Covering funeral costs: Radical measures airlines are taking in response to COVID-19
Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money.
There’s no question that the coronavirus has hugely impacted the travel industry. And that airlines, along with many other types of businesses, have seen a dramatic drop in revenue. Airlines are doing what they can to instill confidence in consumers in the hopes of luring people back into the sky. But, as with most of life’s challenges, things are often easier said than done.
While individual carriers are taking the types of precautions one might expect, like blocking off middle seats and improving cleaning measures, Emirates just recently became the first airline to offer free COVID-19 insurance.

The coverage is free to all customers, regardless of class of travel, and there’s no registration required. If a passenger catches the coronavirus while traveling, the following expenses will be covered:
- Hotel quarantine costs for up to two weeks at 100 euros (~$118) per day
- Medical expenses up to 150,000 euros (~$176,000)
- 1,500 euros (~$1,770) towards the cost of funeral expenses
I’m not sure if offering to help with funeral services actually instills confidence — it sounds a bit morbid to me. But it’s certainly one way to approach the difficulties airlines are facing in getting people to fly again.
JetBlue, in comparison, is testing out the Honeywell UV Cabin System. Originally dubbed the GermFalcon (a name I find a lot more exciting), this machine is the size of a beverage cart and can clean the length of an airplane in 10 minutes or less. The robotic system uses folding arms and ultraviolet light to disinfect cabin surfaces, including seats, lavatories and galleys.
Delta, on the other hand, has committed to delaying flights if the cabin isn’t deemed clean enough before boarding — a move we’d never see from any carrier in the past. They’re also disinfecting cabins before every single flight and are focusing their attention on high-use surfaces like armrests and overhead bin handles. They’ve even banned over 100 passengers for not wearing a mask.
How do you feel about flying right now? Our own team member Alfred recently flew from Charlotte, North Carolina, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was surprised to see such a lack of physical distancing at the airport and on the plane.
Do any of the measures these airlines have implemented make you feel safer or more confident to travel? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
For more travel tips and news, subscribe to our newsletter.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Intro APR on purchases
N/A
Regular APR
20.49% – 27.49% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Balance Transfer Fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Rates & Fees
Other
MORE INFO
Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
Join the Discussion!