- Delta’s two special solar eclipse flights departed April 8, from Austin and Dallas to Detroit.
- But passengers say they didn’t experience a total eclipse like some people on the ground.
- People remained in good spirits even though they paid between $749 and $1,150 for tickets.
When Delta first announced their special solar eclipse flight from Austin to Detroit, it was so popular that they had to run a second flight from Dallas to Detroit.
Passengers paid between $749 and $1,150 for a one-way ticket to experience the “path of totality” at 30,000 feet on April 8.
But it turns out those on board weren’t able to see the total eclipse, according to one passenger.
“I really don’t think anyone on the plane actually captured the eclipse in its entirety,” James Larounis, a travel industry analyst who was on the Dallas-Detroit flight, told Business Insider.
The view from the plane during the special solar eclipse flight. James Larounis
However, he explained that the pilot maneuvered the plane to ensure that both sides of the plane could see at least a partial eclipse.
“There were a lot of people crouching on the floor, looking out the window, climbing over the seats to try to get the best view possible.”
But morale remained good for the passengers on the flight; “Everyone was very athletic,” Larounis said. They could see the shadow of the eclipse moving across the towns below them, which gave the passengers evidence of the eclipse, he added.
Larounis told BI he purchased his first-class ticket with more than 100,000 Delta SkyMiles, the equivalent of more than $1,000.
Passengers received goody bags including limited-edition solar eclipse-themed Sun Chips, as well as a Delta hat and socks that read “climbing the cosmos,” according to the Washington Post.
James Larounis
The experience caused quite a stir: Delta held a gate celebration in Dallas with special announcements, balloons and photo ops, and a DJ played at the airport when they arrived in Detroit.
Although most of the flight’s passengers probably didn’t see the full eclipse they thought they would, “it was a great experience and I would do it again,” Larounis said.
James Larounis
Other passengers said they felt the same way about the experience.
“Unlike on the ground, the plane was never completely dark,” reported an Atlanta-Journal Constitution reporter who was aboard the flight.
“A truth began to dawn on us: maybe an airplane is not the best place to view an eclipse,” she added.
Another passenger told the Washington Post that he only saw a “sliver” of the eclipse. “Even though we didn’t completely understand it, it was a fun community experience,” he told the outlet.
The solar eclipse was expected to be a big boon to local economies throughout its journey, with millions of visitors spending money to travel across the country to get the best spot. ‘observation.
Visitors are estimated to spend $1.6 billion on lodging, food, gas and activities, according to the Texas Economic Consulting Firm. Perryman Group.
businessinsider
