Every year, thousands of Indians living away from their families receive the heartbreaking news that a parent, spouse, child, or sibling has passed away. In those moments, they have no choice but to book the next available flight, often paying extremely high last-minute fares because emergencies cannot be planned.

No one should have to choose between financial hardship and being with their loved ones during their final goodbye.

I request the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Indian airlines to introduce a compassionate bereavement travel policy for immediate family members.

This could include:
 ● Emergency bereavement fares for verified travel.
 ● Partial reimbursement after travel upon submission of a death certificate or hospital verification.
 ● Waiver of change or cancellation charges for bereavement-related travel.
 ● A simple and transparent verification process to prevent misuse.

Many countries and airlines already offer compassionate travel assistance in some form. India can adopt a similar approach that balances empathy with proper verification.

This is not about seeking free travel. It is about ensuring that families facing an unexpected loss are not burdened with unaffordable airfare during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.