How to Score an Empty Flight on Your Next Trip
Are you tired of being cramped on a flight next to smelly strangers? Imagine having all the space to yourself, no line for the bathroom, and making friends with the cabin crew. That’s the beauty of an empty flight, and you can increase your chances of scoring one with these well-kept secrets.
Increase Your Chances of Booking an Empty Flight
Travellers Dina Louann, Anaru Ratapu, and Hannah Maden-Adams have all had the lucky experience of flying alone. They’ve discovered some clever tips that could help you get your own personal airplane.
Book at Off-Peak Times
Gilbert Orr, creator of the travel blog godsavethepoints.com, recommends booking a departure time with lower demand, like early in the morning or late at night.
He said: “Between New York and London, for example, the last flight of the day (in both directions) will typically be the most quiet, as business travelers prefer earlier flights.”
Fly on Low Demand Days and Smaller Routes
Booking on days with lower travel demand, such as major holidays like Christmas, can also increase your chances of having an empty flight. Furthermore, flying on routes between smaller cities with less popular airlines, such as between London and less known places like Bulgaria or Azerbaijan, can yield flights that are less than 50% full.
Look for Unpopular Tag Routes
Keeping an eye out for ‘tag’ routes can also increase your chances of finding an empty plane. These are routes where a commercial airline flies between two destinations but then adds on another stop. For instance, KLM operates an Amsterdam-Singapore flight that continues to Bali, which could see reduced demand.
Price Alerts and Other Hacks
Beyond these tips, you can also set up price alerts to get the flights emailed to you at your desired price. Nicky Kelvin, from The Points Guy UK, gives six tips on what flyers can do to find the best price. Additionally, flying at off-peak times, traveling between smaller cities, and looking for airlines traveling along ‘tag’ routes will likely see fewer people on a flight, increasing your chances of having the flight all to yourself.
Next time you’re planning a trip, keep these hacks in mind to increase your chances of being the sole passenger on an airplane. With the right strategies, you might just find yourself with an entire plane to stretch out and relax.