How to Fly With Cremated Remains
Understanding the requirements and necessary steps to flying with cremated remains may feel like another stressful process during an already difficult time. Many people have never flown with an urn. The chaos of scheduling flights, funeral accommodations, and communication with family and friends sometimes, understandably, leaves important flying details forgotten. Airlines allow transportation of cremated remains with certain restrictions. TSA has a clear screening process for cremains while remaining respectful and careful. We’ve created a guide to follow before your journey to make sure you feel prepared.
1. You can fly with cremains as a carry-on or in a checked bag - depending on the airline.
Every airline has different recommendations and rules for flying with cremains. Some can be brought as a carry on, others only in a checked bag. Below are the requirements for all major airlines, taken from their website.
Southwest:
Does not allow cremains in checked bags. It can be brought as a carryon item under certain conditions.
Phone: 1-800-I-FLY-SWA
Southwest Cargo works closely with customers and funeral homes for urn transfers. They recommend booking your shipment as soon as possible.
Southwest Cargo: 1-888-922-9525
United:
Recommends transporting cremains as a carry-on item.
Phone: 1-800-864-8331
United also offers a special service, TrustUA for transporting ashes.
Phone: 1-855-822-2737
American:
American states when you travel with human remains they will be treated as your carry on bag.
Phone: 800-433-7300
You can also speak with a TLC Specialist directly to make special arrangements for the transportation.
TLC Specialists: 800-228-7878, TLC@aa.com.
Frontier:
Cremains may be checked or carried on with proper TSA restrictions.
If checked, the urn must be “sufficiently packaged in a well-insulated and sturdy container”.
Phone: 801-401-9000
Delta:
Cremains are accepted as carry-on, checked bags, or shipped as cargo. Passengers must have a death or cremation certificate.
Phone: 1 (800) 221-1212
Delta offers specialized care for shipping cremains as cargo. More info here.
Funeral Shipments: 1-800-352-2737.
Spirit:
Cremains can be transported as carry-on or checked baggage. Proper paperwork is required for both.
Phone: 1 (855) 728-3555
Alaska:
Can be brought as a carry on or checked bag. Proper paperwork is required. If the container weighs more than 400 pounds, it must have at least six handles.
Phone: 1-800-225-2752
Jetblue:
Only accepted as a carry-on item. Urns will not count as part of the customer's personal item or carry-on item baggage requirements. “The urn must fit completely stowed under the seat in front of the customer or in an overhead bin. The urn may not be held by a customer for taxi, takeoff and landing.”
Phone: 1 (800) 538-2583
Hawaiian:
“Cremated remains must be transported in urn that are securely protected from damage by cushioned packaging.”
Phone: 1 (800) 367-5320
2. Once you know if you have to check, carry-on, or ship the remains you must follow regular TSA guidelines to do so.
TSA suggests purchasing a temporary or permanent crematory container, such as an urn, made of a lightweight material. If the urn or container is made of a material that scans as an opaque image, it will not be accepted. TSA suggests thin wood, plastic, cardboard, fiberboard, cloth, transparent glass or silk. Avoid metal, stone, and ceramic.
Remains taken as a carry-on item must pass through the X-ray machine to be screened. If the X-ray operator cannot clear the urn, “TSA may apply other, non-intrusive means of resolving the alarm. If the officer cannot determine that the container does not contain a prohibited item, the remains will not be permitted.” Most maximum carry-on sizes are 9 x 14 x 22 inches.
“Travelers are allowed to travel with cremains in a checked bag, however it is recommended to do so in a carry-on bag to help protect the contents from the risks associated with checked baggage. Checked bags are subjected to rapid and sometimes rough movement along a series of conveyor belts as they make the trek to and from the aircraft. A little known fact is that checked bags are only in TSA’s possession for a fraction of their journey to the aircraft.” Again, check above to see if your airline allows cremains in checked bags.
You can read more from TSA here.
Questions can be answered via Twitter at @ASkTSA or Facebook Messenger https://www.facebook.com/AskTSA/?fref=ts.
Phone: 866-289-9673 Email: TSA-ContactCenter@tsa.dhs.gov
3. Have necessary documentation ready.
We recommend having proper paperwork with you at all points of the flying process to avoid complications. Different airlines require different paperwork based on where you are flying to. Death certificate, proof of relationship to the deceased, burial removal or transit permit may be required. Most funeral directors will ensure you have the necessary paperwork. You can call the state officials on both ends for the complete requirements.
4. Arrive early.
Give yourself enough time to go through TSA when flying with remains. TSA recommends adding an extra 30 minutes to your original arrival time so you don’t have to rush. If you usually arrive two hours early to the airport, come two hours and 30 minutes earlier when traveling with ashes.
5. Know TSA is not allowed to open the urn under any circumstances.
Out of respect for the deceased, TSA will not open the urn for any reason. Even at your request.
6. Don’t be afraid to call the airline.
It is better to be safe than sorry. If you have further questions about flying with the urn, documentation, or anything else call the airline directly. They will be happy to help you and make your flight as stress-free as possible.
International Travel
Every country has different rules for flying with cremains. You must contact the embassy to find out. It is your responsibility to bring the proper documentation and follow the proper guidelines. Many funeral homes will help you through this process and get you where you need to be. Here you can find US embassy numbers for every country.
Shipping Cremation Urns
Shipping is a valuable option for those who would prefer not to deal with the hassles of flying with the urn. USPS is the only service you can use to ship cremains. Courier services like FedEX and UPS do not do this. USPS Publication 139 offers a complete guide of how to successfully ship cremains here.
Domestically:
“Cremated remains are permitted to be mailed to any domestic address when the package is prepared as described below and in the referenced postal manuals. “
Internationally:
“Cremated remains are permitted to be mailed to an international address when the designating country does not prohibit the contents and when Priority Mail Express International service is available to that country. You can verify this by checking the Individual Country Listing in the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®).”
Phone: 1-800-275-8777
Perennial Memorial Urns wants the transportation of your loved one to be as easy and stress free as possible. We know how tough your time of grieving is, and the flying process doesn’t have to be. Our urns meet TSA scanning guidelines and fit in the size requirements for carry-ons and checked bags. Please let us know if you have any questions here.