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created by TIME Stamped, under TIME’s direction and produced in accordance with TIME’s editorial guidelines and overseen by TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it .

Losing a loved one is difficult and painful. If you’re in charge of making funeral arrangements, you need to somehow manage your emotions while dealing with the many steps and various expenses involved. In case you are ever faced with this situation, here’s what to expect when planning a funeral.

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How much is the average funeral cost?

The 2023 General Price List Survey Report released by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) reports that the average cost for a funeral in 2023 was $8,300 . If you include a burial vault—which typically is required for burial in a cemetery and frequently purchased through the funeral home—the cost is $9,995, the report revealed.

This cost does not include cemetery fees (e.g., plot cost, monument, or grave marker) or cash-advance items, such as an obituary, flowers, fees for the priest or minister, etc.

While the NFDA doesn’t break down the cost of a funeral by state, it has data to offer the following regional breakdown (based on U.S. Census regions):

• Pacific: $7,835 (with vault: $8,574).
• Mountain: $7,390 (with vault: $8,615).
• West North Central: $8,755 (with vault: $10,633).
• West South Central: $7,912 (with vault: $9,385).
• East North Central: $8,280 (with vault: $9,880).
• East South Central: $7,615 (with vault: $9,210).
• South Atlantic: $8,023 (with vault: $9,736).
• Middle Atlantic: $8,573 (with vault: $10,351).
• New England: $8,985 (with vault: $10,670).

Funeral-insurance provider Choice Mutual offers the following average funeral cost by state, plus the District of Columbia:

Cost breakdown of funeral services

Here’s a closer look at the various expenses associated with a funeral.

Cremation vs. burial

As noted earlier, the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial is $8,300. According to the same source (NFDA), the median cost of a funeral with viewing and cremation was $6,280 in 2023.

The following expenses were included in that figure:

• Non-declinable basic services fee
• Removal/transfer of remains to the funeral home
• Other preparation of the body
• Use of facilities and staff for viewing at the funeral home
• Use of facilities/staff for funeral ceremony at the funeral home
• Use of service car/van to transport to crematory
• Basic memorial printed package (e.g., prayer/memorial cards and or service folders)
• Cremation fee
• Alternative cremation container

Funeral home

Nationally, the median cost of using the funeral home facilities and staff for viewing is $475, and using the funeral home facilities and staff for a funeral ceremony is $550, according to the NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association).

Nationally, this was $845 in 2023, per the National Funeral Directors Association.

Depending on the arrangement, funeral flowers can cost hundreds of dollars, even $500 or more for more ornate purchases.

Wreaths are usually displayed around a casket and typically cost between$100 and $200 each. Also a casket wreath will probably cost between $500-$700 depending on the florist, flowers used, and size of the display, according to Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Company.

Cemetery plot

It may come as a surprise that the cemetery costs are separated from funeral home costs. According to Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Company, the average cost of a burial plot is between $350 and $5,000, but metropolitan areas, such as metro Los Angeles and Chicago, may cost more

In addition to the plot, there could be additional charges associated with opening the ground, placing the casket, and covering the plot. These services usually add several hundred dollars or more, depending on the cemetery, according to the same source. Be sure to ask what maintenance fee may be added.

Headstone/grave marker

Grave markers and headstones have an average cost of $2,000. Headstones can average $500 to $3,000.

A casket is often a funeral's single biggest expense. Caskets vary widely in style and are generally constructed of metal, wood, fiberboard, fiberglass, or plastic. Although an average casket costs slightly more than $2,000, some mahogany, bronze, or copper caskets sell for as much as $10,000, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

How to prepare for funeral expenses

There are several ways to prepare for your own funeral expenses. You could set up a savings account earmarked for your final expenses. To make it easier for your survivors to access the funds , consider setting up a joint account with the person you appoint to handle your final expenses. When you pass away, they become the sole owner and can withdraw the funds to cover the funeral expenses. If you can afford it, you can prepay your funeral expenses at the funeral home of your choice and buy the plot in advance. You can also take out burial insurance or use proceeds from a life insurance policy for funeral expenses.

Life insurance policy

Many life insurance policies will pay a lump sum to a beneficiary of your choice soon after you die. Your beneficiary can use these funds to pay for funeral and other final expenses. Life insurance payouts with a named beneficiary are exempt from probate.

Final expense insurance

You can also purchase burial insurance , which is a policy intended to pay death-related costs and cover a predetermined amount for a funeral.

What to do if you can’t afford a funeral

If you are the person arranging the funeral and find yourself unable to cover funeral expenses, there are ways to get help.

Other ways to pay for a funeral

If you are having difficulty getting money together for funeral expenses, Trust & Will suggests the following:

• Ask family : Consider reaching out to the family for financial assistance. Families pull together during times of loss.
• Make a public appeal : Requesting money through online crowdfunding platforms has become a popular (and accepted) way to yield donations.
• Opt for a budget-friendly service : Ask others for help and find creative ways to honor your loved one.
• Get a loan : As a last resort, a personal loan can help cover your loved one’s final expenses.

