Well I guess we'd all like this kind of pampering, but you have to wonder why they didn't just cancel it, even when they thought only three passengers would fly ? But good on Jet2 for getting this lady to where she needed to be...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-g ... t-41748305

JannEejit wrote:

Well I guess we'd all like this kind of pampering, but you have to wonder why they didn't just cancel it, even when they thought only three passengers would fly ? But good on Jet2 for getting this lady to where she needed to be...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-g ... t-41748305

Read the article. The return flight was full. How would they have got home if they had cancelled the outbound flight?

End of season flight which was full coming back.

The passenger was just interviewed on BBC five live and said that the crew were fantastic and all the cockpit announcements used her first name.

This is nothing special really, even almost experienced it myself with having only 1 fellow passenger in a 737. Anybody can: just book the last outbound flight of the season to a holiday destination (in Europe at least).

JCTJennings wrote:

JannEejit wrote:

Well I guess we'd all like this kind of pampering, but you have to wonder why they didn't just cancel it, even when they thought only three passengers would fly ? But good on Jet2 for getting this lady to where she needed to be...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-g ... t-41748305

Read the article. The return flight was full. How would they have got home if they had cancelled the outbound flight?

Hah, yes of course. Senior moment there...

The article says the return flight was full.

Yes I've done this before, it's quite fun being the only passenger.

In a few days I'm flying out to MAH on the last Saturday flight with TX on the 753 - currently 5 pax booked IIRC.

Jetty wrote:

This is nothing special really

So many users try and put a dampener on things. One day I'm expecting to see "gear up landing? Nothing special, the aircraft can handle it".

BlueberryWheats wrote:

Jetty wrote:

This is nothing special really

So many users try and put a dampener on things. One day I'm expecting to see "gear up landing? Nothing special, the aircraft can handle it".

Indeed so, I gather the lady concerned felt it was very special.

I worked a flight to MTJ with one passenger on Christmas day. Ironically her bags didn't make it from JFK, so the cargo hold was empty.

How you turn such thing in a positive PR. Well done JET2.

That is nothing. I have had a whole TG 77W for myself between HKT-BKK. Guess I should have contacted a newspaper...

From this thread you can read how I ended up in a empty 77W: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=704631



Yesterday I had a quick, 1 hour same plane turn at HKT flying BKK-HKT-BKK on TG221/222 operated by a 77W. The first flight, TG221 was delayed about 2hrs, which got me worried about not making the return flight as I was not familiar with the arrival process at HKT. However, I was assured that gate agents in HKT had been informed of my plan, and were expecting me.
So, we arrived at about 10pm into HKT and I quickly made it back through security into the gate area.However, very much to my surprise the whole gate area was empty, even though when I had checked in online the flight looked full, and after all you would expect some pax as it was operated by a 77W. As I took a seat waiting for boarding the sole gate agent came over and informed me that I would be the ONLY pax onboard the flight as all other pax had been rebooked on earlier flights. Then he personally escorted me onboard, were the crew gave me a J-class seat instead of my booked Y-seat. I quickly settled into my seat, and push back occurred a minute later. The crew asked if I wanted to see the inflight safety video, which I thought was not necessary. So there I was, all by myself with a fully crewed 77W flight as we taxied for departure. We rocketed off the runway and once we reached FL390 I started walking around "my" 77W. It was surreal to have such a big a/c all to myself. Just before starting our descend the captain came on the PA and welcomed me onboard by name and thanked me for making them company on this late night flight. As we docked to our gate at BKK, the crew informed me that there would be a car waiting for me to take me directly to the domestic baggage claim area. So not only did I get to have a 77W all to myself, but I also got a private tour of the airport!

Had it (short off) two times for myself.
Both between Bangkok and Frankfurt on TG. (long time ago on the 747)
Not a empty flight but i was the only guest in business class (new year eve flight) and the other time the only one in first class. (Christmas day flight)
Easily my best flights with personal service from nice Thai stewardesses.

This is good PR for jet2, and it's nice that the crew took advantage of the situation and truly personalized this woman's experience. Also probably a pleasant time before hauling a plane load of travelers back. The flight crew essentially got a nice paid break.

2007 or 2008 ‘ish, as a Jumpseater, I was the only one on a Continental 737 ORD IAH. Rolling and lengthy delays at both airports all day long, the flight was very late, I guess everyone else had rebooked or found other options. Then at the last minute another Jumpseater came down so in the end it was just us two.

She must have felt really special. All announcements onboard using her name and everything.

I've never been alone on an airliner, but I was alone in First Class once between ORD and MSY on an AA MD-80 back in the early 2000s. Got the royal treatment from the crew, even though I was a 19 year old standby-ticket holder.

