photo: pixabay
There is a saying that LIFE GETS IN THE WAY. Well, unfortunately, so does death.
I was supposed to go to Mexico for a long weekend stay from Thursday to Monday next weekend for Martin Luther King Weekend. The flight, which I booked a long time ago, was an award booking for 31,000 Delta skymiles plus $80 tax per person. I also made the hotel reservation a long time ago.
I’ve lost a lot of time from work due to my mom’s hospitalizations and the funeral and the Shiva. I thought about my trip next week and realized that my heart just isn’t in it. Plus, Dave was starting to balk at the two days he would be missing from work if we went on this trip (even though he approved it back when I made the reservation, pffft). It would not be a problem to cancel the hotel reservation, but canceling the flight was another story.
I decided to give it a shot and see if Delta would let me cancel or move the dates of the flights. There haven’t been any significant flight time changes, so I couldn’t use that as an excuse for waiver of the $200 per ticket cancelation/change fee. Frankly, I didn’t want forfeit the 62,000 miles and $160 invested in the flights for the two of us and I didn’t want to pay cancellation/change fees.
I called Delta, and was ready to HUCA if the representative didn’t sound like a kind soul. But she did.
I told her of my mother’s death and how much time I had to take off from work to be with her and later with my family. The representative asked me for my mother’s name and the name and phone number for the funeral parlor.
To my surprise, she said I could reschedule the flights or cancel without penalty. I canceled. I feel so relieved.
Thank you Delta!
I should note that Delta did the same thing for me in 2012 following Hurricane Sandy. I was supposed to go to Singapore two weeks after the Hurricane, but I’d already missed over a week of work from the Hurricane. I phoned and Delta let me cancel my flight without penalty.
Lesson: Be nice, have your story ready (it helps if it is true), and don’t be afraid to ask for an airline (or hotel) to permit cancellation of a non-refundable flight (or reservation) and for a waiver of the corresponding fees based on extenuating circumstances.
Related post – Bereavement Part 1: Hyatt Offered a Special Reduced Rate
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
So sorry for your loss. Hang in there.
Similar situation last year for me with my grandmother. I booked a Basic Economy flight with United two weeks out to visit her. Unfortunately her health deteriorated more quickly than the family anticipated and she passed away before my flight. I called United to move my flight for the funeral. United refused to change my flight citing it wasn’t available for Basic Economy. I told her I had no problem paying a change fee or the price difference, I didn’t want to be out the money I paid for a flight I didn’t need. United rep still refused.
I asked for a supervisor and she was more empathic on the situation and changed my flight and waived any change fee. She said she lost her mother six months before and understood the situation I was in. It was unbelievable that I got two different answers, but either way I’m glad United showed some compassion for my situation.
Thanks Kath for all your help with Mom. Interestingly enough, I should thank Jet Blue. When I booked my flight to NY for the funeral, they only had center seats available. Upon arriving at the gate I explained that I was flying home for that reason and showed them the boot I’m in due to surgery, adding that my doctor has mandated that I get up and walk every half hour. They were kind enough to accommodate me in the Even More Space area. Thanks to Jet Blue.