If you have to go to a funeral, most airlines will give you 50% off of
the discounted rate, at very short notice. They call this the sympathy
fare. Similarly for a medical emergency (e.g., a close relative is in
intensive care, or is likely to die). For example, Continental will
waive advance purchase requirements for cheap fares for an emergency.
This is their bereavement rate for people who have to attend funerals.
Other airlines that do this are United and USAir ("compassionate
fare"). American gives 50% off of the non-discounted rate, and will
ask you for the name, address and phone number of the funeral home.
(Some airlines will require a copy of the death certificate or an
obituary instead.) This is a tradition carried over from the "funeral
fare" of the railroad days. Airlines do this because it is simply good
PR, and doesn't cost them all that much. Some airlines will only allow
immediate relatives to get a sympathy fare.

[As of 4/30/93, American and United offered 17% discount on
unrestricted coach, USAir 50%.]

In any case you have to ask and sometimes be persistent as these are
nonstandard and not widely publicized policies. Many low level airline
workers are not aware of them or do not have the authority to allow them.

United "Rule 120" describes the rules governing sympathy fares.

Some parts © 2009 Advameg, Inc.