You might try Priceline.

I've gotten my best deals from Jetblue directly. But they don't fly everywhere you might want to go. When I went to California, I found they fly to Long Beach.

Clare, did you call various airlines and ask about their bereavement fares? Generally they seem to be about the same as what you can get online, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Oh, I just remembered that you're not attending the funeral. Are you?

Oh! I forgot to say how sorry I am about your uncle's passing. For you and for your mom.

Thanks - I forgot about Priceline. And Jetblue comes up on one of those outfits. I also am checking Southwestern directly. DH loves to use them when he has to travel on business. To me, all the airlines are the same.

sjerin - Thanks for the kind words. My Mom hasn't made up her mind yet, but I want to have the information just in case. I am still thinking of going to IL to stay with her for the next 2 weeks to help her get past this point.

Clare

we found a yr ago that most lower priced airlines don't do bereavement fares when we had to go up for my grandmother's passing. i primarily fly southwest and they don't offer bereavement fares. we needed a flight oct 07 from orlando to midway last minute and paid $1100 for dh & i. we fly that same route several times a yr, before the huge increases this yr of course lol, for $300 together, fares this yr have been around $500. we could have flown united into o'hare for $200 less but the limo would have cost almost that much more since o'hare is much further away. we decided to stick w/ southwest since i've flown them for 20+ yrs w/o a single problem and we were on a very tight schedule and could not have everything go off perfectly. good luck maybe w/ the reduced # of flyers you might get a bereavement fare. ~ liz

I've had good luck with cheaptickets.