Bereavement Airfare Ending? Really?

[Palehorse]

(CNN) -- 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 didn'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." . . .

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/27/travel/american-airlines-bereavement-fares/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Boo-hoo. These bastards would not budge a nickel off the airfare they were charging last spring when my son-in-law died in Texas. I called all of them and the ONLY one (flying out of Indianapolis) that offered us a deeply discounted airfare was Delta. And we flew Delta. And we will fly Delta anytime we need a flight anywhere they go; whether or not they are the cheapest. (Within reason of course, but they will remain our first choice).

Delta flew my wife and I to Houston for less than half of the cost of their regular airfare, round trip, and they were VERY sympathetic and considerate of our situation at the time.

Since Southwest abandoned Indy we were shopping our flights until this happened. We will still exercise due diligence but unless Delta begins charging far and above typical airfare charges for flights to destinations we are seeking to visit, they've got our business.

The rest of these idiots can go suck a rotten egg! 

[Locutus]

When did Southwest stop servicing Indianapolis?