When Your Child Has Died Abroad

One of a series of leaflets published by The Compassionate Friends 8 Do I want to inform the flight cabin crew? This applies not only on the initial flight, but also the return journey plus any subsequent visits to this country: Depending on where you are travelling to, you might find yourself in a most difficult and inappropriate atmosphere. A flight to a popular holiday destination might be a ‘party plane’ with celebrations and singing. Naturally there will be greetings from airport staff and air crew alike of ‘have a wonderful time’, ‘happy holidays’, etc. Some parents have found that it helps to make staff aware of their circumstances, perhaps with a note to the cabin crew. This can help avoid awkward conversations and perhaps allow for your seating arrangements to be improved. “After we informed them, the cabin crew treated us with utmost kindness, understood our occasional tears and it made a huge difference.” - A parent who travelled overseas after their child died.