ABOARD FLIGHT AS322 — As tens of thousands of people flocked to cities from Texas to Maine for a chance to see the total solar eclipse, others took a chance on one of the rarest views of the phenomenon: out the window of a jetliner 33,000 feet in the air.
Several airlines across the country promoted flights with routes that intersect with the totality of the eclipse. Two such Alaska Airlines flights departed from San Diego — one bound for Washington Dulles International Airport and the other Boston Logan International Airport. Both jetted off just after 8 a.m. on Monday.
Jacque Whaley of Lakeside looks at a reflection of the eclipse though a mirror on an Alaska Airlines flight from San Diego to Washington Dulles International Airport.
(K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
“I had to do this. It’s a lifetime event,” said Jacque Whaley of Lakeside from her first-class seat on the Alaska flight to Dulles. Whaley, who wore a sun and moon pendant and brought a small mirror to view the eclipse, looked into flights only a week and a half ago and used miles to book the trip.
Her effort paid off. As clouds obscured the eclipse in some areas of the Midwest, passengers on the Alaska Airlines flights were treated to a spectacular sky show and a festive atmosphere.
Flight attendant Michele Buergel passes out solar eclipse glasses to passengers.
(K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
A view of the partial eclipse appeared about halfway into the flight. Passengers on the south side of the Boeing 737 Max 9 — wearing eclipse-safe glasses — craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the moon as it steadily obscured more and more of the sun. Commuters seated on the opposite side of the plane were not totally out of luck, as some of them traded seats. Some lay down for a minute before hopping up to give the next person a glimpse.
Passengers were given eclipse glasses, an information sheet, and an eclipse-decorated cookie for the flight.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Pilots on the Dulles-bound aircraft flew southeast to Texas before veering northeast, trailing the eclipse’s path through the Arkansas toward Ohio. Passengers stared on in amazement as they flew above the clouds and the moon’s shadow crept in.
A passenger uses solar eclipse glasses to use as a filter as they take photos of the eclipse.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
As the plane reached eastern Missouri, its pilots slowed to 560 miles an hour and descended to 33,000 feet in the air, allowing passengers to view a once-in-a-lifetime event: a solar eclipse at totality.
For four minutes, the moon completely obscured the sun, casting the aircraft and the clouds below into near-total darkness. Pilot Nick Mentzen maneuvered some S-turns, giving people on both sides of the aircraft an unobstructed view.
Inyup Kang, of Carmel Valley looks at photos of the eclipse he took as his wife Jin Min looks out of the window during the eclipse.
(K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
“It was really amazing. I’m almost at a loss for words,” said Whaley. “Normally people don’t even talk to each other on planes, but everyone was really kind. It was a little party plane that will never happen again.”
As with any flight, delays due to stormy weather conditions and mechanical issues were always in play, but Monday’s flight went off without a hitch.
Some passengers booked the flight without any idea their in-flight entertainment would be a cosmic rarity.
Travis Fabian of Encinitas, traveling to Washington, D.C., on business, was unaware of the eclipse flight when he booked it.
Travis Fabian of Encinitas shows a photo he took of the total solar eclipse during an Alaska Airlines flight from San Diego to Washington Dulles International Airport.
(K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
“It was such a community event on the plane, and it was great to see everyone come together,” he said. “It was absolutely incredible to see the dynamic of it changing from light to dark and light again.”
Some passengers suction cupped phones to the window. Others covered the lenses of point-and-shoot cameras with solar glasses. Others brought tripods and professional cameras.
Passengers headed back east on the Alaska Airlines flights were also supplied with eclipse-safe glasses, an information guide and of course eclipse-decorated cookies from Emma’s Sweets, a bakery in Chula Vista.
The next total solar eclipse in the continental United States is in 2044, but airlines aren’t taking reservations yet.
The total solar eclipse is seen from an Alaska Airlines flight over Missouri.
(K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
