Southwest announces solar eclipse flight schedule
Aug 11, 2017, 6:07 am
#1
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Southwest announces solar eclipse flight schedule
Southwest Airlines announced that many of its regularly scheduled Aug. 21 flights may offer spectacular eclipse views. Its planners identified these routes with “greatest likelihood” of seeing the eclipse from the sky.:
Fight 1375, departing 9:05 a.m. from Seattle to St. Louis.
Flight 1368, departing 9:05 a.m. from Portland, Ore., to St. Louis.
Fight 1577, departing 10:30 a.m. from Denver to St. Louis.
Flight 301, departing 10:30 a.m. from Denver to Nashville.
Flight 1969, departing 9:50 a.m. from Denver to Atlanta
If you’re on one of those flights, Southwest will give you viewing glasses (the protective paper eyewear type) and souvenir while serving up “cosmic cocktails.”
Fight 1375, departing 9:05 a.m. from Seattle to St. Louis.
Flight 1368, departing 9:05 a.m. from Portland, Ore., to St. Louis.
Fight 1577, departing 10:30 a.m. from Denver to St. Louis.
Flight 301, departing 10:30 a.m. from Denver to Nashville.
Flight 1969, departing 9:50 a.m. from Denver to Atlanta
If you’re on one of those flights, Southwest will give you viewing glasses (the protective paper eyewear type) and souvenir while serving up “cosmic cocktails.”
Aug 11, 2017, 8:15 pm
#3
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Even then WN301 needs to be early.
Aug 11, 2017, 8:29 pm
#4
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Actually that is a very good route to capture the path of totality. The shadow of the moon takes 21 minutes to travel from BNA to CHS.
Hopefully you are on WN1559, which if on schedule should pass through the path of totality on the descent into CHS.
Hopefully you are on WN1559, which if on schedule should pass through the path of totality on the descent into CHS.
Aug 12, 2017, 5:04 am
#5
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Looks like the entire flight is in the path. Which side of the plane should I sit on, window seat A or F?
Aug 12, 2017, 6:37 am
#6
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I have to get to Raleigh that day from DEN, so I booked myself on the 301 from DEN to BNA. Leaves at 10:20. Hopefully they know what they're talking about and it works out. I have no idea which side to try and sit on either.
Aug 12, 2017, 8:27 am
#9
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If the flight plan on the 21st is similar to this one, I would think the airplane's track will be slightly on the south side of eclipse centerline - so advantage A seat. Of course most of the moon's shadow will be well behind the airplane until the final minutes of the flight. I would think viewing the shadow on the ground would be almost as good as seeing the eclipsed sun.
Aug 12, 2017, 8:31 am
#10
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But won't the sun still be towards the south from anywhere in the US? The eclipse path is just where the view of the total eclipse is viewable, but the sun will still be in the south sky during the afternoon?
The sun won't be passing directly overhead in the total eclipse path, right?
The sun won't be passing directly overhead in the total eclipse path, right?
Last edited by dmbolp; Aug 12, 2017 at 8:41 am
Aug 12, 2017, 8:51 am
#11
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But won't the sun still be towards the south from anywhere in the US? The eclipse path is just where the view of the total eclipse is viewable, but the sun will still be in the south sky during the afternoon?
The sun won't be passing directly overhead in the total eclipse path, right?
The sun won't be passing directly overhead in the total eclipse path, right?
This might require a pre-departure visit to the flight deck to discuss importance of flying north of GSP and CAE.
And some well placed begging of ZTL ARTCC (Atlanta Center) too.
Aug 12, 2017, 12:23 pm
#13
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But won't the sun still be towards the south from anywhere in the US? The eclipse path is just where the view of the total eclipse is viewable, but the sun will still be in the south sky during the afternoon?
The sun won't be passing directly overhead in the total eclipse path, right?
The sun won't be passing directly overhead in the total eclipse path, right?
You will not see a "shadow" as the effect spreads out gradually over 100s of miles. You will see an overall darkening.
If the skies stay clear, I will have a nice view here in ATL on the ground (about 96% of total).
EDIT:
Family saves 5 window seats on right side of flight 1375, one behind another :-)