Comments on: Bereavement and compassion airfares: Firsthand experience

By: Anthony Rasmus

Anthony Rasmus — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:56:43 +0000

Dear Mark: My wife who is Russian just completed the trip from hell with Aeroflot’s assistance. She went to visit her mother who had undergone 2 chemo’s and was not doing well. I booked her Domestic carrier to Moscow and then Aeroflot something from Moscow to Murmansk. Well the trip had been cancelled as this part of Aeroflot just ceased to be. My wife did manage to secure another flight the next day by listening to other passengers rant. No assistance from Aeroflot at all. No announcement of change of flight or other Aeroflot flight to Murmansk. Well to make matters worse my wife’s mother died 9 days after her arrival. We attempted to change the flight to allow for an additional week stay so that my wife could attend the funeral. Aeroflot would offer no assistance. We were forced to purchase a completely new ticket. Even after showing the death certificate which is in Russian Aeroflot would not budge or show any sign of compassion in any way. United was our domestic carrier and changed my wife’s ticket with no additional charge immediately when presented with the documents. Even after her return and a call to Aeroflot customer service we were told that Aeroflot had no policy to assist even Russians who have an unusual situation such as a death in the family. They would not refund the original ticket that was not used and would offer no consideration or reduced fair for the additional ticket we had to purchase. How considerate. Thanks for the chance to rant. Tony III

By: Travel Blogger Explores Bereavement Fares | Articles About Everything

Travel Blogger Explores Bereavement Fares | Articles About Everything — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:53:03 +0000

[...] last days. He explored airlines’ bereavement fares and wrote a lengthy post called “Bereavement and Compassion Fares: Firsthand Experience” about his findings. Among them: international compassion fares are easier to obtain than [...]

By: Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:59:08 +0000

My sincere thanks to everyone — the commenters here, as well as the folks who e-mailed me with their sympathies — who expressed their condolences.

I sincerely appreciate it, and I thank you for your support.

– Mark

By: Claire Walter

Claire Walter — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:35:15 +0000

Living to age 99 and still being able to communicate with loved ones until the end is a life to celebrated. Hope you have inherited her longevity genes. How fine that you were able to be there for her and how generous to share your findings for others.

By: Charles G

Charles G — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:41:47 +0000

I am sorry to hear about your grandmother– I lost both of mine this summer, and while I live in the same city as they did, this would have been great to know for out of town relatives. Thanks for posting this.

By: Eddie

Eddie — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:34:11 +0000

Dear Mark,

I’ve been reading your blog for more than a year, daily and faithfully. I love it. And I am so sorry for your grandmother. My mom passed away in June, and I know how it hurts to lose a loved one. God bless you as your family and comfort you all. Sincerely Eduardo.

By: Marilyn Terrell

Marilyn Terrell — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:00:16 +0000

Dear Mark, I’m sorry about your grandmother.

By: nzm

nzm — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:18:15 +0000

Sorry to read this about your grandmother, Mark, but thanks for writing about the airlines who do have compassionate fares. It’s good to know.