Utskicat

I noticed earlier this week that my first class seat YYZ-DTW was the only seat on the seat map. Its a dreadfully early flight and I assumed there were BE tickets that weren't showing up with seat assignments. Then tonight I was talking to the Diamond desk about a change to the return and mentioned the sparce flight to the lovely agent. She was curious too and looked up the flight and it turns out that the flight actually has ONLY 1 seat sold...mine! Of course a lot could change in the next 13 days, but it will be interesting to be on such any empty plane (its a CR9). The agent did check the inbound flight the night before and its fairly booked, so I don't have any worries about this outbound flight getting cancelled.

Anyhoo...no real question here...just an interesting observation for you fellow FTers!

flyerCO

It happens. I remember during CV19 being the only passenger on an AF 777 CDG-IAH. (Not just in my cabin, but all of plane)

DLATL777

SYD-LAX during Covid one of 5.
LAX-AKL during the same, less than 15.
JFK-DXB Jan 21', only pax IN F and one of 13 on the entire aircraft, EK just said "board whenever you want in the next 50 minutes".

cre95

So, did you get in line to board early to make sure you had space overhead for your bag or did you risk it all to chance?

pt360

Which flight is that? I take that yyz-dtw flight in the AM on Friday mornings sometimes when I take a redeye from Calgary to get back home. Usually it's mostly full as far as I can tell but that is super funny.

flyerCO

I'm guessing 26th based on OP posy and seatmaps.

However I do show at least two assigned coach seats.

Also I'm not sure when they started having 6 daily flights, not 5. This could also be issue.

DLASflyer

Canada transborder flights are the easiest upgrades in the Delta system. Even when flights have people on them, not a lot of premium cabin fares or Medallions.

sydneyracquelle

i’ve been going back and forth to YYZ for the past 25 years. I’ve been on many flights with C+ still half empty even after all FOs have been upgraded. Most resident Canadians fly AC.

DLATL777

Lol the most humorous part was the boarding announcement and check in. During this point in Covid all lounges were closed so I basically got to JFK, had an entirely unnesscary F escort through an empty security, got to the gate and was told "So, the flight boards in 30 minutes and we have to start at 45 minutes before, but board at your leisure whenever you feel like, just be on the plane between now and 15 minute prior to scheduled". With all the shops and lounges closed I just sat at the gate and then boarded early so I could sit on the plane.

DXB was also a ghost town. Luggage in DXB is always fast, especially in F, but my bag was already SITTING at the belt by the time I got there, not more than 10 minutes from the time we landed.

LAX-AKL was also strange cause TBIT was SILENT and obviously everyone on my flight was prepared to be locked into a hotel room for 14 days in managed iso. Very weird demeanor on a 14 hour flight. Its hard to put into words-imagine boarding a flight to nowhere, thats what it felt like. Everytime we board a long haul flight, even those of us that have done it thousands of times, have some excitement of the destination. What was weird about boarding such a long-haul and knowing you werent actually flying to anywhere other than a hotel prison, it kinda felt like a flight to nowhere; as though the flight itself were 14 days long is the only way I can describe it.

hnewman

1991 in late January MSP-LGW during Gulf War 1. 6 people on NWA 747-200. 4 business 2 coach. Business moved to 1st coach to business.

pt360

Oooh, I don't know about that. I sometimes find it hard to get upgraded MSP-YYC routes on the A319/20s they use even as a Diamond. The Embraers from SLC or the CRJ from YYZ to DTW though I almost always have gotten upgraded, even as a Platinum. That Calgary route has the worst fare classes too. They always open up the 5 hour layovers (to or from DTW) to lower, normal fares and don't sell the short 1hr or less layovers in anything other than B until very close up to the flight.

sydneyracquelle

During covid I was also on very empty flights. I also flew MIA > YYZ the day MIA reopened after 9/11. Everything was closed. Felt like 3am in the middle of the day. No one on the plane but us.

james318

Back in my day... That drive could be had in less time than it took to drive from the northeast suburbs of Detroit to the east side of Toronto than it would to drive to the airport and fly. Then 9/11 and the increased border security. THEN the population explosion points west of Toronto proper. (Mississauga, Guelph, Kitchener, London).

These days, I'd rather fly.

pt360

Funny you mention that James - when I have nearly missed my connection I have contemplated a one way rental to get back home instead of taking a very late layover after missing a flight! 4-5 hours in YYZ when I could just rent a car and get home is much more appealing.

sydneyracquelle

Or VIA Rail between Union Station to/from Windsor.