You Can See the Solar Eclipse From the Air But It’s Going to Cost You

Delta Airlines is offering passengers a unique opportunity to see the total solar eclipse from the sky, but the flight is pricey and nearly sold out.

What is the Total Solar Eclipse?

The total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024. According to NASA, the moon will completely block the sun while it passes between the sun and Earth. The map below shows the "Path of Totality" in the United States (the dark band) stretching from Texas to Maine.

The path of the eclipse will begin in the US in Texas (beginning at 1:40 pm CDT) and continue through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.(ending at 3:34 pm EDT).

NASA also predicts that small portions of Michigan and Tennessee will also be able to experience the total solar eclipse.

View the Eclipse from a Plane

Delta Airlines announced on Monday (2/19) that it's offering passengers the opportunity to fly on a special flight from Austin, Texas to Detroit. The timing of the flight is such that it will give passengers a chance to see the totality of the eclipse from the air.

According to Mlive, Delta Flight 1218 will depart from Austin, Texas at 12:15 pm CDT and land at Detroit's Metro Airport at 4:20 pm EST. The statement from Delta indicates that passengers will have the best chance of viewing the eclipse at its peak.

Delta indicates that the response to the flight has been great and that seats were nearly sold out. The price of a one-way ticket aboard the flight was set at $1,129.