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| Southwest Airlines Offers Front-Row Seats to the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse |
If you're eagerly anticipating Saturday's annular eclipse, there's an exciting opportunity that you won't want to miss. Southwest Airlines is offering a unique chance to witness next year's total solar eclipse from the skies.
Southwest Airlines has identified specific flights that have a high likelihood of intersecting with the path of the major celestial event on April 8, 2024. While flight paths may vary due to weather conditions on the day of the event, here are the selected flights offering the best views:
1. Southwest Flight #1252: Departing from Dallas (Love Field) at 12:45 p.m. CDT, headed for Pittsburgh.
2. Southwest Flight #1721: Departing from Austin at 12:50 p.m. CDT, bound for Indianapolis.
3. Southwest Flight #1910: Departing from St. Louis at 1:20 p.m. CDT, heading to Houston (Hobby).
In addition to these, there are flights that may cross the path of totality, providing a unique eclipse experience:
1. Southwest Flight #955: Departing from Dallas (Love Field) at 12:50 p.m. CDT, en route to Chicago (Midway).
2. Southwest Flight #506: Departing from Milwaukee at 1:05 p.m. CDT, heading for Dallas (Love Field).
3. Southwest Flight #1734: Departing from Houston (Hobby) at 1:35 p.m. CDT, bound for Indianapolis.
4. Southwest Flight #1682: Departing from Chicago (Midway) at 1:30 p.m. CDT, on its way to Austin.
5. Southwest Flight #3108: Departing from Nashville at 1:40 p.m. CDT, headed for Dallas (Love Field).
You can secure your seat on one of these special flights by visiting southwest.com.
Mark your calendar for April 8, as this eclipse will be the last total solar eclipse visible in the United States until 2045, according to experts.
David Dillahunt, Southwest Airlines' Chief Meteorologist, shared his excitement about this opportunity, stating, "Today's annular solar eclipse was an exciting sneak peek of the total solar eclipse occurring next year, and our Meteorology and Network Planning Teams identified the best opportunities for a potential view of this breathtaking sight. With our flight schedule, we're able to offer hundreds of seats in the sky to view the eclipse, and we look forward to showcasing our hospitality on this day while celebrating with our customers."
The last total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. occurred in 2017, and it left a lasting impression on many, including astrophotographer Jon Carmichael.
Carmichael had dreamt of witnessing a total solar eclipse since childhood and had meticulously tracked the date of August 21, 2017. Aboard a Southwest Airlines flight, he turned his dream into reality.
He found a Southwest flight departing from Portland, Oregon, to St. Louis, Missouri, and remarkably, the flight path closely aligned with the moon's shadow path on the eclipse maps from 2017.
As he arrived at the gate, three Southwest employees generously provided eclipse glasses to all passengers and comped all drinks on the flight. Carmichael introduced himself and secured the perfect seat on the plane, but the windows needed cleaning for the perfect shot.
The pilot, upon overhearing Carmichael's request, ensured the windows were cleaned, guaranteeing a clear view. To capture the ideal shot, Carmichael requested that the plane be turned during the flight to provide a 180-degree view of the eclipse. Much to his surprise, and with approval from the FAA, the pilot made the maneuver.
At an altitude of 39,000 feet, in just three minutes and with five different turns, Carmichael captured hundreds of shots to create the perfect composite image.
Carmichael dedicated a whole year and 100 hours to crafting this image, comprised of 1,200 photos. He expressed his gratitude to Southwest for their extraordinary assistance, emphasizing that this experience transformed his career.
He encourages people to take advantage of flights in the path of totality and recommends putting cameras aside for a moment to fully appreciate the awe-inspiring spectacle. As Carmichael puts it, "It's 10,000 times brighter at 90% than 100%. At 100%, you can actually take your eclipse glasses off and you can stare right at the moon and the sun. It's the most beautiful thing, I guarantee you, that you'll ever see in your life."
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