Can I see the solar eclipse during a flight? Try these specific ones.

Travelers departing on April 8 may have a chance to view the total solar eclipse from the air.

Delta Air Lines is operating two special flights to track the total path, but many airlines, including Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, are offering regular flights where you’re most likely to witness daytime darkness. Advertise your itinerary.

Stephen Lawrence, a professor of physics and astronomy at Hofstra University, said viewing the eclipse from an airplane has some additional benefits, but also some challenges.

Much of the U.S. total path has a 60% to 80% chance of ground cloud cover, with Texas having the highest chance of clear skies. “You can usually fly high enough to be above the clouds, so you’ll definitely be able to see the eclipse,” Lawrence said on the plane.

But he cautioned that just being on a plane is not always enough.

“You have to be on the right side of the plane,” Lawrence said. “People on the right side of the plane, facing south, can see it, but people on the north side can’t see it.”

Look from the park there:You can see a total solar eclipse from a national park, but there’s even more to see in the skies over a national park.

If you’re flying east, you’ll want to be on the right side when facing forward, and if your flight path is heading west, you’ll want to be on the left side.

Lawrence said eastbound flights also have the added benefit of viewing the eclipse.

“You’re slowing down the shadow speed by half. Instead of a four-and-a-half minute eclipse, you might get a six-minute totality,” he said, adding that the plane was cruising at about 500 miles per hour. , explained that this is because the shadow of a solar eclipse travels at about 1,000 miles per hour and chases you across the sky. This means they can see longer than a stationary observer on the ground.

He added that the plane’s high vantage point means it can see approaching shadows better than travelers on the ground.

Lawrence said it’s important to take proper precautions, whether from the ground or from the air.

“Of course, the most important thing is eye safety. It is safe to view the eclipse with the naked eye, but only for a few minutes of totality,” he said.

Which airlines are advertising Eclipse flights?

Delta Air Lines is planning two special flights to view the path of the solar eclipse, adding that it is likely that part of its regular itinerary will also cross the solar eclipse. United Airlines and Southwest Airlines also said some flights were likely to experience totality.

Here’s what’s offered:

delta

Detroit (DTW) to Westchester, New York (HPN) departing at 2:59 p.m. EDT.

Departs Los Angeles (LAX) to Dallas (DFW) at 8:40 a.m. PDT.

Departs from Los Angeles (LAX) to San Antonio (SAT) at 9am PDT.

Depart Salt Lake City (SLC) to San Antonio (SAT) at 10:08 a.m. MDT.

Depart Salt Lake City (SLC) to Austin (AUS) at 9:55 AM MDT.

southwest

Flight 1252: Departs Dallas (Love Field) at 12:45pm CDT, bound for Pittsburgh

Flight 1721: Departs Austin at 12:50pm CDT, bound for Indianapolis

Flight 1910: departing St. Louis at 1:20 PM CDT for Houston (Hobby)

united

Flight 5693 departs Chicago for Little Rock at 12:45 PM CDT.

Flight 490 will depart Chicago for Houston at 12:47pm CDT.

Flight 455 departs Chicago for Dallas at 12:49 PM CDT

Flight 247 departs Chicago for Toronto at 1:00 PM CDT.

Flight 2440 departs Chicago for New York at 1pm CDT

Flight 2187 departs Chicago for Washington, DC at 1:20pm CDT.

Flight 1438 departs Houston at 11:55 a.m. CDT for San Jose del Cabo.

Flight 6128 departs Houston at noon CDT heading to Columbus.

Flight 6109 departs Houston for Detroit at 12:05 PM CDT.

Flight 1318 departs Houston at 12:23 PM CDT for Cincinnati.

Flight 1687 departs Houston for Indianapolis at 12:25 PM CDT.

But airlines flying in total orbit aren’t the only ones seeing a resurgence in eclipse-related travel demand. Alaska Airlines is anticipating additional demand for flights to Austin, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas, as well as Cleveland, where there should be a good chance to see the eclipse on the ground. An Alaska spokesperson told USA TODAY that the airline had previously added extra flights to Mazatlan, Mexico, and is expected to have the longest total flight time during this solar eclipse. Ta. Tickets to Mazatlan are also in particular demand, a spokesperson said.

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Can I see the solar eclipse during a flight? Try these specific ones.

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