Two strike it lucky with empty flight

IF you thought it lucky to find the seat next to yours vacant on a flight, imagine what it would be like to have an entire plane to yourself.

IF you thought it lucky to find the seat next to yours vacant on a flight, imagine what it would be like to have an entire plane to yourself.

American Chris O'Leary thought his luck was in this week after long delays meant that all the other passengers on his Delta Air Lines flight from Cleveland to New York were moved onto another departure.

The media strategist and website editor logged the event on Twitter, saying how much he enjoyed his personal safety briefing.

But his revelry was short-lived - just as the plane was due to leave its stand for take-off, another passenger was allowed to board.

Even so, a sum total of two passengers on a plane built for 76 promised a comfortable flight.

O'Leary said he did not talk to the other passenger, other than to say hello as he boarded: "He seemed to think it was less novel ... or he was really just looking forward to napping during the flight."

O'Leary found himself alone on the aircraft after tracking the delayed flight from his hotel room rather than the airport. Most of the other passengers had already had their journeys rescheduled by the time he arrived to board the plane.

Delta Air Lines confirmed that the plane had taken off with only two passengers because it was needed at LaGuardia Airport later in the day.