The emptiest flight you've ever been on
Sep 5, 2012, 8:01 pm
#272
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,955
Are you sure? DCA has a very short runway and a difficult approach, and to the best of my knowledge is not capable of handling 747s. (They might be able to take off/land with very light loads, but it would definitely not be a routine occurrence.)
Sep 6, 2012, 4:17 am
#273
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: NEXUS, Hilton - Gold, Fairmont - Plat, AA - Plat MM, DL - Gold, UA - Silver
Posts: 19
I took a flight from YYC-LAX last month that was probably only about 5-10% full. It was the last flight of the night so I assume that Air Canada didn't want to cancel it just so they didn't strand the handful of us at the airport. It was rather odd being in a nearly empty aircraft for the duration of the entire flight. No one else was seated within 6 or 7 rows of us.
It got me thinking, what's the emptiest flight you've ever been on? It seems like lately it's become the standard to just cancel severely underbooked flights and reshuffle the passengers to other flights, so empty flights like this are becoming a rarity. Does anyone have any unique experiences regarding flights like this?
It got me thinking, what's the emptiest flight you've ever been on? It seems like lately it's become the standard to just cancel severely underbooked flights and reshuffle the passengers to other flights, so empty flights like this are becoming a rarity. Does anyone have any unique experiences regarding flights like this?
Sep 6, 2012, 4:21 am
#274
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: LHR / IAD
Programs: BA/AA/UA
Posts: 2,955
I was the sole pax on a Piedmont Airlines 737 once upon a time.
The FA's couldn't believe I didn't want a coffee or something!
Sep 6, 2012, 1:55 pm
#275
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
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I took a similar picture when I was the only person on a USAir 737 (posted earlier in this thread). I didn't keep the picture as a later realized it didn't actually show anything other than an empty 737 interior, of which there are many photos - no way to show I was actually in the air 
Sep 7, 2012, 1:04 pm
#277
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50K (*G), Westjet Gold
Posts: 788
This past summer I flew on two traditionally business-heavy flights and was SHOCKED at the loads...
First was an Air Canada Express flight from Calgary, a 50 seat Dash 8 300. I was in the washroom when boarding was called. Came out, nobody was in line. I assumed everyone had quickly run up, so I headed down the express terminal, got to the door for my flight, and went out to the plane. I was surprised to see the skycheck buggy had no bags on it....got on the plane to find an FA sitting in a seat drinking coffee, and no pax. I was honestly worried....was this the right plane? Eventually, 10 of us boarded. It was nice, as load factors are usually so high. Nobody sat in rows 4-9. The FA came around for drinks, only one person (I) asked for one! She then sat down and read "50 shades of grey" the rest of the flight!
Another was a few weeks later on YVR-YEG flight. It was an E90. I was upgraded, so quite happy. The earlier flight was delayed, and after being told it was full, I boarded my flight. Well, I ended up being the only one in J. I'm used to domestic business cabins being full full full, gate lice all nagging the agents for upgrades, etc. I was told by the FA that all the other pax moved onto the earlier flight. The LF in Y was pretty good, it was just so strange to have J empty!
First was an Air Canada Express flight from Calgary, a 50 seat Dash 8 300. I was in the washroom when boarding was called. Came out, nobody was in line. I assumed everyone had quickly run up, so I headed down the express terminal, got to the door for my flight, and went out to the plane. I was surprised to see the skycheck buggy had no bags on it....got on the plane to find an FA sitting in a seat drinking coffee, and no pax. I was honestly worried....was this the right plane? Eventually, 10 of us boarded. It was nice, as load factors are usually so high. Nobody sat in rows 4-9. The FA came around for drinks, only one person (I) asked for one! She then sat down and read "50 shades of grey" the rest of the flight!
Another was a few weeks later on YVR-YEG flight. It was an E90. I was upgraded, so quite happy. The earlier flight was delayed, and after being told it was full, I boarded my flight. Well, I ended up being the only one in J. I'm used to domestic business cabins being full full full, gate lice all nagging the agents for upgrades, etc. I was told by the FA that all the other pax moved onto the earlier flight. The LF in Y was pretty good, it was just so strange to have J empty!
