Inside no passenger ‘ghost’ flight with Virgin Australia

A Sydney passenger has shared his experience on an eerie “ghost flight”, where he found he was the only person on board.

A man on his way from Sydney to Fiji has shared what it was like to travel on a “ghost flight” after he entered the plane to discover he was the only passenger on board.

Passenger Robbie Allen shared the eerie details of his empty flight in January last year, when hundreds of passengers didn’t show up to fly.

A ghost flight is industry slang for a route that is flown with less than 10 per cent of its passenger capacity – but Mr Allen’s four-hour experience was particularly odd, given he was the only person on board.

@robbieallen

It was creepy at first but then amazing, just wish I hadn't already paid for business class 🤦🏽‍♂️😅 (don't judge my horrible tik tok skills lol) #virginaustralia @Virgin Australia #fypシ#fiji#fyp#zyxcba#sydney#fijitiktok#australia#maori#avgeek#aviation

♬ original sound - Robbie Allen

The experience was “creepy at first”, but star treatment from Virgin Australia staff made up for the eerie feeling, he said.

“I was literally the only person on the whole plane,” Mr Allen said in a TikTok video that has been viewed almost 900,000 times.

“The captain came and sat next to me and talked to me. The staff gave me whatever I wanted.”

The route is typically flown by Virgin with a Boeing 737, with a capacity of 275 passengers.

Mr Allen was the only passenger on the flight. Picture: Tiktok/@robbieallen

The flight attendants, Mr Allen said, were particularly attentive, bringing him a bowl of snacks and glass of sparkling wine.

“I had already booked business class but I would’ve gotten it for free if I didn’t,” he said.

“Just wish I hadn’t already paid for business class,” he added in the video’s caption.

The flight was his “private jet”, Mr Allen joked to viewers.

“I literally have the whole plane to myself. I’m the only passenger,’ he added.

“It’s for my birthday. I’m the VIP.

“It was such a strange and weird experience, something I’ll never forget.”

Mr Allen’s small suitcase was unloaded alone in the baggage hall. Picture: Tiktok/@robbieallen

Mr Allen also showed his lonely suitcase upon arrival in Fiji, where it stood alone in the baggage collection hall.

“I was the only person on the plane so it’s just there by itself,” he said.

Commenters said the fluke was nothing short of a “dream”.

“I would have cried because I was happy. That’s a dream,” one said. “Lucky man.”

“This is literally an introvert’s dream! It’s me. I’m the introvert,” another added.

He was given snacks and wine. Picture: Tiktok/@robbieallen

As well as a three-course meal. Picture: Tiktok/@robbieallen

Others pointed out that airport staff, too, would have been thrilled at the arrangement, saying it was “a ground staff’s dream”.

“I would have moved from seat to seat every minute,” another commenter joked.

There was some scepticism that Virgin Australia would have decided to cancel the near-empty flight rather than run it, but this was quickly dismissed by an airline insider.

“For those saying they would’ve cancelled the flight, no they wouldn’t. There would be a full flight returning from Fiji so the plane has to be there,” they said.

Mr Allen replied that 27 people were waiting for the return flight home.