The bereavement fare was once the airline industry 's gift to the traveler , an acknowledgement that a customer was flying for the saddest of reasons : a medical emergency or death in the family . The last thing anyone wanted to worry about was the cost of an airplane ticket . And so many airlines offered discounts to help ease the pain of the journey . Not so much anymore . In the wake of its merger with US Airways , American Airlines this week became the latest major U.S. airline to end its policy of offering bereavement fares . US Airways did n't offer the special fares before the merger , and American 's new chief executive officer , Douglas Parker , came from the ranks of US Airways . `` We remain committed to doing all we can to relieve the burden of travel for our customers in times of need . With the advent of more choices , lower cost carriers and larger networks , the industry has started to move away from bereavement fares because walk-up fares are generally lower than in the past , and customers now have more opportunities to find affordable fares at the last minute , '' American spokesman Matt Miller said in a statement . `` American is moving toward that industry trend and the airline offers customers changeable and refundable options with the ability to apply future reservations to bereavement travel without change fees . We believe this policy is a cost-effective solution for customers in need of bereavement travel . '' Except for possibly waiving the change fee , the new policy does n't sound so different from what American offers other customers . But not every carrier is going the way of American , at least not yet . Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are keeping their current bereavement policies in place . 'Better service ' for consumers promised . Before the US Airways-American merger was approved last year , Parker , then the US Airways CEO , testified before Congress that consumers would benefit from such consolidation . `` By putting these two airlines together we 're able to provide better service , more efficient service , to consumers , '' Parker said . It remains to be seen if consumers will agree with his sentiments , but American is n't breaking new ground with this particular policy change . Making planes in the world 's biggest building . Discount carriers Southwest Airlines ( and its AirTran brand ) and JetBlue Airways have never offered bereavement fares . `` Offering bereavement or emergency fares would make it necessary to offset these discounts by charging higher ticket prices and reducing the amount of sale fares we currently offer , '' Southwest spokesman Dan Landson said . Southwest does n't charge fees to change an existing reservation , just the price difference between the current and new tickets , Landson said . Cheaper online fares can be found . Frequent travelers know that better fares can usually be found online for last-minute emergency travel , according to travel blogger Johnny `` Jet '' DiScala . That 's why he said the change wo n't have much of an impact . `` It does make the airlines look heartless , '' DiScala said . `` I 've known people who did n't travel to a loved one 's funeral because they could n't afford the last-minute ticket . '' Consumers Union aviation consultant William McGee , who testified before Congress last year on the potential impact of the USAirways-American merger , said he is n't surprised by the policy change . `` It 's a natural outgrowth of a shrinking industry since consolidation leads to fewer choices , higher fares , and less service , '' McGee wrote via e-mail . `` Unfortunately , consumers should expect this trend to continue as the domestic airline industry rapidly consolidates through mergers and acquisitions . '' Disney 's Magic Kingdom raises prices . Discounts at United , Delta . Still , Delta and United remain holdouts . Delta 's bereavement policy , which `` offers additional flexibility on the best published fare , '' lists the documentation required and the types of relatives who qualify on its website . The airline reminds customers that lower promotional fares may be available through its website or airline reservations service . United offers a 5 % discount on one-way and round-trip fares in the event of the death or serious illness ( requiring hospitalization or hospice care ) of an immediate family member . Its website lists the airline 's requirements to qualify for the airfare . Five percent off a $ 1,000 ticket still is n't much -- $ 50 -- so it 's possible that consumers would still be better off searching online for the best deals . But even with such a small benefit as United 's , maybe it 's the thought that airlines recognize their grieving customers that counts . CNN first learned about this story via Twitter . What do you think of American changing its bereavement policy ? Please tell us in the comments section below .
JetBlue Airways is n't the first airline to end bereavement fares . American and United Airlines never had such discounts . Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways are keeping bereavement policies in place .