Only passenger on a flight?
Jan 25, 2018, 6:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 37
Only passenger on a flight?
Yesterday I was the sole passenger on a Delta flight from LGA to ORD. It was definitely a unique experience. (For example, after we landed in ORD, the pilot told me he was going to have the plane cleaned up, and I should call him when I'm ready to go back. 
)
I was amazed that Delta would let a plane fly with only one passenger. And it ended up going back from ORD to LGA with only 5 people, so it wasn't because the plane was needed in ORD.
Has anyone else ever experienced being the ONLY passenger on a flight?
)I was amazed that Delta would let a plane fly with only one passenger. And it ended up going back from ORD to LGA with only 5 people, so it wasn't because the plane was needed in ORD.
Has anyone else ever experienced being the ONLY passenger on a flight?
Jan 25, 2018, 7:09 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: DL PM, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire
Posts: 98
Once I was on a short hop like that with about 5 other people total, but never the sole passenger. Would have loved to experience that! Did you board as PREM or wait for your group to be called? :P
Jan 25, 2018, 7:17 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 37
Jan 25, 2018, 7:43 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: PBI/MIA
Programs: AAdvantage Gold, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Skymiles, Mileage Plus
Posts: 397
Yesterday I was the sole passenger on a Delta flight from LGA to ORD. It was definitely a unique experience. (For example, after we landed in ORD, the pilot told me he was going to have the plane cleaned up, and I should call him when I'm ready to go back. )
I was amazed that Delta would let a plane fly with only one passenger. And it ended up going back from ORD to LGA with only 5 people, so it wasn't because the plane was needed in ORD.
Has anyone else ever experienced being the ONLY passenger on a flight?
)I was amazed that Delta would let a plane fly with only one passenger. And it ended up going back from ORD to LGA with only 5 people, so it wasn't because the plane was needed in ORD.
Has anyone else ever experienced being the ONLY passenger on a flight?
Jan 25, 2018, 7:49 am
#7
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
I was on the LGA/ORD Shuttle once, back when it left from the LGA MAT, and, there were less than 10 people on the flight, so, I commented to the GA, something like - -
I'm sorry for you that, Delta is probably losing money today! The GA replied . . . . "It's all about the contracts."
That said, years ago, I was flying CO on a redeye LAX?/CLE/CMH. The CLE/CMH flight was on an ATR42 or 72. Let's face it, there aren't too many people that need to fly from Cleveland to Columbus at around 6AM!
Anyway, I was the only person on that flight. The FA sat in the aisle seat opposite me and did the safety briefing, talking directly to me! She told me that, since there was nobody behind me, I could recline my seat from gate to gate!
Someone here on FT eventually told me that was illegal.
I'm sorry for you that, Delta is probably losing money today! The GA replied . . . . "It's all about the contracts."
That said, years ago, I was flying CO on a redeye LAX?/CLE/CMH. The CLE/CMH flight was on an ATR42 or 72. Let's face it, there aren't too many people that need to fly from Cleveland to Columbus at around 6AM!
Anyway, I was the only person on that flight. The FA sat in the aisle seat opposite me and did the safety briefing, talking directly to me! She told me that, since there was nobody behind me, I could recline my seat from gate to gate!
Someone here on FT eventually told me that was illegal.
Jan 25, 2018, 7:57 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: IND
Programs: DL DM, SPG AMB, National EE
Posts: 1,301
That's pretty cool. Especially with how full most flights are these days. I also want to know - did you have a Y ticket and have to sit in back? Although I guess if you have any status at all you would have been upgraded...
Jan 25, 2018, 7:59 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Cleveland, OH USA
Posts: 454
Years ago I flew CO from Elmira/Corning NY (ELM) to Cleveland (CLE) and was the only person onboard. The pilot actually took my bag and placed it in the overhead for me and the FA did the safety briefing in about 2 minutes and then we were on our way. The pilot kept the door to the front open (before 9/11) and even came out to talk during the flight. Definitely a different experience.
Another CO flight from Houston to El Paso we only had 5 passengers on the plane and the FAs were very laid back. I even got up and got my own coffee several times as teh FAs sat in the empty FC seats and talked.
Another CO flight from Houston to El Paso we only had 5 passengers on the plane and the FAs were very laid back. I even got up and got my own coffee several times as teh FAs sat in the empty FC seats and talked.
Jan 25, 2018, 8:31 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 110
Jan 25, 2018, 8:37 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Planet Earth(most days)
Programs: Hilton Honors, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 1,544
I've had two. One was a late night departure CR9 SEA-LAS back before DL added the 717s on that route. Flight left on schedule around 1930 or so and it was just the crew and I. It was weird because it felt like we kept this stair-step climb all the way to cruise altitude. Captain explained that since we were so lightly loaded that the airplane was just climbing quicker than normal and there was a ton of traffic in the area.
The second one was a very, very delayed DEN-ATL MD90. Flight still operated with just myself and the crew.
I felt bad for the crew who had to, by FAA regs, do the safety demo. The MD90 crew just came over and did a quick, non-pa version, whereas the CR9 crew had to use the pre-recorded audio. It was definitely awkward.
The second one was a very, very delayed DEN-ATL MD90. Flight still operated with just myself and the crew.
I felt bad for the crew who had to, by FAA regs, do the safety demo. The MD90 crew just came over and did a quick, non-pa version, whereas the CR9 crew had to use the pre-recorded audio. It was definitely awkward.
Jan 25, 2018, 8:54 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DTW/FNT
Programs: Delta (nee NW), Hilton Diamond. IHG (PT)
Posts: 4,823
Yesterday I was the sole passenger on a Delta flight from LGA to ORD. It was definitely a unique experience. (For example, after we landed in ORD, the pilot told me he was going to have the plane cleaned up, and I should call him when I'm ready to go back. )
I was amazed that Delta would let a plane fly with only one passenger. And it ended up going back from ORD to LGA with only 5 people, so it wasn't because the plane was needed in ORD.
Has anyone else ever experienced being the ONLY passenger on a flight?
)I was amazed that Delta would let a plane fly with only one passenger. And it ended up going back from ORD to LGA with only 5 people, so it wasn't because the plane was needed in ORD.
Has anyone else ever experienced being the ONLY passenger on a flight?
Bob H