I was the only passenger on a Pioneer Metroliner DRO-CEZ-DEN. The pilots made me take the last seat in the back. I was also the sole passenger aboard a Pionair DC-3 from Te Anau to National Park on New Zealand's South Island.

As for larger airplanes, I once flew ANC-SEA aboard a 737-900. Two of us up front, another 4 in the back.

Not surprised. I've heard many Garuda horror stories from friends hoping to save money on fares by flying a third rate airline.

I wish I could be on a flight this empty!

I don't think we even had 20 on a 3-3 (I don't recall the airplane type) LAX -> LAS.

Too few passengers, it made us late. First they moved us all forward for weight and balance and on the taxi out the pilots decided that wasn't good enough, we came back (although not to a gate) and they loaded a weight into our forward baggage hold so we could fly.

flown garuda many times. Very pleasantly surprised at the wonderful service. You should see how stunning their First class is.

​​​​​​​thanks for the snide comment.

Somewhat long while ago ... MNL to SIN, rain plus unusually heavy traffic caused so many passengers to miss the flight I was on so only the 3 of us in our group seated in J... around 20-ish in Y. I always wondered if the next flight was full or re-booked pax or did people just say screw it and went back home.

Can only judge by what I've been told and have heard enough to avoid. You're welcome.

How about judge on what you have personally experienced.

April 2008, a Ted flight from SFO-RNO. Had to be about ten people, including the crew on an Airbus A320

Probably the emptiest was a half-3/4 empty A330 from PHL to MCO. Also had a bunch of half empty 737/A320 flights and 12-20 people CRJ-200/Prop flights.

Flew WAW-CAI on an A330 during the Egyptian revolution in February 2011.

Pax consisted of me, a Polish girl and half a dozen Egyptians.

We landed in one of the worst sandstorms Cairo had seen in years so that just added to the general sense of foreboding.

I've got 3 different instances...

1) I flew YEG-YYC on an AC Express Q400, just for the segment, had roughly 15 people on it. It might've not been the first time it happened to me, but it was made very obvious when all of us were told to sit in the final 5 rows for weight and balance.

2) This week I flew SEA-AMS, 777, maybe 60% full? Almost everyone in the last 15 rows had a 3 bank to themselves. Very pleasant flight :).

3) ORD-GRU in United Global First...just me! It was great, had all the service to myself.

Empty C-17, Globemaster, from Travis AFB to March ARB in California.

https://s28.postimg.cc/7f0uxcaxp/IMG_1954.jpg

Being the only one in First doesn't really count as an empty flight though, does it? :)

On Southwest Airlines Portland to San Jose in Febuary 2016, 60 in A group and 2 in B Group. On Southwest in September 2016 on a new 737-800, San Jose to Portland was 70 out of 175 seats were full so they had to weight balance for takeoff.