Sep 7, 2012, 1:33 pm
#278
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Beaufort, SC
Programs: Delta, Alaska Air, & BA
Posts: 535
Ben it may have been IAD and not DCA (where we normally fly into and it is possible it was a 777) I do know the number of passengers was correct. It was due to some fallout after 9/11.
Sep 9, 2012, 11:48 am
#279
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: The Americas
Programs: *G, CO Plat, UA 1P, Etihad Gold, Marriott Prem Plat, Avis Pres
Posts: 118
This past summer I flew on two traditionally business-heavy flights and was SHOCKED at the loads...
First was an Air Canada Express flight from Calgary, a 50 seat Dash 8 300. I was in the washroom when boarding was called. Came out, nobody was in line. I assumed everyone had quickly run up, so I headed down the express terminal, got to the door for my flight, and went out to the plane. I was surprised to see the skycheck buggy had no bags on it....got on the plane to find an FA sitting in a seat drinking coffee, and no pax. I was honestly worried....was this the right plane? Eventually, 10 of us boarded. It was nice, as load factors are usually so high. Nobody sat in rows 4-9. The FA came around for drinks, only one person (I) asked for one! She then sat down and read "50 shades of grey" the rest of the flight!
Another was a few weeks later on YVR-YEG flight. It was an E90. I was upgraded, so quite happy. The earlier flight was delayed, and after being told it was full, I boarded my flight. Well, I ended up being the only one in J. I'm used to domestic business cabins being full full full, gate lice all nagging the agents for upgrades, etc. I was told by the FA that all the other pax moved onto the earlier flight. The LF in Y was pretty good, it was just so strange to have J empty!
First was an Air Canada Express flight from Calgary, a 50 seat Dash 8 300. I was in the washroom when boarding was called. Came out, nobody was in line. I assumed everyone had quickly run up, so I headed down the express terminal, got to the door for my flight, and went out to the plane. I was surprised to see the skycheck buggy had no bags on it....got on the plane to find an FA sitting in a seat drinking coffee, and no pax. I was honestly worried....was this the right plane? Eventually, 10 of us boarded. It was nice, as load factors are usually so high. Nobody sat in rows 4-9. The FA came around for drinks, only one person (I) asked for one! She then sat down and read "50 shades of grey" the rest of the flight!
Another was a few weeks later on YVR-YEG flight. It was an E90. I was upgraded, so quite happy. The earlier flight was delayed, and after being told it was full, I boarded my flight. Well, I ended up being the only one in J. I'm used to domestic business cabins being full full full, gate lice all nagging the agents for upgrades, etc. I was told by the FA that all the other pax moved onto the earlier flight. The LF in Y was pretty good, it was just so strange to have J empty!
Oct 31, 2012, 7:38 am
#282
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors LTDia, Marriott Plat
Posts: 639
Most empty plane?
I'm sitting at PDX and they just announced a flight to Reno that only has 16 people out of 137. 
In all my years of flying that has got to be the least number of passengers (percentage wise).
In all my years of flying that has got to be the least number of passengers (percentage wise).
Oct 31, 2012, 8:35 am
#285
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
I had a DL flight with 5, FA's included, on a DC-9 in the 80's.
CVG-SDF, at least I think it was CVG then.
It was the last leg of the worst rerouting nightmare ever.
Scheduled PWM-PIT-SDF, US
PWM-PIT cancelled
Rescheduled PWM to New York on CO, New York to SDF on DL.
Problem: Arrive EWR, depart LGA
Rebooked EWR-SDF with a stop CVG. Almost never got it done. Original ticket US, to EWR CO, to SDF DL, and I had checked a bag.
Miracle: Bag beat me to SDF somehow.
CVG-SDF, at least I think it was CVG then.
It was the last leg of the worst rerouting nightmare ever.
Scheduled PWM-PIT-SDF, US
PWM-PIT cancelled
Rescheduled PWM to New York on CO, New York to SDF on DL.
Problem: Arrive EWR, depart LGA
Rebooked EWR-SDF with a stop CVG. Almost never got it done. Original ticket US, to EWR CO, to SDF DL, and I had checked a bag.
Miracle: Bag beat me to SDF somehow.