DETROIT – Depending on how often you fly, you might already know that so-called bereavement fares aren't what they used to be.
However, two local women were still surprised by the deals they did NOT get when they went shopping for a discount.
Carmela Gassel and Karen Assenmacher are sisters, who lost their mother at the end of January.
"It was one of the hardest things I had to do, and you want compassion from the people that claim to be a business that's really there for you, and they weren't," Gassel said.
Both sisters turned to Delta Airlines to get their sons home for their grandmother's funeral. Assenmacher says there was no discount for her son Marcus, who had to get from New York to Detroit. His fare was $475, but she says he usually pays around $250.
"I expected flexibility ... but I also expected some kind of discount in comparison to very flight I've ever paid for," she said.
The price was even higher for Carmela's son John who was coming from Boston. His fare was knocked down to $727 from $960. So, do the airlines really work with you in your time of need?
David Fishman of the Cadillac Travel Group says it depends on what you're looking for.
"What you're most likely to get is flexibility. are you getting a discount, yes. Will it be the lowest fare? Most of the time I would say not," Fishman said.
Here's what Ruth to the Rescue found when looking for a bereavement fare for a round trip from Detroit to Dallas:
American Airlines listed a fare of $924 dollars online, but brought it down to $580. Change fees are waived, but you will have to pay $25 to make the reservation by phone.
United's policy is the most clear cut: offering a certain percentage off the lowest available fare, in this case 10 percent, cutting the fare from $944 to $855. Change fees are usually waived, though there may be exceptions, and United does not charge for using the phone.
In our test, Delta did offer more of a discount- dropping the price from $924 to $514. Plus, change fees are waived and no ticketing fee. Leaving Assenmacher to wonder.
"Why couldn't they do that for my flight then? I don't understand that!" she said.
Fishman tries to explain, saying, "Airline fares are like the weather in Michigan, I like to say- wait five minutes, they'll change. So depending on when you book an airline ticket they can range dramatically."
Delta told us it offers discounts from the "walk-up" prices you would pay at the ticket counter, and sent us to its website for more information on its policies.
"It made me feel that they're not as compassionate as they, you know, they claim to be," Gassel said.
Each airline told us bereavement fares are never meant to necessarily be the lowest available, but offer more flexibility. These sisters worry that might not be enough to help other families. Luckily- their children made it home to say goodbye to a loving grandmother.
"Everything was about the grandkids, she loved her kids and her grandkids, she did," Assenmacher said.
From their loss- a tough lesson. Next time you need to travel for a family crisis: do NOT count on the bereavement fare to be the lowest.
Shop around like you would for any trip. Even during such a difficult time- you'll need to be an assertive consumer to find the best deal.