- Delta's two special solar eclipse flights set off on April 8, from Austin and Dallas to Detroit.
- But passengers say they didn't experience a total eclipse like some people on the ground.
- People remained in good spirits despite forking out between $749 and $1,150 for tickets.
When Delta first announced its special solar eclipse flight from Austin to Detroit, it was so popular that they had to arrange a second flight from Dallas to Detroit.
Passengers paid between $749 and $1,150 for one-way tickets to experience the "path of totality" at 30,000 feet on April 8.
But it turns out that people on board didn't get to see the total eclipse, according to one passenger.
"I really don't think anybody on the plane actually caught the eclipse in full totality," James Larounis, a travel industry analyst who was on the Dallas to Detroit flight, told Business Insider.
However, he explained that the pilot maneuvered the aircraft to ensure that both sides of the plane could see at least a partial eclipse.
"There were a lot of folks crouching on the ground, looking out the window, climbing over the seats to try to get the best possible view."
But spirits remained high for passengers on the flight; "everyone was good sports about it," Larounis said. They did get to see the eclipse's shadow move across the cities underneath them, which gave passengers evidence of the eclipse, he added.
Larounis told BI he bought his first-class ticket using over 100,000 Delta SkyMiles, the equivalent of over $1,000.
Passengers were given goodie bags, including limited edition solar-eclipse-themed Sun Chips, and a Delta hat and socks that said "climbing the cosmos," per the Washington Post.
A lot of fanfare surrounded the experience: Delta held a celebration at the gate in Dallas with special announcements, balloons, and photo opportunities, and a DJ was playing at the airport on their arrival in Detroit.
Even though most people on the flight likely didn't see the full eclipse they thought they would, "it was a great experience and I'd do it again," said Larounis.
Other passengers have reported feeling similarly about the experience.
"Unlike on the ground, the plane was never fully dark," an Atlanta-Journal Constitution journalist who was on the flight reported.
"A truth began to dawn on us — maybe a plane isn't the best viewing spot for an eclipse," she added.
Another passenger told the Washington Post that he only saw "a sliver" of the eclipse. "Even though we didn't get it completely, it was a fun community experience," he told the outlet.
The solar eclipse was expected to be a big boon for local economies along its path, with millions of visitors spending money to travel across the country to get the best viewing spot.
It was estimated that visitors would spend $1.6 billion on lodging, food, gas, and activities, according to the Texas economic consultancy Perryman Group.
