Why more and more people are requesting a Final Flight
There is an interesting trend whereby, people are requesting a final flight as one of their final wishes. Flying with a cremation urn is now very common on most airlines which is an indicator that a growing number of people now want a final flight after they pass on. There are multiple factors behind this trend, ranging from culture, to finance. For context, here are some of the reasons why final flight requests are on the rise.
- More people now live away from home
We live in a highly globalized world. A huge portion of the world’s population now works and lives far away from their homeland. Naturally, this also means that more people are dying far away from their homeland. Such people might feel the need to reconnect with their homeland after death and therefore, request a final flight back to their place of origin. It makes sense, especially for people from conservative cultures that demand that people be buried in their ancestral land. This is made easier by the fact that most airlines allow for the transportation of cremated remains, provided one has a death certificate.
- It’s a fad
Due to the global availability of the internet, and social communication sites, it is very easy for fads to trend. Even matters of death and related procedures have not been left out. For instance, cremation was a cultural thing in the past. However, as more people get to see and hear about it, it has grown in popularity all across the world. Similarly, as more people get exposed to the practice of the final flight, it has grown in popularity as well. Like all other fads that have been spreading faster in the internet age, this one too is growing exponentially.
- For worthy causes
This mainly applies to people who have some level of influence in their communities. Such a person may wish to take a final flight, to popularize a cause that they were fighting for when alive. For instance, if someone was known to fight for environmental friendliness, they can take a final flight, that can be used as a PR campaign to remind those left behind to keep the fight going. With so many worthy causes to fight for, the final flight is likely to become more popular.
- Incomes are on the rise
The world has lots of problems, but wealth levels are growing. More people can afford luxuries such as a final flight to any destination that they yearned to visit while alive. In essence, the number of people taking a final flight is likely to keep growing. There is a perfect combination of factors such as high incomes, internet-driven hype, and the need to leave a positive message for a worthy cause.
For those left behind and tasked with taking the deceased on a final flight, the main focus should be on choosing the right urn for the ashes. The one to choose should be guided by the wishes of the deceased, and the regulations that govern air travel.