Getting help from charitable or government organizations

If your loved one was a military member, you can apply for burial benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These will reimburse eligible surviving spouses for burial and funeral expenses.

Some states offer assistance paying for funerals and burials. Check with your county coroner’s office to find out what you can apply for. You can look for local or national nonprofit or religious organizations for assistance with funeral expenses. Consider the following national organizations:

• Children’s Burial Assistance.
• Funeral Consumers Alliance.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs, for Indigenous people.

How to keep funeral costs affordable

There are ways to keep final expenses in check. Here are some ideas to consider.

Opt for a ‘green’ burial

An environment-friendly burial can be less costly. There’s no expensive casket or vault; instead, the body can be placed in a shroud or biodegradable casket. You can also avoid embalming with this process.

Choose an alternative location for the service

You can hold the service at a park, in your religious center, or at another location that holds special meaning.

Provide your own casket

You aren't required to purchase a casket from the funeral home providing the service. Instead, you can buy it from a third party. Under the Federal Trade Commission’s “ Funeral Rule ,” consumers have a right to buy a casket from outside the funeral home. In turn, funeral homes cannot charge a “handling fee” for accepting outside merchandise.

Bottom line

When a loved one passes away, final expenses must be covered. With the price of an average funeral in the range of $7,000 and $12,000, it’s undoubtedly a major expense. Those costs don’t even include the cemetery, marker, or flowers.

Understanding how funeral costs work can help individuals and their loved ones use savings, burial insurance, and other means to plan ahead.

The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page .

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• Funeral Costs and Pricing Checklist

Funeral costs include basic services fee for the funeral director and staff, charges for other services and merchandise, and cash advances. Make copies of the checklist at the end of this article. Use it when you shop with several funeral homes to compare costs.

Funeral Fees

Calculating the actual cost of a funeral, funeral pricing checklist.

The Funeral Rule allows funeral providers to charge a basic services fee that customers have to pay. The basic services fee includes services that are common to all funerals, regardless of the specific arrangement. These include funeral planning, securing the necessary permits and copies of death certificates, preparing the notices, sheltering the remains, and coordinating the arrangements with the cemetery, crematory or other third parties. The fee does not include charges for optional services or merchandise.

Charges for other services and merchandise , include costs for optional goods and services such as transporting the remains; embalming and other preparation; use of the funeral home for the viewing, ceremony or memorial service; use of equipment and staff for a graveside service; use of a hearse or limousine; a casket, outer burial container or alternate container; and cremation or interment.

Cash advances are fees charged by the funeral home for goods and services it buys from outside vendors on your behalf, including flowers, obituary notices, pallbearers, officiating clergy, and organists and soloists. Some funeral providers charge you their cost for the items they buy on your behalf. Others add a service fee to the cost. The Funeral Rule requires those who charge an extra fee to disclose that fact in writing, although it doesn't require them to specify the amount of their markup. The Rule also requires funeral providers to tell you if there are refunds, discounts, or rebates from the supplier on any cash advance item.

The funeral provider must give you an itemized statement of the total cost of the funeral goods and services you have selected when you are making the arrangements. If the funeral provider doesn't know the cost of the cash advance items at the time, he or she is required to give you a written "good faith estimate." This statement also must disclose any legal cemetery or crematory requirements that you purchase specific funeral goods or services.

The Funeral Rule does not require any specific format for this information. Funeral providers may include it in any document they give you at the end of your discussion about funeral arrangements.

Services and Products

Many funeral homes require embalming if you're planning a viewing or visitation. But embalming generally is not necessary or legally required if the body is buried or cremated shortly after death. Eliminating this service can save you hundreds of dollars. Under the Funeral Rule, a funeral provider:

• may not provide embalming services without permission.
• may not falsely state that embalming is required by law.
• must disclose in writing that embalming is not required by law, except in certain special cases.
• may not charge a fee for unauthorized embalming unless embalming is required by state law.
• must disclose in writing that you usually have the right to choose a disposition, like direct cremation or immediate burial, that does not require embalming if you do not want this service.
• must disclose in writing that some funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing, may make embalming a practical necessity and, if so, a required purchase.

For a "traditional" full-service funeral:

A casket often is the single most expensive item you'll buy if you plan a "traditional" full-service funeral. Caskets vary widely in style and price and are sold primarily for their visual appeal. Typically, they're constructed of metal, wood, fiberboard, fiberglass or plastic. Although an average casket costs slightly more than $2,000, some mahogany, bronze or copper caskets sell for as much as $10,000.

When you visit a funeral home or showroom to shop for a casket, the Funeral Rule requires the funeral director to show you a list of caskets the company sells, with descriptions and prices, before showing you the caskets. Industry studies show that the average casket shopper buys one of the first three models shown, generally the middle-priced of the three.

