Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Daniel Globe
A death in the family can force you to book or change a flight with little notice. United Airlines does not offer a special bereavement fare for new bookings. You can still compare regular fares and MileagePlus awards, and you may submit an unused-ticket refund request if an existing trip is affected.
Quick Answer
United Airlines does not offer bereavement fares for new tickets. Its former discount ended in 2014. For an existing unused ticket, you can cancel before departure and submit a refund request with supporting details. United reviews eligibility case by case, so a refund to your original payment method is not guaranteed.
Key Takeaways
- United does not publish a bereavement discount for new bookings.
- An existing unused ticket may qualify for a refund or credit, but United decides each request individually.
- Cancel or contact United before departure so the reservation does not become a no-show.
- Delta, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, and WestJet publish bereavement-fare programs with different eligibility rules.
- A formal bereavement fare is not always the cheapest option, so compare normal fares, award travel, and total change flexibility.
What’s in This Article
United Airlines Bereavement Fare Policy in 2026
United Airlines does not offer a special bereavement fare for a new ticket. You cannot call and receive a guaranteed percentage discount because you are traveling for a funeral or to see a seriously ill relative. United ended its former bereavement discount in March 2014.
The important distinction is whether you are buying a new ticket or dealing with an existing reservation. United’s published refund form lets customers request a review for an unused ticket. The page says United will follow up and tell you whether the trip qualifies. It does not promise that a death in the family automatically overrides the ticket’s fare rules.
| Situation | What United Offers | Best Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| You need to buy a flight now | No published bereavement discount | Compare regular fares, nearby airports, and MileagePlus awards |
| You already have an unused United ticket | Online refund request and case-by-case review | Cancel or contact United before departure, then submit supporting information |
| United cancels or significantly changes the flight | Separate refund rights may apply | Review the offered alternative and request a refund if you decline it and qualify |
Note: A voluntary refund request after a family death is different from a refund owed because the airline cancels or significantly changes a flight. The second situation is covered by separate U.S. passenger-protection rules.
How to Request a Refund for an Existing United Ticket
If a death in the family affects a trip you already booked, follow these steps. The process is simple, but approval depends on the ticket rules and United’s review.
1. Review or Cancel the Trip Before Departure
Open the reservation in the United app or under My Trips. Review the cancellation options and any travel credit shown. If the choices are unclear, call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) before the scheduled departure.
Avoid becoming a no-show. Failing to cancel or contact the airline before departure can reduce or eliminate the remaining value of a restricted ticket.
2. Gather Supporting Information
United’s public refund page does not publish one fixed bereavement-document checklist. Prepare records that clearly support the request in case United asks for them, such as:
- A death certificate or official registration of death
- A funeral-home statement or funeral program
- The deceased person’s name and your relationship to that person
- Your confirmation number and ticket number
- A short explanation of why you cannot use the ticket
3. Submit the United Refund Form
Use United’s official refund request page. Add the affected trip, select the unused ticket, explain the family emergency, and attach documentation if the form provides an upload option. Ask for the outcome you prefer, such as a refund to the original payment method, while understanding that United may instead offer a travel credit or deny the exception.
4. Save the Case Details
Keep the submission confirmation, case number, screenshots, and copies of every document. If you booked through a travel agency or online travel agency, contact that seller because it may control the ticket and refund process.
Pro Tip: Submit a complete, brief request the first time. State the event, the relationship, the affected flight, and the refund you are requesting. Clear documentation makes the review easier, even though it does not guarantee approval.
How to Find Affordable Last-Minute Fares on United
Because United has no bereavement discount, use its normal booking tools and compare the complete trip cost. Do not assume one day, airport, or fare type will always be cheaper.
| Strategy | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Check adjacent dates and times | A flight a few hours earlier, later, or on the next day may use a lower fare bucket. |
| Compare nearby airports | A secondary airport may have a lower fare, but add ground-transport cost and travel time before deciding. |
| Check MileagePlus award travel | Miles can reduce the cash cost, although award prices and seat availability change dynamically. |
| Price one-way and round-trip options | Separate one-way tickets can provide flexibility when the return date is uncertain, but compare the total before booking. |
| Compare other airlines | A carrier without a bereavement fare may still have the lowest normal price or the best schedule. |
Warning: United Basic Economy has stricter change, cancellation, seat, and baggage rules than standard economy. Read the exact fare terms at checkout before using it for an emergency trip with uncertain dates.
Use the 24-Hour Rule When It Applies
For tickets bought directly from an airline at least seven days before departure, U.S. Department of Transportation rules require the airline to offer either a 24-hour hold or a 24-hour penalty-free cancellation. This rule often will not help with a flight leaving in the next few days, and it does not automatically apply to tickets bought through a third-party travel agency.
Does Travel Insurance Cover Emergency Flights?
Travel insurance may help when a family death forces you to cancel or interrupt a trip that was already insured. It usually does not pay for a brand-new funeral trip purchased after the death occurred.
Trip cancellation coverage may reimburse prepaid, non-refundable costs when a covered family member dies before departure. Trip interruption coverage may pay unused trip costs and reasonable extra transportation if you must return home early after a covered event. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners advises travelers to check the policy’s covered reasons, family definition, limits, and exclusions.
