To me, this issue is not as clear cut, as one might think. As someone mentioned earlier, where does

Q uestion : My grandfather recently passed away and I needed to travel to Austin, american airlines center seating Texas, a few days later for his funeral. Because I was already scheduled to fly from Baltimore to Austin on American american airlines center seating Airlines on Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving, I thought american airlines center seating it would be easiest to just move my outbound flight up a few days to Nov. 19.
I had originally booked the flight through American s website months ago, so I called their helpline on Nov. 17 and explained my situation. They were able to switch me to a flight on the 19th, but said I would need to pay a $150 change fee and the difference between the fare I originally paid and the current fare, which was $254.
I then inquired about bereavement fares, and the agent told me that they were completely sold out of compassion fares for that date, but that if I sent them a copy of my grandfather s death certificate, they would refund the difference in cost. I m currently a graduate student with very little extra money to spend, but my grandfather and I were close, so I decided to go ahead with the ticket change given the information about the refund.
I received a copy of the death certificate just before I returned to Maryland, and began the process of requesting a refund on the American Airlines website. The online system tells me that I am ineligible for a refund because I used my nonrefundable ticket.
I have emailed American through the form on their website and have received no response. I am very upset that this is happening after the death of a beloved family member if I had known that it would be this difficult, I would have canceled my flight on American and instead booked a flight on an airline that would have been more sensitive to my situation. Tracy Wilkinson , College Park, Md.
Answer : American Airlines should have refunded your ticket as promised after you showed it a death certificate, of course. Every time you have to contact american airlines center seating the airline to ask about your fare, it s a painful and completely unnecessary reminder of your loss.
Bereavement fares are an odd thing, which may be why American seems confused. Many airlines no longer have them, but ticket agents are sometimes empowered to offer a discount off the overpriced walk-up fare that business travelers typically pay to fly at a moment s notice.
When there s a death in the family, airlines may also waive cancellation or change fees. But there s no hard-and-fast rule about it, so if you find a ticket agent who is willing to make an exception, be sure the rule is bent for you now not later. (And if you re promised a refund later, make sure you get it in writing.)
It appears there was no written record of a promised refund, which is why American was denying your refund. Plus, because of an unspecified problem with its systems, it wasn t receiving the death certificate, despite numerous attempts on your part to send it.
(I had a situation in the midst of a Continental itinerary a few years ago and they were very accommodating, but I had status with them at the time and I was also travelling for work so my employer would have reimbursed me regardless).
Does anybody have the common sense to use a real live agent? They are your advocate and could get instant authorization to re-issue the ticket on the spot! Emergencies happen daily and it takes a good travel agent to help figure out the ins and outs of this industry. Did AA send or email a written authorization? I always get it in writing, because 6 months later they can still come after you for additional costs. YOU CANNOT BE YOUR OWN TRAVEL AGENT WHEN IT COMES TO PROBLEMS! By then it is too late. Make friends with your local travel agent, be prepared to spend $20.00 to $40.00 for a transaction, then be prepared to be wowed when the S hits the fan!
I remember things american airlines center seating people say.  A classmate of mine, who is a local Deputy Sheriff lied to our reunion committee, trying to get his money back because he couldn t attend.  At the next reunion he forgot about his lie and made a comment to someone I was standing next to as to why he really missed the last one.  Hard to trust anyone anymore!
Oh but travelagentman, american airlines center seating it is online so how hard can it be (tongue in cheek).  Even her comment about canceling and going with another carrier showed how uniformed she was.  Using a TA is like having insurance.  We are there to back you.
It should be good business for airlines to allow bereavement fares when a passenger can credibly show that he needs to go to a funeral. Generally, american airlines center seating I d say that the lowest possible price offered for that flight would be good. Customers would appreciate the service and come back to that airline. However, in reality, airlines try make things such a hassle that they loose customers over what is a very reasonable request: Compassion.
