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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Milo Boyd

Man’s flight delayed for 18 hours and then he was the only passenger left

A man ended up on a private flight with crew attending to his every wishes after enduring an 18 flight delay.

Phil Stringer was trying to return home from Oklahoma City to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, but found himself waiting hour after hour at the airport.

After 18 hours of delays the real-estate broker eventually made it onto an American Airlines flight that was certainly worth the wait.

Phil was the only person on the flight when it finally took off, meaning he got a free pass into first class and a private party with the crew.

The North Carolina man captured some of his unusual experience in a TikTok post.

"I'm the only person on this plane and they have a whole flight crew. They do not want to do this flight," Phil says with a mischievous smile as he waits in the terminal.

Before a boarding agent calls out his name with a grin, the lonely traveller asks a baggage handler how many cases he's loaded - to which the man replies 'one'.

"They pulled them from the hotel to do this flight for one person," he continues, before the video jumps to the plane where a flight attendant is performing a personal version of the safety instructions for one.

"Did you get that? Because I'm not doing it again," a flight attendant asks Phil as she shows him how to buckle up the seatbelt.

The same crew member kicks out a leg with a flourish as she models the inflatable life vest, attracting the applause of her colleagues who are sat in first class seats.

At the end of the video Phil is seen in a picture surrounded by happy looking staff.

The solo traveller explained how he been waiting for a flight that was set to depart at 6.20am on Sunday, but was delayed because of maintenance issues.

While the initial flight was full, Phil didn't notice his fellow passengers rebooking their flights. When he eventually got ready to leave at midnight, he was the only one remaining in the terminal.

"I went to the gate and nobody was there. I was like, 'Did you guys already board everyone?'" he told Insider, adding that the flight attendant "was like, 'No, honey, you're the only passenger.'"

The American Airlines flight was delayed by 18 hours (AFP via Getty Images)

Phil said he apologised '400 times' to staff and told them he was unable to get a later flight as he had to get home.

"They were kind of teasing me, like, 'Really, bro, you couldn't have left a few hours later?'" he added.

When the crew made an announcement they would add: "And, yeah, Phil, this message is just for you."

Phil added: "I believe that your attitude determines your destination. Yeah, it was a sucky day. No one wants to stay in the airport for 18 hours, but if you have a positive view, you can turn something into a lot of fun.

In the comments beneath the video people claiming to be flight attendants said they wouldn't have felt inconvenienced by the solo flight.

"As a flight attendant, this is the DREAM! Welcome to your private charter," one person wrote.

Another added: "I've always wanted to work a flight with one passenger."

A third wrote: "I’m one of the flight attendants! I’m glad we were all able to make light of the situation!"

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