Cremated remains can be transported to a final resting place by plane or shared among family members. Repatriation costs necessitate careful planning to ensure you get through security and avoid any complications on an already emotional journey. And if you or someone you know is planning to travel with cremated remains, keep reading to learn how to ensure that your loved one’s remains are handled respectfully and appropriately through airport security.
1. Consult your airline for specific requirements.
If you intend to travel with the remains of a loved one, it would be prudent to inform your airline about your desired repatriation of remains beforehand so that sensitive items are checked and prompted for secure handling.
2. Keep the urn in your carry-on bag.
The TSA allows cremation urns that are TSA-approved to be checked or carried on. But it must be inside the bag at all times. And to protect the contents, the TSA recommends placing cremated remains in a carry-on bag. Consider the possibility that your bags could be lost or damaged during travel. Keeping the urn in your carry-on bag alleviates one concern.
3. Allow yourself additional time to clear security.
Whether travelling with cremated remains or not, another cost of repatriation is giving time to pass through the security checkpoint. By arriving early at the airport, you will have sufficient time if the TSA screener denies the urn passage through security. In addition, it ensures that you won’t miss your flights and allows you to investigate other options for travelling with cremains.
4. Bring the official documentation from the funeral home.
Although documentation from a funeral home is not sufficient to allow an urn to travel without being x-rayed, it could be useful if TSA screeners or airline personnel have questions about your repatriation of a deceased body.
Contact Flying Home today to inquire about repatriation costs.