I took a United flight from CAE to DCA with an intermediate stop in IAD. The IAD-DCA leg was a positioning flight, but UA gave it the same number as the flight from CAE to their IAD hub, so it was available to be booked. The travel agent booked me on this flight instead of a US non-stop because the flight time was what I asked for and the fare was acceptable. I didn't even notice the situation until I got to the airport in Columbia.

The closest I got to this was on a FlyGlobespan 737 flight, also ex GLA going down to TFS. Booked on a whim at 24 hours notice to get some winter sun after a job that week got cancelled. I ended up being offered a seat near the back, whilst all the other passengers, were seated in the front third or so of the cabin, all kids and parents off on holidays. Also seated at the rear was a very bubbly transiting FlyGlobespan crew, off to man another flight leaving Tenerife. We all got chatting, me asking about their jobs and them about mine. Free gin and tonics for me all the way and I even got a lift to the terminal from the remote stand in their crew vehicle. It was a great little holiday that !

CATIIIevery5yrs wrote:

2007 or 2008 ‘ish, as a Jumpseater, I was the only one on a Continental 737 ORD IAH. Rolling and lengthy delays at both airports all day long, the flight was very late, I guess everyone else had rebooked or found other options. Then at the last minute another Jumpseater came down so in the end it was just us two.

Did they let you sit in first class?

BestWestern wrote:

End of season flight which was full coming back.

The passenger was just interviewed on BBC five live and said that the crew were fantastic and all the cockpit announcements used her first name.

She's just been live on the BBC News Channel via webcam, chatting merrily away about what a great crew it was and how Jet2 looked after her. Great bit of positive PR instead of the usual doom and gloom airline news stories these days. Even the BBC news anchorman said "I wish all our stories could be this upbeat !"

Hilarious and a very nice crew! Kuddos to Jet2

I love those end-of-season flights to sunny destinations in Europe.

Cheap, relaxed, not busy (so crews are happy)... and you arrive at your destination that is usually half empty which also means it is way way cheaper and everybody is more relaxed and in a more helping mode since the peak season tourists are gone.

I remember a Swissair DC-8 in the early seventies operating on 31 DEC ?? ZRH/GVA/DKR/GIG/GRU/SCL with 3 passengers only on the GVA/DKR sector ( 1 pax from ZRH and 2 from GVA ). Return flight was fully booked and with the fares in those days it probably wasn't even loss making operation.So, nothing unusual about this lucky lady and great PR stunt for Jet2.

Rather then position it out they've took the opportunity to gain some revenue whilst positioning the aircraft out anyway to bring it back FULL.

Looking at the following:
LBA-MAH last flight for the season this Saturday - currently on sale at £26
LBA-HER last flight for the season this Saturday - currently on sale at £36
LBA-RHO last flight for the season this Monday - currently on sale at £47
LBA-DLM last flight for the season this Monday - currently on sale at £42

It will be the same in May next year; most of the flights out to resorts will be FULL whilst the return sectors will be almost empty. TOM on the other hand just position the aircraft out and operate back or vice versa.

I once flew on the last outbound flight of the season from DUB - PMI on a Monarch A300. There were no more than about 30-40 passengers on board. Very nice flight, although, I wouldn't have fancied spending any longer on the plane, despite the light load. The seating was very cramped, and 2 of the old "blue water" toilets managed to get blocked. I know they used to use these aircraft as far as Orlando and Goa!

Any other Brits remember when British Airways Shuttle operation was a walk up and pay service, no advance booking required ? They'd promise you a seat even if it meant deploying a back up aircraft with just you on it ? There was a TV commercial in the 80's advertising this promise which featured a Trident flying high, silhouetted against a sunny evening sky, showing just one person at a cabin window, enjoying a nice cold glass of something. Ah if only I'd had the chance...

nikeherc wrote:

I took a United flight from CAE to DCA with an intermediate stop in IAD. The IAD-DCA leg was a positioning flight, but UA gave it the same number as the flight from CAE to their IAD hub, so it was available to be booked. The travel agent booked me on this flight instead of a US non-stop because the flight time was what I asked for and the fare was acceptable. I didn't even notice the situation until I got to the airport in Columbia.

Was that on a J31 or J41 by any chance? I have an old early 1990s UA timetable that shows all the DCA-IAD and BWI-IAD feeder flights UA used to operate.

hynithuchi wrote:

I remember a Swissair DC-8 in the early seventies operating on 31 DEC ?? ZRH/GVA/DKR/GIG/GRU/SCL with 3 passengers only on the GVA/DKR sector ( 1 pax from ZRH and 2 from GVA ). Return flight was fully booked and with the fares in those days it probably wasn't even loss making operation.So, nothing unusual about this lucky lady and great PR stunt for Jet2.

1 passenger on Great Lakes is not only not unusual, they call that a heavy load.

