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People on a $1,150 special Delta eclipse flight didn't see a total eclipse, but they weren't mad about it

Apr 10, 2024, 04:08 IST
Business Insider
James Larounis, a travel industry analyst, was on Delta's Dallas to Detroit solar eclipse flight.James Larounis
  • Delta had two special solar-eclipse flights set off on Monday from Austin and Dallas to Detroit.
  • Passengers on the Dallas flight said they didn't see a total eclipse like some people on the ground.
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When Delta announced its special solar-eclipse flight from Austin to Detroit, it was so popular that it had to arrange a second flight from Dallas to Detroit.

Passengers paid between $750 and $1,150 for one-way tickets to experience the "path of totality" at 30,000 feet on Monday.

But one passenger said that people on board didn't end up seeing the total eclipse.

"I really don't think anybody on the plane actually caught the eclipse in full totality," James Larounis, a travel-industry analyst who was on the Dallas to Detroit flight, told Business Insider.

The view from the aircraft during the special solar eclipse flight.James Larounis

However, Larounis said the pilot maneuvered the aircraft to ensure that both sides of the plane could see a partial eclipse.

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"There were a lot of folks crouching on the ground, looking out the window, climbing over the seats to try to get the best possible view," he said.

But spirits remained high for most passengers on the flight. "Everyone was good sports about it," Larounis said. They got to see the eclipse's shadow move across the cities underneath them, which gave passengers evidence of the eclipse, he added.

Larounis told BI he bought his first-class ticket using over 100,000 Delta SkyMiles, which is the equivalent of over $1,000.

Passengers were given goodie bags, including limited-edition, solar-eclipse-themed Sun Chips, and a Delta hat and socks that said "climbing the cosmos," per The Washington Post.

James Larounis

A lot of fanfare surrounded the experience: Delta held a celebration at the gate in Dallas with special announcements, balloons, and photo opportunities, and a DJ was playing at the airport upon arrival in Detroit.

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Even though most people on the flight didn't see the full eclipse like they thought they might, "it was a great experience and I'd do it again," Larounis said.

James Larounis

Other passengers who have spoken with the media reported feeling similarly about the experience.

"Unlike on the ground, the plane was never fully dark," an Atlanta Journal-Constitution journalist on the flight said.

"A truth began to dawn on us — maybe a plane isn't the best viewing spot for an eclipse," she added.

Another passenger told The Washington Post that he saw only "a sliver" of the eclipse. "Even though we didn't get it completely, it was a fun community experience," he told the outlet.

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The solar eclipse was expected to be a big boon for local economies along its path, with millions of people spending money to travel across the country to get the best viewing spot.

It was estimated that visitors would spend $1.6 billion on lodging, food, gas, and activities, The Perryman Group, Texas economic consultancy, reported.

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