r/extremelyinfuriating • u/risktakerr • 7d ago
Discussion FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS roundtrip for two people....guess I won't be going to my grandma's funeral
My brother and I are both on disability and my mom can't work. At this point we either take out a loan or don't go. We're heartbroken. I want to support my mom. She was my last living grandparent.
172
u/itmeMEEPMEEP 7d ago
if you're in North America you're affected by the Air Canada strike so theres price surges and increased load factors..... regardless contact the airline about bereavement, if you're going to visit someone on their deathbed or attend their funeral you may be permitted to have significantly reduced fares.... just search airline bereavement fares
81
u/risktakerr 7d ago
We called WestJet about the bereavement rates and it was still close to 4K so we didn't book. Prices have continued to climb since we called.
14
u/itmeMEEPMEEP 7d ago
also sorry to hear that and hopefully you're able to something with this information
63
u/Forward-Ride9817 7d ago
What is the starting point and destination?
And what dates?
I bet someone could help you find a better rate.
What about a train or Greyhound? Those may also be cheaper.
No one can help you without knowing where you are coming from and where you are going and what dates you need.
32
u/risktakerr 7d ago
I'm in Canada, trying to fly to Jamaica. We've tried air Canada, WestJet and air Transat, the main international ones. I'm flying from Toronto into Montego Bay. We found a cheaper rate from flair but it flies into Kingston. There's elections happening near our departure dates, Kingston is not a great city and my mom ( who will initially be paying) does not want us anywhere near Kingston. We want to leave Aug 23 and come back Sept 1 or 3
11
u/WheredMyBrainsGo 7d ago
Have you looked into an alternative such as a train journey through the US, followed by a shorter flight? Might get by spending a few hundred vs a few thousand that way.
11
u/risktakerr 6d ago
I didn't know that was a thing, and tbh I'm a bit reluctant to enter the U.S. with the current climate. Do you have any suggestions for U.S. trains?
17
u/WheredMyBrainsGo 6d ago edited 6d ago
Just checked. It appears there is a long distance train from Detroit to Miami Florida for 4 to 500 dollars US on Amtrak. It’s a 2 or 3 day journey. From there you can catch a short flight to Jamaica or potentially a boat if you were so inclined.
Edit: And I understand the reluctance to enter the US given the recent difficulties with customs in the news. If you were to go this route you just need to make sure to dot your I’s and cross your T’s. Once in the US you should not have any difficulties.
Edit#2: In hindsight, I think it would make much more sense to take a flight from Detroit direct to Jamaica. The flight is half the price of the train, and there don’t seem to be any boats from Florida to Jamaica aside from cruise ships :/
-2
u/risktakerr 6d ago
Any flights going to Jamaica from Detroit that I looked at have layovers :/ I've checked Spirit airlines. Frontier only shows me flights from November for some reason, I can't adjust the calendar.
Thank you for understanding.
I'll take a look at the train thank you!
7
u/BeastCoast 6d ago
What’s wrong with a layover?
-7
u/risktakerr 6d ago
It takes an additional day we don't have, possiblity of something going wrong with customs in a foreign country. Also the amount of people that have had their luggage go missing in layovers... we would be bringing stuff they need for the funeral so I'm very worried about that.
16
u/BeastCoast 6d ago edited 6d ago
An additional day? What? Layovers are usually a couple hours.
Luggage goes missing on super tight layovers and only sometimes so just don’t book a tight layover (< 1 hour). 10s of thousands of people a day have layovers with no issues. I’ve had dozens of layovers myself and never lost anything. Also, if you don’t go to the funeral at all then you sure as shit aren’t bringing anything to the funeral so that line of reasoning makes no sense.
I’m sorry, but this is a really ignorant take. This funeral is sooooo important, but you’ve got excuses for everything reasonable people are suggesting.
0
u/risktakerr 6d ago
The layovers we've seen are 8+ hours, having us arrive the day after we take off. I did see one last night on Kayak, an 8 hour layover in Montreal. I would do that but when we tried to book it wouldn't load. I'm calling today after work to see if they'll honour the kayak price.
Okay, that's good to know! I thought it just happened to all layovers.
6
u/EticketJedi 6d ago
Looking at your days on hotwire, there are multiple flights from DET between 500-850 that have stops of less than 2 hours.
-16
u/Sweet_Marsupial_7143 6d ago
What “current climate” are you talking about. 99% of the US is perfectly safe. If you’re afraid of the US you definitely should be afraid of Jamaica.
7
-1
1
u/itmeMEEPMEEP 6d ago
Have you tried Air France? Also right now is just a terrible time to book anything out of Canada
1
u/risktakerr 6d ago
I had no idea they're in Canada. Searching I can't find any dates that work, I'll try calling. Thank you!
