Lightest load you've seen on DL mainline flight?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: DL Gold, HH Gold, AA, NW, Hertz Gold 5*
Posts: 78
Lightest load you've seen on DL mainline flight?
Was on DL 1421 from DTW to ATL Tuesday night. I knew it was going to be fairly lightly loaded from the online seat maps and the fact that my upgrade cleared way in advance, despite the fact that there are only 8 FC seats on a 737-200. After the requisite 2 hour delay for an evening flight into ATL in the summer, time to board finally rolled around and I was still surprised to see only a handful of people in the gate area. I was even worried that someone somewhere knew something I didn't about the flight being cancelled -- especially when the inbound flight still hadn't arrived as our updated departure time came and went. At about 10:25, the inbound flight finally showed up, the pax deplaned, and they almost immediately announced boarding for all rows. Two of us got in FC, and 11 more in coach; a deadheading Spirit Air captain soon joined us in FC. And that was it. We pushed back at about 10:40 -- definitely the fastest turn I've seen on DL. So there were 13 of us on a plane that holds 94.
So what's the lightest load you've seen recently?
So what's the lightest load you've seen recently?
#2
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MCO
Posts: 3,030
Deleted
Last edited by vinnmann; Aug 10, 2007 at 7:11 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: DL Gold, HH Gold, AA, NW, Hertz Gold 5*
Posts: 78
Originally Posted by vinnmann
Every flight I have been on recently has been packed.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, 2+MM, AA Gold 1+MM, HH Diamond, MHG Silver,
Posts: 233
This year has been mostly 85% plus full (but with only a few flights requesting vols for a bump), and that is traveling to all size cities all accros the Southeast and Midwest.
About 10 years ago I was on a 757 from RSW (Ft Myers) to ATL that was the last fight out at the end of the spring tourist season. Two of us in F, and three others in coach - five pax on a 180 seat aircraft - in fact there were more crew members than passengers!
Happy travels
Luv2fly
About 10 years ago I was on a 757 from RSW (Ft Myers) to ATL that was the last fight out at the end of the spring tourist season. Two of us in F, and three others in coach - five pax on a 180 seat aircraft - in fact there were more crew members than passengers!
Happy travels
Luv2fly
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: DL FO, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 12,003
Originally Posted by vinnmann
Every flight I have been on recently has been packed. However, a few days after 9-11, I was on a WN flight MCO-JAN, and there was only 2 or 3 other pax on the plane besides me.
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LHR / BHX / MAN / ATL
Programs: DL DM 2MM - IHG Diamond
Posts: 4,052
I flew RDU-ATL last year on an MD-88. I was pleased when my upgrade cleared in advance. I boarded the plane with the other 13 pax in F, so cabin was totally full. Then the three (yes, 3) coach pax boarded. Not an empty seat upfront and only 3 pax in the back.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Orem, UT, USA
Programs: DL PM, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 413
The lightest flight I've seen was from ATL-SLC about a month after 9/11. DL was flying a 767-400 between the two cities, and there couldn't have been more than 30 people on the flight. Everybody had their own row of seats back in coach.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: TUL
Programs: AA Plat, DL FO/1MM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, National Exec Elite
Posts: 2,102
MCO-ATL last Thanksgiving had 23 peeps on a 764... All got upgraded
#9
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: The Big D
Programs: AA, CO, DL, WN, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,842
Seven years ago, SLC to DFW at 10pm after a 3 hour delay. One person in first and seven in coach. Nobody was allowed to move up front.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1P; Starwood Gold; Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 193
Almost same thing happened to me
Originally Posted by ecaarch
I flew RDU-ATL last year on an MD-88. I was pleased when my upgrade cleared in advance. I boarded the plane with the other 13 pax in F, so cabin was totally full. Then the three (yes, 3) coach pax boarded. Not an empty seat upfront and only 3 pax in the back.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: STL
Programs: WN or DL; Hyatt or Wyndham
Posts: 1,073
Well, if you want to just count this week, the last flight MCI-ATL Tuesday night August 16 was delayed a couple of hours. I think most got on an earlier flight out, but not me.
When we left, we had 3 revs & 1 nonrev in first, I think 2 in coach.
On an MD-88.
When we left, we had 3 revs & 1 nonrev in first, I think 2 in coach.
On an MD-88.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SAN
Programs: DL SM, Marriot PLT, Tall guy in need of legroom
Posts: 1,478
Flew a SAN-JFK redeye in June and there had to be no more than 40 peopleon the flight total. Every person had their own full row to sprawl out across and I had about 15 little pillows as my bedding.
I recall looking at the departures screen in SAN and noticed that within 30 minutes, AA, Jetblue and Delta had redeyes leaving for NYC. Delta's line was by far the smallest...I guess it makes sense gives the 3 airlines finances to have DL come in last...
I recall looking at the departures screen in SAN and noticed that within 30 minutes, AA, Jetblue and Delta had redeyes leaving for NYC. Delta's line was by far the smallest...I guess it makes sense gives the 3 airlines finances to have DL come in last...
#13
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,845
11 people (me in F and 10 in Y) on a 757 DFW-ATL, not counting a few non-revs who got on at the last second.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Oregon (DL and Marr Lifetime plat. etc.)
Posts: 1,273
Originally Posted by DallasBill
Seven years ago, SLC to DFW at 10pm after a 3 hour delay. One person in first and seven in coach. Nobody was allowed to move up front.
#15
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: DL PM, .6MM; AA Plat; Marriott Platinum Premier
Posts: 4,891
9/16/2001, DL flight from RDU to DFW on an MD-80... I was one of 5 pax on board; IIRC, #pax = #crew on that flight. DFW (still a DL hub at the time) was like a ghost town. Flight from DFW to SFO was pretty empty as well, though it had more than 5 pax. I was an FO at the time, and did not use any upgrade certs b/c I figured I'd have Y to myself anyway (and I was right!).
Best DL low-load-factor experience was on an L-1011 red-eye from HNL to SFO; I ended up having the whole 5-seat center section to myself in the last row of Y (had NO dl status back then). I was able to get a fair amount of sleep, despite my extensive sunburns.
Best DL low-load-factor experience was on an L-1011 red-eye from HNL to SFO; I ended up having the whole 5-seat center section to myself in the last row of Y (had NO dl status back then). I was able to get a fair amount of sleep, despite my extensive sunburns.