Just before Christmas in 1976 when I was a brand new 727 FE with Delta, I was assigned to fly an extra section from ORD to MIA. The flight down to MIA departed at 10:30 PM and was completely full. After arriving in MIA we were to turn around and go back to ORD so the plane could service it's regular routing the next morning. We were not scheduled to take anybody back north with us, but before departing MIA an announcement was made in the MIA airport at 2:00 AM that anyone desiring travel to ORD report to our gate. We ended up with one passenger on the airplane and we seated him in FC. At Delta the FE was tasked with making the announcements and after takeoff rather than make an announcement I went back to the cabin to brief the passenger personally. After I got through telling him all the flight information I tried to engage in a little small talk only to learn he did not speak English. Later in the flight just before we started our descent in to ORD I went back to use the lav and you guessed it....it was occupied!

Yakflyer wrote:

Just before Christmas in 1976 when I was a brand new 727 FE with Delta, I was assigned to fly an extra section from ORD to MIA. The flight down to MIA departed at 10:30 PM and was completely full. After arriving in MIA we were to turn around and go back to ORD so the plane could service it's regular routing the next morning. We were not scheduled to take anybody back north with us, but before departing MIA an announcement was made in the MIA airport at 2:00 AM that anyone desiring travel to ORD report to our gate. We ended up with one passenger on the airplane and we seated him in FC. At Delta the FE was tasked with making the announcements and after takeoff rather than make an announcement I went back to the cabin to brief the passenger personally. After I got through telling him all the flight information I tried to engage in a little small talk only to learn he did not speak English. Later in the flight just before we started our descent in to ORD I went back to use the lav and you guessed it....it was occupied!

If he didn't speak English, did he even know he was on his way to ORD? Did boarding passes exist back in 1976?

Nice story. Have to say I have a soft spot for Jet2. Had two great flights on them earlier this year. From check in to boarding, flight,crew,meals etc.. all was 10/10.

32andBelow wrote:

[quote="
Did they let you sit in first class?

Back in the 80s, I flew as F/O on the MD80 on a short RDU-GSP leg with three passengers. For weight and balance purposes, they were seated in first class. Good news, they were seated up front. Bad news, the flight couldn't have been more than thirty minutes. One more...years later, I was Captain on the 767, HNL-STL, Christmas night, a whopping 20 passengers on board. It's a 'redeye'. so of course everyone selects their choice of center seats to sleep in relative comfort. The time comes for my rest break and I decide to do the same, selecting my row and telling the Purser where I would be. When I woke up later, I saw a totally empty cabin, dim lights, and all I knew in my stupor was that I was in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in a seemingly empty plane. Those of you that have viewed a few episodes of the 'Twilight Zone' know what I'm talking about.

A long time ago, I was traveling from ATL to SMF. I was at the gate awaiting to board and there was a security scare. The airport was evacuated. We waited outside for about an hour when they suddenly told us to return to our gate. Being one of the last out, I was one of the first back to the gate. As I arrived, they were closing the door of my aircraft. I asked why we were leaving so soon. The FA explained they had to keep as close to schedule as possible. Even though the flight was suppose to be almost full, there were 3 of us on some MD-xx aircraft. It was really quite nice.

BestWestern wrote:

End of season flight which was full coming back.

The passenger was just interviewed on BBC five live and said that the crew were fantastic and all the cockpit announcements used her first name.

Awww, thats lovely!

Many moons ago, Martinair had a MD-80 charter from AMS to CPH, returning empty. Few days later it would position empty up to CPH, to bring the guests back.

My dad worked for the company who handled MP in CPH, and they were offered Free-of-charge tickets on the positioning legs. We ended up 5 pax on the flight, occupying the entire front row and nothing else. The safety demo turned into a bit of a show, and the cabin crew simply parked a trolly loaded with drinks in the aisle and told us to help ourselves. Which we did, to the point getting off the aircraft in AMS was a bit wobbly.

I've had the F-cabin onboard an EK 77W all to myself between FRA and DXB, and been one of two passenger in the J-cabin of a BWIA A340 between Gatwick and Bahamas - the other pax was the daughter of the Captain on a freebie with upgrade organised by dad. Service on the former was impeccable, but somewhat laughable on the latter.

LGA-BOS round trip. One paid passenger to BOS, zero paying passengers and five nonrev passengers on the return.

Jetty wrote:

This is nothing special really, even almost experienced it myself with having only 1 fellow passenger in a 737. Anybody can: just book the last outbound flight of the season to a holiday destination (in Europe at least).

That was before this thread.
Next time, the plane will be packed, full of people who booked that flight just to get the experience of being the only passenger on the plane, like this lady or yourself.

JetBuddy wrote:

She must have felt really special. All announcements onboard using her name and everything.

