Airlines’ sad lack of compassion

My beloved grandmother died recently. After contacting several airlines, the best bereavement or compassion fare I was quoted was $600 for a round-trip ticket between Burbank and Tampa, Fla. Our family of four would have had to pay $2,400 just to get there and back.

As a former travel industry professional, I was often embarrassed to quote these special fares to clients. The “discount” fares were calculated at half off the highest unrestricted fares and are unaffordable for many.

It saddens me to think of the people who are denied the opportunity to come together when they most need to simply because the airlines are unwilling to waive the advance-purchase restrictions on their lowest fares.

Meghan M. Corzo

San Gabriel