Traveling with the Ashes Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated with these Helpful Tips
Cremation services in Sterling Heights, MI are considered a genuinely honorable way to lay a loved one to rest. Some individuals choose to have the remains at home and keep them in an urn. But there are others who either have been asked by the loved one or, for personal reasons, need to travel with them to a destination. If you do need to travel via airplane, we have gathered some helpful information in this article to make the experience easier.
If you Need to Travel Within the U.S.
It’s not uncommon for people to need to travel with their loved one’s ashes, and most airlines will allow them to be transported via flights. One of the first things it will need to be established is if the remains will be considered air cargo, a carry-on, or checked luggage.
You can get more information about this by going to the airline’s website and searching for the words cremated remains. This section of the site can help give you a better understanding of any specific paperwork you’re going to need, and it is recommended to provide the airline with at least a week’s advance notice to ensure no delays in your flight.
Another part of traveling is going to be going through the TSA. The urn will have to be scanned, and because they will never open it, you need to make sure that you’re using a vessel that will be easily checked. It is recommended to use easy-to-scan materials such as:
- Cloth
- Plastic
- Glass
- Cardboard
- Fiberboard
- Some wood products
You will also want to make sure that you attach any critical paperwork to the urn or vessel. This can include funeral documentation, the
death certificate, or the cremation certificate. It can also be helpful to reach out to a Funeral Home in the destination you are traveling to see if there are any specific regulations for that area you need to follow.
International Destinations
International travel may take a little more work because almost every country has different policies on how cremated remains need to be transported. To help alleviate the worry about the process, it’s recommended to contact the embassy of the country you are visiting at least two weeks in advance of the trip.
You also want to get up-to-date information so connecting with someone over the phone or via email as opposed to a website is another recommendation. Contacting a funeral director in a specific country can also be helpful because they can give you detailed information about the location’s rules.
Compassionate and Caring Professionals
Having more knowledge can help make the process easier for traveling with the remains, and if you need assistance with the cremation services in Sterling Heights, MI, we are here to help. We have provided our community with exceptional care and insightful services since 1906 and would love to support you through the process from start to finish, so contact us today to schedule an appointment.