I've never been alone on an airliner, but I was alone in First Class once between ORD and MSY on an AA MD-80 back in the early 2000s. Got the royal treatment from the crew, even though I was a 19 year old standby-ticket holder.

My one was on an AA M-80 PDX-SEA-ORD on 25th of December on a red-eye. I was the only one in F & was treated so nicely, the flight ended with me taking bottles of wine & champagne for my holiday in Columbus. I was on a pass & a very good friend at PDX. saw I was never in Y on AA.

This is such a great story. She tells the story so well too. Good for Karon and Jet2.

Sandyb123

Back in the good old days,late eighties , MH really looked after me on two separate occassions.
Melbourne to Kuala Lumper on a 747-200, upper deck all on my pat malone,looked after as if I was royalty.
The next was from Frankfaurt to Kuala Lumper again on a 747-200 but this time on the lower deck J class.
With 4 cabin crew fussing over me during the entire flight it made the flight extremely bearable.

Surprised this is even news. Happens all the time. Think there was the same story last year im same scenario.
Glad she had fun.

I never experienced something like this, it would be pretty nice to be called by your first name and have the whole plane to yourself.

Dominion301 wrote:

Yakflyer wrote:

Just before Christmas in 1976 when I was a brand new 727 FE with Delta, I was assigned to fly an extra section from ORD to MIA. The flight down to MIA departed at 10:30 PM and was completely full. After arriving in MIA we were to turn around and go back to ORD so the plane could service it's regular routing the next morning. We were not scheduled to take anybody back north with us, but before departing MIA an announcement was made in the MIA airport at 2:00 AM that anyone desiring travel to ORD report to our gate. We ended up with one passenger on the airplane and we seated him in FC. At Delta the FE was tasked with making the announcements and after takeoff rather than make an announcement I went back to the cabin to brief the passenger personally. After I got through telling him all the flight information I tried to engage in a little small talk only to learn he did not speak English. Later in the flight just before we started our descent in to ORD I went back to use the lav and you guessed it....it was occupied!

If he didn't speak English, did he even know he was on his way to ORD? Did boarding passes exist back in 1976?

How he got on the plane was not my department....I suspect being MIA they made the airport announcement in both English and Spanish.

Dominion301 wrote:

If he didn't speak English, did he even know he was on his way to ORD? Did boarding passes exist back in 1976?

And oh....they did have boarding passes back then. You would go to the gate and the agent would ask you where you wanted to sit and show you a map of the airplane with pull tabs for each seat. You would pick a seat and the agent would remove the tab and put it on your boarding pass. That's how they kept track of their seat inventory.

I'd love this opportunity. First thing I'd do with said opportunity is to call dibs on the jumpseat!

Take a flight from XNA-CVG and you can experience this daily.

Yakflyer wrote:

Dominion301 wrote:

If he didn't speak English, did he even know he was on his way to ORD? Did boarding passes exist back in 1976?

And oh....they did have boarding passes back then. You would go to the gate and the agent would ask you where you wanted to sit and show you a map of the airplane with pull tabs for each seat. You would pick a seat and the agent would remove the tab and put it on your boarding pass. That's how they kept track of their seat inventory.

Cool!

Props to Jet2!

My mother, father, brother and I were on a late night PDX-SEA Northwest Orient 727-200 in 1983 (staying the night at the Red Lion SEATAC prior to flying out SEA-HNL in the morning), and there was just us and one other couple. J was empty, and they didn’t even offer to move us up. No worries, being it is only a 30 minute flight. But it was a little eerie, I remember.

Good on Jet2!

I've flown SEA-YVR on a DH8 with five passengers and a cat. My next best is from the late 80's, on a SV 747-300 (hence my name), there was 20 people on a JED-JFK flight, but they still made us stay in our original seats.

I've been close twice. The first was a 737 from LAS to PDX with 5 onboard. I was (slightly) bummed when they informed us that only 1 of us got to sit in 1st class because of weight - balance. The second was a redeye from PDX to ATL with 6 on a 767. It was a drastic contrast to the last row on a totally full 757-300 for the next leg.

When I was a child and as my dad was a captain / flight instructor on the Caravelle 12, he would once in a while take me with him when positioning an aircraft for flight training (used to happen in Nîmes / FNI). Of course I would not be onboard during the training, only on the positioning non-revenue legs. And I was alone in the cabin, with stewardesses caring for me, only for me (there were stewardesses because that was their only occasion to practice in real-life conditions some smoke evacuation drills: aircraft at low speed, opening the wing escape hatches and the rear stair altogether at maybe 6,000 ft. Before the drill I was requested to seat myself in the first row of the cabin, which was a backward-facing seat so by just looking down the alley I could see the ground from the open rear-stair. Fond memories!