Transporting Human Remains

We understand that dealing with loss can be overwhelming. Our priority is to make the shipping process as seamless and supportive as possible, and to bring your loved one home respectfully, safely and quickly.

We offer:

Highest priority booking and special handling
Airport-to-airport service
Streamlined tracking and notifcations
A special Fallen Soldier program

Starting the Process

Transporting human remains has complex rules and requires detailed planning. For this reason, customers must work with their preferred funeral home or medical institution (such as a hospital or nursing home) who is authorized to ship human remains and is familiar with all the associated intricacies of the process.

Requirements for Transporting Human Remains

Human remains must be accompanied by a death certificate signed by a physician or health care officer, or a burial removal permit and/or transit permit, as required by law. Please contact the state officials at your origin and destination for full details on all regulations and document requirements. Your funeral director will ensure you have the necessary paperwork.
Human remains must be adequately secured in a tightly closed, leak proof container.
The container must be enclosed in an outside shipping container of wood, metal, canvas, plastic or paperboard construction, with enough strength and padding to protect the container from damage.
If the container weighs more than 400 pounds, it must have at least six handles.
The container must not exceed the cargo size limits of the aircraft being used for shipment.

Transportation Rates

Please contact us at 1-800-225-2752 with any questions you may have. We’re here to help.

Learn More

Qualified funeral directors are familiar with all the regulations on this page and will work with us to ensure compliance.

Transporting Cremated Remains

Cremated remains traveling as cargo are subject to the same minimum requirements listed above. Optionally, customers on Alaska Airlines passenger flights may bring cremated human remains on board as carry-on or checked baggage. Please visit the TSA website to learn about its security screening requirements.

Fallen Soldier Program

When we have the honor of transporting a service member who has made the ultimate sacrifice, Alaska Air Cargo's Fallen Soldier program ensures that proper protocols are followed, including special arrangements for military escorts. Alaska Airlines has special carts at our flight locations. With blue paint, red carpet and a retractable American flag curtain, these special carts include plaques representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. We make them available for any airline to use when transporting soldiers’ remains.

More info on our Fallen Soldier Program can be found here

We cannot accept shipments of human remains outside of the United States.