So it's in the seller's best interest to start out by showing you higher-end models. If you haven't seen some of the lower-priced models on the price list, ask to see them — but don't be surprised if they're not prominently displayed, or not on display at all.

Traditionally, caskets have been sold only by funeral homes. But more and more, showrooms and websites operated by "third-party" dealers are selling caskets. You can buy a casket from one of these dealers and have it shipped directly to the funeral home. The Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to agree to use a casket you bought elsewhere, and doesn't allow them to charge you a fee for using it.

No matter where or when you're buying a casket, it's important to remember that its purpose is to provide a dignified way to move the body before burial or cremation. No casket, regardless of its qualities or cost, will preserve a body forever. Metal caskets frequently are described as "gasketed," "protective" or "sealer" caskets. These terms mean that the casket has a rubber gasket or some other feature that is designed to delay the penetration of water into the casket and prevent rust. The Funeral Rule forbids claims that these features help preserve the remains indefinitely because they don't. They just add to the cost of the casket.

Most metal caskets are made from rolled steel of varying gauges — the lower the gauge, the thicker the steel. Some metal caskets come with a warranty for longevity. Wooden caskets generally are not gasketed and don't have a warranty for longevity. They can be hardwood like mahogany, walnut, cherry or oak, or softwood like pine. Pine caskets are a less expensive option, but funeral homes rarely display them. Manufacturers of both wooden and metal caskets usually offer warranties for workmanship and materials.

For cremation:

Many families that choose to have their loved ones cremated rent a casket from the funeral home for the visitation and funeral, eliminating the cost of buying a casket. If you opt for visitation and cremation, ask about the rental option. For those who choose a direct cremation without a viewing or other ceremony where the body is present, the funeral provider must offer an inexpensive unfinished wood box or alternative container, a non-metal enclosure — pressboard, cardboard or canvas — that is cremated with the body.

Under the Funeral Rule, funeral directors who offer direct cremations:

• may not tell you that state or local law requires a casket for direct cremations, because none do;
• must disclose in writing your right to buy an unfinished wood box or an alternative container for a direct cremation; and
• must make an unfinished wood box or other alternative container available for direct cremations.

Burial Vaults or Grave Liners

Burial vaults or grave liners, also known as burial containers, are commonly used in "traditional" full-service funerals. The vault or liner is placed in the ground before burial, and the casket is lowered into it at burial. The purpose is to prevent the ground from caving in as the casket deteriorates over time. A grave liner is made of reinforced concrete and will satisfy any cemetery requirement. Grave liners cover only the top and sides of the casket. A burial vault is more substantial and expensive than a grave liner. It surrounds the casket in concrete or another material and may be sold with a warranty of protective strength.

State laws do not require a vault or liner, and funeral providers may not tell you otherwise. However, keep in mind that many cemeteries require some type of outer burial container to prevent the grave from sinking in the future. Neither grave liners nor burial vaults are designed to prevent the eventual decomposition of human remains. It is illegal for funeral providers to claim that a vault will keep water, dirt, or other debris from penetrating into the casket if that's not true.

Before showing you any outer burial containers, a funeral provider is required to give you a list of prices and descriptions. It may be less expensive to buy an outer burial container from a third-party dealer than from a funeral home or cemetery. Compare prices from several sources before you select a model.

Preservation Processes and Products

As far back as the ancient Egyptians, people have used oils, herbs and special body preparations to help preserve the bodies of their dead. Yet, no process or products have been devised to preserve a body in the grave indefinitely. The Funeral Rule prohibits funeral providers from telling you that it can be done. For example, funeral providers may not claim that either embalming or a particular type of casket will preserve the body of the deceased for an unlimited time.

Make copies of this page and check with several funeral homes to compare costs.

“Simple” disposition of the remains:

Immediate burial __________

Immediate cremation __________

If the cremation process is extra, how much is it? __________

Donation of the body to a medical school or hospital __________

“Traditional,” full-service burial or cremation:

Basic services fee for the funeral director and staff __________

Pickup of body __________

Embalming __________

Other preparation of body __________

Least expensive casket __________

Description, including model # __________

Outer Burial Container (vault) __________

Description __________

Visitation/viewing — staff and facilities __________

Funeral or memorial service — staff and facilities __________

Graveside service, including staff and equipment __________

Hearse __________

Other vehicles __________

Total __________

Other Services:

Forwarding body to another funeral home __________

Receiving body from another funeral home __________

Cemetery/Mausoleum Costs:

Cost of lot or crypt (if you don’t already own one) __________

Perpetual care __________

Opening and closing the grave or crypt __________

Grave liner, if required __________

Marker/monument (including setup) __________

• The FTC Funeral Rule
• Types of Funerals
• Choosing a Funeral Provider
• Buying a Cemetery Site
• Planning Your Own Funeral
• Funeral Terms and Contact Information