Bereavement fares are not always the best fare.  It s usually a 10% discount at best.  I ve asked for them in the past directly with the airline and after the fare was quoted, have found better rates on other travel sites. Some airlines no longer offer bereavement fares. What is curious to me was that the airlines quota for bereavement fares was already filled.
american airlines center seating But the 5% is off ANY fare you book, not just off full fare.  So if there are still discounted fares available on the route you ned to fly, you get a little something more than nothing.  The CO discount was larger.  I don t remember the exact amount.
I thought it might be a good idea if travelagentman can elucidate when he charges $20 versus $40. Maybe it is educational for customers what to expect for $20-$40. I have a feeling many don t understand what they are paying for. Thanks.
The desk agent is already currently overworked. Do you want them to become death certificate verifiers? Can you propose a credible and reliable american airlines center seating way so the system cannot be gamed by unscrupulous passengers? Compassion goes both ways.
Point taken, EXCEPT that it s obvious the airline refunded the money, as the compassionate american airlines center seating agent had promised, only because Chris contacted them.  Thank your lucky stars, OP, that you knew about Chris! because otherwise you d clearly still be waiting!
This is probably a misquote. For most airlines that still offer bereavement fares, the seats have to booked at a particular booking class (or classes). If seats in those class(es) are not available, then you can t get bereavement fares.
The best letters were short, stated the facts, did not try to pull at heart strings, asked for a reasonable compensation and gave contact info (yes, people would write and then never give us a way to contact them?!!!)
I don t think someone s financial situation should be considered when a refund is due them. If the OP is dirty poor or filthy rich should mean nothing the airline promised her a refund, and it should ve delivered.
The problem is with AA s online refund and claim system. They dropped the ball. If AA customers need an ombudsman to collect what is due them, then AA has a big customer service problem. american airlines center seating Not a compassion issue but a fairness and quality issue.
I would love to have read some of those letters. american airlines center seating I reviewed similar letters for parking ticket appeals in college american airlines center seating many years ago and the crazy stories people give just blew my mind.  I did find them very entertaining.
One of my favorites was about how the ticketed person's daughter's building's elevator broke while they were moving american airlines center seating in, and they had to climb 9 stories and dropped the microwave down the stairs, american airlines center seating and their clothing was too sweaty, and the daughter hurt her knee carrying the furniture.  Then they had to go buy a microwave so their daughter could eat, and there were no close parking spots and the garage was too expensive for them to afford and they were too sweaty to walk in the heat and her daughter knee still hurt, so they felt they should be able to park in a handicapped spot, and were very quick so it didn't prevent someone else from using it, and they ask that we over turn the ticket giving their extenuating circumstances.
Bottom-line: they illegally used a handicapped spot.  Appeal denied. Yeah, their situation may have sucked, but why spend so much time trying to explain how horrible their situation was.  And how much of it was true anyway, how can they prove no one needed the spot while they were shopping?
Wow seems like there s a lot of animosity american airlines center seating or jealousy because this person is a grad student.  The why not me too seems so petty.  Jeez, some guy got a refund because his grandfather died good for him.  Anybody who s jealous american airlines center seating because he ll soon have and advanced degree go put in the time and work and get your MBA or PhD.
I find it very interesting that the only consideration people think about for bereavement fares is the price.  There is another benefit that is very important and that is that fare also allows the passenger to change the return for no fee or add collect provided the same class of service is available on the new flight and date.  That is very helpful for those who don t know what arrangement can be made to know when they may be able to return home.
That s true. But people who really need a bereavement fare don t really know what that fare is without calling the airline making it rather opaque adding to the confusion and uncertainty. That s why they are primarily concerned with knowing how much it costs.
since the reason they offer higher last minute fares is geared towards business travelers then yes they should be offering bereavement or compassion fares.  Or in cases like this they should wave their change fees.
I did not think that AA offered them any more.  I find it odd that AA would be so unresponsive, usually they are pretty good at replying.  Since they did offer the bereavement fare, I am surprised that the agent didn t just take the customer s word and apply the discount.  It s interesting how business that trust customers this way seem to thrive, and those that don t go bankrupt.
To me, this issue is not as clear cut, as one might think.  As someone mentioned earlier, where does th