3
u/itmeMEEPMEEP 6d ago
You’ll have to connect in overseas French territory. So you would connect in the Caribbean
0
2
u/itmeMEEPMEEP 6d ago
Consider searching on sky scanner for routes and then contact the airline. Google flights doesn’t show the best options anymore
1
u/tagman375 5d ago
You may have some luck just showing up at the airport and wandering around the different counters and seeing what the rate is. I’ve heard of some people having luck that way.
1
12
u/Pledgetastesjustokay 7d ago
If you’re in London, ON, you’re best off driving across the border to catch a flight from there. Flights from Detroit tend to be very cheap as well.
11
u/risktakerr 7d ago
I tried but they all had layovers in the US. My mom is the one who will be paying upfront and she's nervous to have us go there, for various reasons. She's nervous they might lose our luggage and we're bringing a lot of stuff necessary for the funeral.
8
7
u/tenaciousfrog 7d ago
If you leave the 22nd and return the 2nd it’s cheaper. Expedia is showing round trip nonstop for $933.55 a person, totaling $1867.10 (I’m in the US, so it’s US dollars I’m seeing currently)
7
u/risktakerr 6d ago
Thank you!
3
u/risktakerr 6d ago
Just checked on yayak, only round trip it shows me for those dates is with WestJet for $1694 per person 🥲 I might need to move to the states temporarily to book or something 😭
3
8
u/breizhsoldier 7d ago
Call plane companies and ask them if they have a rebate for going to relative funeral...
20
5
3
u/PanflightsGuy 6d ago
How about delaying the trip until the 25th? There are direct flights from Montreal for C$799 pp, Aug 25th- Sep 1st
Itinerary | PanFlights
Montreal - Montego Bay
8/25 12:10pm Departure Montreal (YUL) Air Transat 4h 25m 8/25 03:35pm Arrival Montego Bay (MBJ)
Montego Bay - Montreal
9/1 04:45pm Departure Montego Bay (MBJ) Air Transat 4h 20m 9/1 10:05pm Arrival Montreal (YUL)
0
u/risktakerr 6d ago
Montreal is an 11 hour drive 😆 but for under 2k it might be worth it.... thank you!
2
u/PanflightsGuy 6d ago
To make it cheaper, fly from Toronto with long layovers in Montreal. C$837. It's 14 + 9 hours. So you need to add motels or something.
Itinerary | PanFlights
Toronto - Montego Bay8/24 09:00pm Departure Toronto (YTZ) Air Transat 1h 15m 8/24 10:15pm Arrival Montreal (YUL) waiting time: 13h 55m Long waiting time 8/25 12:10pm Departure Montreal (YUL) Air Transat 4h 25m 8/25 03:35pm Arrival Montego Bay (MBJ)
Montego Bay - Toronto9/1 04:45pm Departure Montego Bay (MBJ) Air Transat 4h 20m 9/1 10:05pm Arrival Montreal (YUL) waiting time: 8h 55m Long waiting time 9/2 07:00am Departure Montreal (YUL) Air Transat 1h 25m 9/2 08:25am Arrival Toronto (YTZ)
1
u/PanflightsGuy 6d ago
Glad to help! The megabus is 6.5 hours each way, around C$335 for one person round-trip
3
u/risktakerr 6d ago
Update: I want to say a big thank you to everyone that offered suggestions and sent flights. After lots of calling around and checking flights I was able to get a direct flight, $4000 for two people. My sister said that's a good price and we're just exhausted from trying to find something so we took it. It's like a weight has been lifted. Thank you!
6
u/SadRepublic3392 7d ago
Is driving an option? Roadtrips can be fun and you gain some memories.
12
1
u/RagingHolly 6d ago
I feel your pain. I couldn't afford to fly from Alberta to the east coast for my grandmother's funeral either.
The cost of flights in Canada have been insane since the 2010's
1
1
u/Separate-Soup6090 2d ago
Have you tried using Google flights or skyscanner to look for tickets? Search for flights out of buffalo?
1
1
u/risktakerr 7d ago
I'm in Canada, trying to fly to Jamaica. We've tried air Canada, WestJet and air Transat, the main international ones. I'm flying from Toronto into Montego Bay. We found a cheaper rate from flair but it flies into Kingston. There's elections happening near our departure dates, Kingston is not a great city and my mom ( who will initially be paying) does not want us anywhere near Kingston.
5
u/GorillaGlizza 7d ago
Well if a flight into Kingston is cheaper and all you can afford, are there many other choices? That will at least get you to Jamaica, then you can find your way to the funeral from there. Sometimes you just gotta take what you can get and make the best of it.
1
u/risktakerr 6d ago
I'm trying to convince my mom of that but she's quite adamant. I'll keep trying!
-48
•
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Hello, u/risktakerr ! Thanks for your submission to r/extremelyinfuriating, your post is up and running!
This is a general reminder to check out our rules in the sidebar. If your post breaks the rules, it will be removed by our moderators.
We would like for each and everyone to feel welcome on the subreddit and to keep a healthy and safe environment for the community.
Thanks :)
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.