Passengers on Delta's $1,000 'eclipse flight' NEVER SAW the cosmic event despite pilots repeatedly turning the jet as people lay on seats in a desperate attempt to squint at the sun

Delta passengers who forked out $1,150 for the airline's special eclipse flight missed out on seeing the full spectacle.

The 'disappointing' trips set off from Austin to Dallas and Detroit and promised to take those on board along the 'path of totality'.

But it has since emerged that many passengers aboard the sell-out flights got a worse view than those on the ground.

'I really don't think anybody on the plane actually caught the eclipse in full totality,' James Larounis, a travel industry expert on the  Detroit flight, told Business Insider. 

'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.'

Delta passengers who forked out $1,150 for the airline's special eclipse flight missed out on seeing the full spectacle

Passengers set off from two flights from Austin to Dallas and Detroit in hopes of catching the 'path of totality'

But once above the clouds, the angle of the sun meant that many only saw a 'sliver' of the action

But he said that 'everyone were good sports about it', stating he would do it again.

Others described lying along seats in a desperate attempt to catch a glimpse.

'It was a little disappointing, ' passenger Melanie Elliott told the Washington Post, adding that she would not repeat the experience.

However, most customers were still satisfied with the flights.

'Even though we didn't get it completely, it was a fun community experience,' attorney Scott Kees told the outlet.

Kees travelled from Atlanta with his daughter Gabrielle, eight, but said they only caught a 'sliver' of the action. 

Prior to boarding, passengers were greeted by Delta by a balloon arch with DJs blasting music and making special announcements.

Once on board, they were treated to eclipse-themed goodies including special edition Sun Chips, a Moon Pie, protective glasses and Delta branded socks and a hat emblazoned with, 'climbing the cosmos'.

However, the disappointment didn't dampen spirits too much with many passengers reporting a positive experience

Spectators on the ground ended up getting a better view than those aboard the Delta flights

The 2024 total solar eclipse was watched by at least 30 million people in the US who started in wonder at the moon blocking out the sun for a few minutes.

Staff also cleaned the windows to ensure people had the best chance at taking pictures.

But once at 33,000 feet it proved difficult to capture the full eclipse, despite the pilots banking the aircraft to give everyone a chance. 

The one-way trips departed from Texas on April 8, with Delta warning that they were 'subject to change due to factors outside Delta's control such as weather and air traffic control'.

The flights were above the clouds which eliminated one of the biggest obstacles to catching the eclipse when viewing from the ground.

However, the angle of the sun in the sky made it tricky to spot from the plane.

The delta flights were among dozens operated by airlines who advertised the best chance to see the eclipse.

The once in a generation event was predicted to boost local economies, with visitors to eclipse-viewing hotspots estimated to spend $1.6 billion on lodging, food, gas, and activities, according to the The Perryman Group. 

The 2024 total solar eclipse was watched by at least 30 million people in the US who stared in wonder at the moon blocking out the sun for a few minutes. 

The 2024 total solar eclipse was watched by at least 30 million people in the US

The next total solar eclipse will not take place until March 30, 2033, but Alaska will be the only North American region to witness it

After sweeping northeast through Mexico and then Texas, Arkansas and Ohio shortly before 2pm, crowds gathered in New York City and Washington DC hoping to catch a glimpse.

The grand finale was in Maine, where families took a break from spring to take it all in. The last partial eclipse was seen in Caribou at 4.40pm.

The next total solar eclipse will not take place until March 30, 2033, but Alaska will be the only North American region to witness it.