Which airlines offer compassionate fares and are they worth it?

[AFF Editor]

Canonical URL

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/compassionate-airfares/

In another recent AFF article, there were some comments asking about compassionate airfares and which airlines offer them.

We checked with the major Australian airlines (and some overseas ones) about what's available - or in many cases, not available - and put together this guide to them:

Compassionate Airfares: Barely Worth the Hassle

Airlines including Qantas and Air New Zealand offer discounted compassionate or bereavement airfares for people who need to travel urgently due to a family member's medical emergency or funeral. But the savings might not be worth it.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Quickstatus]

Not worth the hassle

 

[Berlin]

Quite sad but also good to know- 10% off a Qantas fare close to departure is indeed not worth the hassle.

I’ve read this with great interest as both my parents over in Germany are over the age of 80 now. As much as I wished it never happened, I know very well that it is bound to happen some day. I’ve already asked them jokingly a few years ago to please not die during Summer holidays or Christmas season

 

[justinbrett]

These were probably more relevant back in the day with much higher fares and many more restrictions (such as the Sat night stay).

Not a lot of margin in domestic economy tickets to work with - and they have to be strict with documentation because in 2025 there’s a lot of people who would have no qualms exploiting this.

 

[kilavuz]

In another recent AFF article, there were some comments asking about compassionate airfares and which airlines offer them.

We checked with the major Australian airlines (and some overseas ones) about what's available - or in many cases, not available - and put together this guide to them:

Compassionate Airfares: Barely Worth the Hassle

Airlines including Qantas and Air New Zealand offer discounted compassionate or bereavement airfares for people who need to travel urgently due to a family member's medical emergency or funeral. But the savings might not be worth it.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Qantas? NOT a chance! I bought FF ticket for i and my daughter about 3 months earlier, then received a message that my father was unwell and I should change my ticket to two days earlier to see him alive, and Qantas asked for $8345 for one-way economy ticket change (SYD-LHW-IST) for my booking! My travel agent found ways to bring this down to about 50% off, only my ticket. Then regular cattle class return ticket was about $1500, business under $6000 (20 years ago)
Dad died within hours of my arrival, my daughter came next day and could not see her grandpa. And when I contacted Qantas on my return, I was explained that it is a matter of "supply & demand" (second week of December would not be a big demand date for either LHW or IST), the operator said she felt sorry, her manager repeated exactly the same, and I could not reach then CEO bowtie man in any way or form, so Qantas is compassionate? Pull the other leg

 

[Jurahn]

Back in 2016 when I lived in Perth, I received a phone call one afternoon in mid July from my brother saying Mum had suffered a massive stroke and wasn't expected to survive. She was in a hospital on the NSW South Coast, so I needed to fly to either Sydney or Canberra the next day and drive down. The cost to fly the next day (Sunday) was horrendously expensive, but of course I needed to get over there so contacted both VA and QF but neither offered compassionate fares. Mum died about 3 hours after I got there.

 

[CanadaGirl]

I too received a phone call late one evening from Canada with my brother saying the nurses had just told him mom's death was imminent. I immediately booked a flight home. Did not make it sadly. Then I followed ALL the rules of Air Canada, complete with many many follow ups with them and nothing. Not even a courtesy of a reply. SMH traveller section suggested contacting the CEO, but no response there either. Appalling behaviour especially if someone is already in great stress of dealing with losing a loved one.