Bereavement Fares

Regarding Carol Ann Rosenblum’s complaint about airline “bereavement” fares (“Bereaved and Aggrieved,” Letters, July 9): I learned a few years ago that when having to make one of these unfortunate trips, the thing to do is to call one of the many ticket consolidators. They handle last-minute fares all the time. I saved thousands of dollars.

Getting the government involved, as Rosenblum suggests, is no solution. The kind of restrictions, regulations and rules for verification imposed would more than likely backfire, hurting the consumer in the process. And hoping the airlines will grow a heart is a pipe dream.

M. ROBIN LENOX

Valley Glen

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Since I have lost both my parents and my in-laws and am getting on in years myself, I have every sympathy for Rosenblum, who had to fly back to Ohio to visit her dying father. However, I cannot work up any enthusiasm for her complaint that the “greedy, greedy” airline “only” gave her a reduced fare of 50%, nor can I agree that we should “bring in Washington” to set up a system of reduced fares for bereavement situations.

The airlines are businesses, not charities. People are supposed to take responsibility for their own actions. If families choose to live apart and emergencies arise, surely this is their problem, not everyone else’s.

PETER G. BROOKES

Spring Valley

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