Delta Air Lines flight travels from Cleveland to New York with only two passengers

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This was published 9 years ago

Delta Air Lines flight travels from Cleveland to New York with only two passengers

By Kylie McLaughlin
Chris O'Leary on board his empty Delta Airlines flight to New York.

Chris O'Leary on board his empty Delta Airlines flight to New York.Credit: Twitter

The best most economy-class passengers can wish for is an empty seat next to them, or even a row to themselves.

However, one American airline passenger scored an entire plane to himself after the US encountered a rough day for air travel, according to a report by USA Today.

Snow, ice, rain and fog meant that many flights were delayed from airports in the country's midwest and east, and passengers were rebooked onto other flights.

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Everyone, that is, except for Chris O'Leary, who was the sole remaining passenger booked on the Delta Air Lines' flight from Cleveland to New York.

O'Leary had received notification his flight had been delayed, but decided to ride it out in his hotel room rather than catch an earlier flight.

He was rewarded by being the flight's only passenger and tweeted his delight as the plane pulled away from the airport.

There were no screaming babies, no one listening to loud lyrics or reclining their seats or taking off their shoes.

"They rebooked everyone but me on another flight to LGA, so I am literally the only person on this plane."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>They rebooked everyone but me on another flight to LGA, so I am literally the only person on this plane. <a href="http://t.co/ZZNPACUOfR">pic.twitter.com/ZZNPACUOfR</a></p>&mdash; Chris O&#39;Leary (@ohhleary) <a href="https://twitter.com/ohhleary/status/554700216700776449">January 12, 2015</a></blockquote>

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He later told ABC news in America that he got a personalised safety demonstration and a one-on-one briefing from the captain.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Just got a personal safety briefing from my two flight attendants.</p>&mdash; Chris O&#39;Leary (@ohhleary) <a href="https://twitter.com/ohhleary/status/554701868283469824">January 12, 2015</a></blockquote>

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However, his dreams of being privately escorted to his destination were dashed when the plane had to return to the airport to collect a second passenger, who took advantage of the plane being empty and boldly reclined his seat all the way back to sleep.

"It was definitely the most memorable flight I've been on in recent memory if only for the sheer lack of passengers to become bothersome," O'Leary said to ABC News. "There were no screaming babies, no one listening to loud lyrics or reclining their seats or taking off their shoes."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>No, I&#39;m not joking. I&#39;m the only one on this plane. <a href="http://t.co/UcZ8BZLop1">pic.twitter.com/UcZ8BZLop1</a></p>&mdash; Chris O&#39;Leary (@ohhleary) <a href="https://twitter.com/ohhleary/status/554702447063879681">January 12, 2015</a></blockquote>

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O'Leary's experience debunks the myth that airlines cancel near-empty flights. Planes will sometimes fly empty or near-empty because they are needed in another destination for a future flight. These are known as positioning flights.

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