It’s not common, but it’s also not extremely rare for travelers to arrive at a crowded gate to find the plane is overbooked and they might have to give up their seat. The opposite, however, is very rare. One United Airlines passenger, Kelly Ann, shared a social media post about a completely empty flight she was on. Recently, another United Airlines passenger shared a less fun experience after witnessing parents change their infant’s diaper in their seats during the flight.
The lone passenger, Kelly Ann, explained to TheTravel what the flight was like and what likely made it completely passenger-free — besides her.
United Airlines Passenger Shares Her Experience On A Rare Flight
Kelly Ann shared the experience on Reddit, including a slideshow of images of the empty flight and a selfie that the pilot allowed her to take with him inside the cockpit. She also exclusively shared another selfie with TheTravel. She clarified in her post that no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules were broken and that the plane had already landed and finished being taxied when she took the in-cockpit selfie with the pilot.
“Shout out Captain Scott! He let me sit in the cockpit after we landed and I even got my own personalized pre flight announcements,” she wrote in the caption.
Kelly Ann told TheTravel that some of the pilot’s co-workers saw the Reddit post, prompting him to reach out to her. She said he assured her that “he’s not in trouble,” and that “his boss thought it was hilarious.”
She also affectionately called the pilot a “goofy goober,” sharing an image of him holding an iced coffee and striking a pose.
Kelly Ann explained how the pilot personalized the in-flight announcements by “peppering in some quips” and using her name rather than “ladies and gentlemen.”
“He was cracking up the whole time,” she told TheTravel.
She clarified on Reddit that she did not have an assigned seat, sharing an image of her stretching out in the front row and another of her kicking her feet up against the wall.
She also shed light on what the airport was like prior to boarding her flight.
More Details About The Unique United Airlines Flight Experience
Kelly Ann also said that she wasn’t the only passenger on the flight, but the only one in the airport.
“I was the only person in the airport that wasn’t an employee,” she told TheTravel.
One commenter on her post joked that she still had to wait for “group 5 boarding.” Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. She confirmed to TheTravel that the gate agent let her board after saying “all groups.”
Kelly Ann also confirmed to TheTravel that the route was from Huntsville, Alabama, to Houston. The only route United Airlines offers from Huntsville to Houston is from Huntsville International Airport (HSV) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). That flight typically is about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Kelly Ann also gave a reason why she believes the flight, which she said departed at 10:30 p.m., was likely empty.
“It was an incredibly delayed flight because of the weather,” she told TheTravel. “[The flight was] almost 12 hours delayed. And I guess I was the only one who didn’t reschedule and stuck it out.”
Houston has had several thunderstorms in June, according to Weather Underground. The passenger’s clarification that she didn’t violate FAA rules is notable, since unauthorized persons in the cockpit can have serious consequences.
FAA Rule About Non-Authorized People In Cockpits
FAA rules state that individuals who are not authorized to enter the cockpit while the plane is airborne are unable to do so. People who are permitted include, but are not limited to, a crew member, an FAA air carrier inspector, or an authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) performing official duties.
Breaking this rule could result in civil penalties or even criminal charges, depending on the nature of the incident. Violations of certain FAA regulations could carry civil penalties under 49 U.S.C. § 46301. The statute contains several penalty provisions, which include an administrative penalty provision that allows the FAA to impose penalties of up to $100,000.
A passenger is allowed to go to the cockpit in some instances, however. If the plane has landed and finished taxiing — or if it’s before the flight taxis before departure — and the pilot allows it, passengers can visit the cockpit. No one has successfully stormed the cockpit since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, thanks in part to airlines required to install reinforced cockpit doors.
Before 9/11, the rules were actually the opposite: the FAA required cockpit doors to be easily opened in the event the crew became trapped.
In addition, a 2023 FAA rule required new planes to have a secondary barrier to the cockpit that can be locked in place when the cockpit door is opened. Passengers looking to visit the cockpit should not attempt to enter uninvited, but if the captain allows it before or after taxiing while the plane is on the ground, they may possibly get a unique and fun experience, as this United Airlines traveler did.
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