When a loved one passes away far from home, arranging their return can be an emotional and logistical challenge. For many families, how much it costs to return a loved one by air is a significant concern. Understanding the full scope of these dead body flight expenses can help you plan appropriately and reduce the stress during an extremely difficult time.
What You Need to Know About Bringing the Remains of Your Loved One Home
- Transporting the body of a deceased loved one is sometimes preferred over burial at the place of death or cremation.
- Expenses depend on variables like airline policies, type of service (air cargo or accompanied remains), preparation requirements (e.g., embalming, specialized caskets), funeral home fees, and customs documentation for international transport.
- Domestic flights for transporting remains typically cost $1,500 to $5,000, while international flights range from $4,000 to $15,000 or more, making transportation a potentially significant financial burden for families.
- Families can lower expenses by working with funeral homes to negotiate rates, utilizing travel insurance, comparing airline options, holding services near the place of death, or choosing cremation and transporting ashes, which is less costly and has fewer regulations.
Why Would You Need to Transport the Body of a Deceased Loved One?
Transporting a deceased person may be necessary or preferred over cremation for various reasons. However, the most common reason for this is that the deceased wanted to be buried or entombed in a location far from where they died. Another reason for transporting a deceased loved one is so the family can view the body and say their goodbyes before the body is buried or cremated. Additionally, religious or cultural practices may dictate specific burial locations, making transportation essential.
Factors Influencing the Cost of Dead Body Flights
While moving a deceased person may be your family’s preference, it’s worth noting that the cost may be significant. The actual amount required to ship a dead body depends on several variables, including the following.
Airline and route
Airlines have specific policies for transporting human remains. Fees can vary based on the distance, route, and carrier used. International funeral shipping tends to be significantly more expensive due to customs and regulations while shipping a deceased person within the U.S. is more affordable.
Type of service
Air cargo is the most common transport method because it ensures compliance with strict airline protocols, legal requirements, and proper handling procedures. Funeral directors facilitate this process by managing documentation, coordinating logistics, and ensuring respectful care throughout the journey.
However, in some cases, a family member may accompany the remains as checked baggage, depending on airline policies.
Preparation requirements
Many airlines require embalming services for transport. The cost of embalming typically ranges from $500 to $1,200. A specialized shipping container or hermetically sealed casket may also be required, costing anywhere from $500 to $3,000.
Funeral home fees
Funeral homes coordinate with airlines and handle the legal requirements and permits, preparation, and transportation logistics. Their professional service fee can add $1,000 to $3,000 to the total cost.
Customs and documentation (for international flights)
Transporting remains internationally requires compliance with the destination country’s regulations. You may need death certificates, embalming certificates, a burial transit permit, and a consular mortuary certificate. These services and documents can cost several hundred dollars. Additional costs for customs clearance, consular services, and local transportation in the destination country should be considered for international transport.
Average Costs for Dead Body Flights
While expenses can vary widely based on the factors mentioned above, here are typical ranges:
- U.S. Domestic Funeral Shipping: $1,500 to $5,000
- International Flights: $4,000 to $15,000 or more
As you can see, the cost of transporting a dead body may be cost-prohibitive for some families.
Ways to Reduce Costs
Are you concerned about the transportation costs? Here are some alternatives to transporting the body home for burial.
Work with a funeral home in the state or country of death
Many funeral homes have partnerships with airlines and can negotiate lower rates. They’ll also handle the required documentation, saving you time and stress.
Travel insurance
If the deceased had travel insurance, check if the repatriation of remains is covered. This can significantly reduce or eliminate costs.
Compare options
Research multiple airlines and services to find the most cost-effective solution. Some airlines offer bereavement discounts for transporting remains or affordable domestic funeral shipping.
Arrange a funeral service near the place of death
You may consider hiring a funeral home to arrange an affordable domestic funeral. While this may not be the ideal solution, it can fulfill the wishes of the deceased to be buried while at the same time presenting an affordable option.
Cremation and transporting of ashes
Direct cremation is a lower-cost alternative. Transporting cremated remains is less expensive and has fewer regulatory hurdles.
At Smart Cremation, we understand how overwhelming this process can be. If your loved one recently passed away near one of our Smart Cremation locations, we will take care of all the arrangements for you – including the process of transporting the cremated remains home. Contact us today to learn more about our cremation services in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.