If a credit card included trip coverage, read its guide to benefits. Coverage often depends on which expenses were charged to the card, who qualifies as a family member, and whether the event was unforeseen when the trip was booked.
Travel insurance protects an eligible trip you already arranged. It is not the same as an airline discount for a new emergency booking.
Airlines That Still Offer Bereavement Fares
Several North American airlines publish bereavement programs. These fares can provide flexibility, but the airline may require phone booking, loyalty membership, a close family relationship, and proof of death or imminent death.
| Airline | Published Option | Key Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | Bereavement fares with added flexibility; price varies | SkyMiles membership, representative booking, required family and funeral details, travel generally starting within seven days |
| Alaska Airlines | Published 10% discount from the lowest available eligible fare | Immediate-family bereavement, travel within seven days, reservation-center booking, and current program rules |
| Air Canada | Bereavement fare on eligible economy fare types | Phone booking, travel within 10 days of booking and no longer than 60 days, documentation after travel |
| WestJet | Bereavement fare on Econo and EconoFlex | Phone booking, WestJet Rewards account, WestJet-operated flights, trip completed within 30 days |
| Southwest Airlines | No formal bereavement fare | Most fares have no airline change or cancellation fee, although fare differences and Basic-fare restrictions can apply |
- Delta Air Lines: Delta says bereavement fares cannot be bought online. Message Delta through its Help Center or call 1-800-221-1212. The policy can waive service fees on eligible changes, but fare differences may still apply, and a lower normal fare may be available.
- Alaska Airlines: Review Alaska’s official bereavement fare page and call Reservations at 1-800-252-7522. Ask the agent to compare the bereavement price with the lowest normal fare.
- Air Canada: Air Canada requires phone booking and later documentation. Call 1-888-247-2262 and confirm that your route and fare type qualify.
- WestJet: WestJet’s program applies to Econo and EconoFlex on eligible WestJet-operated flights. It requires a WestJet Rewards account and completion of the trip within 30 days of booking.
- Southwest Airlines: Southwest does not publish a bereavement discount, but its change and cancellation policy can be useful when plans may move. For more detail, see the Southwest tickets guide.
Always compare the normal online fare with the bereavement quote. The special fare may offer better flexibility without being the lowest price.
Tips for Traveling During Difficult Times
Traveling for a funeral or family emergency adds pressure to an already difficult time. These steps can make the trip easier:
- Ask someone you trust to compare flights. A friend or relative can check airports, times, and airlines while you handle family matters.
- Book directly with the airline when possible. Direct booking usually makes urgent changes and refund requests simpler.
- Use text or app alerts. Turn on notifications for schedule, gate, and delay updates.
- Keep important items in your personal item. Carry medication, documents, a charger, and funeral information with you. For product ideas, see the guide to the best power bank for international travel.
- Save receipts. Keep receipts for replacement transportation, lodging, and meals if you may file an insurance claim.
- Build flexibility into the return. Funeral plans can change, so compare the cost of a flexible fare with the risk of changing a cheaper restricted ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does United Airlines offer bereavement fares?
No. United does not offer a special bereavement discount for a new booking. Its former discount ended in 2014, so you must use a normal cash fare, an award ticket, or another airline’s program.
Can I get a refund if a family member dies before my United trip?
Possibly. Cancel or contact United before departure, then submit the unused ticket through United’s refund form with a clear explanation and supporting documents. United reviews eligibility case by case, so approval is not guaranteed.
Which airlines still offer bereavement fares?
Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, and WestJet publish bereavement-fare programs. Their prices, eligible relatives, travel windows, routes, and documentation rules differ.
How do I contact United about a family-emergency refund?
Submit the trip through United’s online refund page. For help before departure, call United Reservations at 1-800-864-8331. Keep your confirmation number, ticket number, and supporting records ready.
Are bereavement fares cheaper than regular fares?
Not always. A bereavement fare may be valuable because it offers more flexible changes, but a normal promotional fare, budget-airline ticket, or award ticket can cost less. Compare price and rules before booking.
Will travel insurance pay for a new flight to a funeral?
Usually not if the trip is booked after the death occurred. Travel insurance is more likely to cover cancellation or interruption of a trip that was already insured when an eligible family death happens. Read the policy’s covered reasons and family definition.
Travel Policy Disclaimer: Airline fares, loyalty programs, refund rules, and insurance benefits can change without notice. Confirm the current terms directly with the airline, ticket seller, insurer, or card issuer before booking, canceling, or submitting a claim.
United will not give you a special price for a new bereavement booking, but you still have practical options. Compare regular fares and miles, avoid a no-show on an existing ticket, submit a documented refund request when appropriate, and check Delta, Alaska, Air Canada, or WestJet when their routes fit your trip.
Sources
- United Airlines Refunds — official refund-request process and eligibility review
- Delta Air Lines Bereavement Fare Policy — booking, eligibility, documentation, and travel-window rules
- Alaska Airlines Bereavement Fares — official discount and eligibility rules
- Air Canada Bereavement Travel — eligible fares, travel window, and required documentation
- WestJet Bereavement Fare — eligible fares, booking method, and trip-completion deadline
- U.S. Department of Transportation: Refunds — 24-hour booking rule and airline-initiated refund rights