The emptiest flight you've ever been on
Dec 15, 2009, 4:28 pm
#76
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: somewhere in NSW.....
Posts: 86
WN OAK-RNO around 2000 when I still was living in the US.
One of the last evening flights up to RNO on a weekday.
Only around 4-5 people on the flight + staff, but they couldn't cancel it since they needed the aircraft in RNO for the following morning.
Everybody had a good time.
--jofegan
One of the last evening flights up to RNO on a weekday.
Only around 4-5 people on the flight + staff, but they couldn't cancel it since they needed the aircraft in RNO for the following morning.
Everybody had a good time.
--jofegan
Dec 15, 2009, 5:35 pm
#77
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,068
In the early 1990's my dad and I were going to be traveling on a Midwest Express (as they were called in those days) flight MKE-GRR. We were scheduled for a later flight, but we arrived at the airport much earlier than anticipated. When we talked with the ticketing agent about switching to an earlier flight she said, "I think we can squeeze you on." Much to our surprise we boarded and were the only passengers on the plane besides the FA, pilot and co-pilot. I don't remember the aircraft though 
- propeller type with 2x2 seating where you would board from a rear door and it had a step in the aisle over the wing.
- propeller type with 2x2 seating where you would board from a rear door and it had a step in the aisle over the wing.
Dec 29, 2009, 7:48 am
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
In the 1970s, on YEG->YYC, on a late evening flight, my brother, mother, and me had the plane (a main liner, not sure what but likely a Boeing 7xx of some kind) to ourselves. This was after missing an earlier flight, which means that it would have flown empty otherwise. I think the airline was PWA, which became Canadian Airlines later, which was then acquired by AC.
Dec 29, 2009, 10:31 am
#79
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 19
Jan 2008, ICN-PVG morning flight on KE(only flight from ICN/NRT that arrives in the morning in PVG I believe). It was a 777 with 4 pax. I was waiting to be called to board as I was in Y. The GAs didn't even bother asking to board by class. When the other 3 pax boarded they started closing the gate. Then I realized that everyone except me had boarded. I had the whole back of the plane by myself. Interesting experience.
Dec 29, 2009, 12:17 pm
#82
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 147
Dec 29, 2009, 3:05 pm
#84
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
^^ As a teenager, my family was invited to the exclusive use the upper deck of an aer lingus 747 ... we were traveling with a family friend who was a US exec with the airline.
That was back in the day- full bar, funny seats up there, etc!
That was back in the day- full bar, funny seats up there, etc!
Dec 29, 2009, 3:24 pm
#85
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta Gold, Delta 1MM, Amtrak Guest Rewards, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 906
I was on the first flight out of IAH to MSP on NW following 9/11. Two of us in first and maybe a dozen, tops, in back. For some reason NW was not allowing anyone to board who was connecting in MSP, only those of us whose destination was MSP. I don't remember the aircraft, probably an A319 or 320.
Cheers,
Pogopossum
Cheers,
Pogopossum
Dec 29, 2009, 7:08 pm
#86
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
My emptiest flight was a Wednesday night SJC-ONT trip on WN in late 2005. There were 4 of us passengers in a 737. We were slightly outnumbered by the 5 standard crew members. On this short, 50 minute flight my personal FA had time to serve me 3 rounds of drinks.
Dec 29, 2009, 8:55 pm
#87
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
I was one of two passengers on a PHL-BOS evening run on a US 737-400, a few days before Y2K (12/30/1999 I think). US had hourly flights doing that route that night, and most who'd been booked on mine stood by for earlier flights. I didn't get to the airport in time for that, but would have done the same if I had.
Dec 30, 2009, 1:02 am
#88
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia (from time to time)
Programs: QF-LTS & P, SQ-TPPS, IC-RA, HH-D, *wood G, Others
Posts: 1,729
Whilst I had some pretty empty flights during SARS (I was the only one in F and J) for example, my emptiest flight was Mauritius-Perth-Sydney on Christmas day in 1975 with just 11 pax on a 707. Johannesburg-Mauritius it was standing room only!
Dec 30, 2009, 6:26 am
#90
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia (from time to time)
Programs: QF-LTS & P, SQ-TPPS, IC-RA, HH-D, *wood G, Others
Posts: 1,729
Actually that reminds me of a flight from Port Macquarie to Brisbane, I was only passenger and pilot let me sit in the right seat...about 91/2!