Funeral travel

Funerals are a significant source of last-minute travel plans. Memorial services are often scheduled at a later date, after cremation or burial.

Getting there

If the event is not within reasonable driving distance, then most people will need to travel by air or train. Last-minute airfare can be quite expensive, especially during peak travel times. On the other hand, a discount travel website might have very good deals, especially if there happens to be a mostly empty flight departing the next day. In the U.S. and Canada, very few airlines still offer bereavement or compassion fares (small discounts on ticket prices for people traveling to funerals), and those discounts are usually smaller than what you would get by looking for the cheapest prices on a travel website. Additionally, some airlines offer flexible travel dates.

Sometimes, such as the day before a major holiday, there might not be any seats available on your route at any price. In that case, consider nearby airports. A trip to a different airport, followed by some extra time on the road, might be able to get you there when your first search looked hopeless.

If driving is a realistic option, then consider whether you should be driving yourself. A sudden attack of grief while driving could result in serious injuries for yourself or others. Consider taking a bus or asking a friend to drive. Agencies for older people might be able to connect you with a volunteer driver.

Staying there

Home, hotel, or last-minute group house rental? It depends partly on whether you think that you'll want more space to yourself.

Showing respect

Dressing appropriately

In most of the world, people attending funerals are expected to wear dark, relatively formal clothing, such as a black or navy blue business suit.

Babies and very young children may be dressed entirely in white. Usually, parents are not expected to buy new outfits for children, so children should be dressed in the most suitable clothing they already own.

Expressing sympathy

In many places, it's customary to send flowers, food, or other gifts to the bereaved family. There may be specific traditions, such as sending chrysanthemums rather than daffodils, or white flowers rather than yellow.

Alternatives

When people are unable to travel for a funeral, there are ways of helping them feel included. One is to videotape or livestream the services, so that they can participate remotely. Another is to have more than one event, such as a funeral in one location and a memorial service in another city.