Are there rules about how ashes can be transported? What’s the best way to secure an urn? How can you be sure others will handle your loved one's ashes respectfully? Below we offer detailed guidance about transporting ashes so you can worry less.

Transporting ashes by car

Most people arrive in their personal vehicles pick up a loved one's ashes. They may then go home, to a cemetery, to another family member's house or someplace else altogether. We're often asked if a loved one's urn or cremation container should be buckled into a seat, if it can ride in the driver's lap or if it should be placed in the trunk. It really comes down to one thing: What makes you most comfortable?

There aren’t laws about traveling with ashes in a car within the United States, so you can decide what feels right. Some people feel uncomfortable placing ashes in the trunk or on the floorboard. Wherever you choose to place the ashes, it’s important to make sure the urn or other container is well sealed to prevent spilling and that the urn or container is secured so it doesn’t bounce around and get damaged.

You may also want to avoid leaving a loved one's urn in your parked vehicle, however temporarily. Whether you're running into the store to grab an item on the way back from the funeral home, don't feel ready to bring the urn into your house or find comfort in having your loved one's ashes close by while driving, leaving an urn in your vehicle can add undue grief to an already mournful situation. If the urn is visible to passersby, someone might break into the vehicle and take the urn. Even if you place the urn in the trunk, there's a chance the vehicle could be stolen. A loved one's ashes are irreplaceable and losing them to theft could be heartbreaking.

Flying with ashes

Transporting ashes by plane can be more complicated than transporting ashes by car. Each airline has its own rules. Start by talking to someone at the airline or checking the airline's website.

The first choice you’ll need to make is whether you’ll take the ashes onboard with you or place them in your checked luggage. Most of the time, it’s better to take the ashes with you onboard the plane; checked baggage is often handled roughly and may get delayed or lost in transit.

To guard against breakage or spillage and allow for X-ray scanning, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) currently requires cremation containers to be made of fabric, glass, wood, plastic or non-lead-lined ceramic. Keep in mind, however, that ceramic and glass urns may get broken in transit. TSA agents cannot open an urn—even with your permission—so if the X-ray machine can’t pick up a clear picture of what’s inside the container, they will not allow the urn on the plane.

The container will need to meet the size and weight requirements for carry-on luggage, and some airlines require a certificate of cremation or a death certificate. Check with your airline for requirements before you arrive at the airport.

Airlines that allow ashes on board

Here are some of the major U.S. airlines that allow you to take ashes on board, as well the requirements in effect as of January 1, 2024:

• Alaska Airlines may require a death certificate, especially if ashes are being shipped as cargo.
• American Airlines provides TLC specialists—people who work directly with funeral homes—to help you prepare for your flight and proceed through security.
• Delta Airlines allows you to transport ashes in either carry-on or checked luggage; a certificate of cremation or death certificate is required.
• Frontier Airlines requires checked urns to be sufficiently packaged in a well-insulated and sturdy container.
• JetBlue allows an urn only as a carry-on item, though it is not counted against the number of carry-ons. The urn must be stowed under a seat or in an overhead bin. You must provide a copy of the death certificate and a certified document from the crematory that performed the cremation. 
• Southwest Airlines recommends a temporary plastic or cardboard container for ashes to be carried onto a plane.
• Spirit Airlines allows urns to be either carried on or checked. 
• United Airlines requires a death certificate or cremation certificate before you can fly with an urn. Its QuickPak service will quickly ship ashes as cargo, if you’d prefer.

Regional airlines may also allow transport of ashes. Be aware that the TSA and the airlines change their policies and regulations from time to time, so be sure to talk to someone at the airline or check the airline's website before you arrive at the airport with ashes.

Transporting ashes across state lines or to another country

Many people want to be returned to their home countries after death, or they wish for their ashes to be scattered in places they loved abroad. Taking ashes to another country can involve some bureaucracy, as each country has its own regulations and policies.

If you want to travel with or transport ashes from the United States to another country, you’re likely going to need special documents. These may include a burial transit permit, which gives authorities in the destination country the ability to track where the ashes came from and shows you have permission to transport them. You may also need an overseas certificate (also called a Certificate of Entry of Cremation), which contains information about the crematory where the loved one was cremated. It’s also a good idea to take a death certificate or cremation certificate, even though not all countries require it. It might also be helpful to reach out to the US embassy for the destination country to make sure you have everything you might need.

If you’re bringing or sending ashes into the United States from abroad, there aren’t as many restrictions. Even a death certificate is not needed (though it can’t hurt to have a copy with you). You simply need to make sure that the container is able to be X-rayed, and always declare the ashes to U.S. Customs and Border Protection so they’re handled properly. Take note of whatever paperwork and container your international airline requires. 

We’re always here to help

While losing a loved one is difficult, many of the challenges of traveling with a loved one’s ashes can be easily overcome with some simple preparation. Talk with your funeral director to ensure you’re prepared.

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