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That Delta Passenger Who Got a Plane to Himself? Didn't Quite Happen That Way

Aug. 15, 2019
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3 min read
Utah Scenics
That Delta Passenger Who Got a Plane to Himself? Didn't Quite Happen That Way
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Earlier this week, we reported on Vincent Peone's private jet-like experience on a Delta Connection flight from Aspen to Salt Lake City. According to Peone's Twitter feed and a short video posted to the social media platform, he was the only passenger on his flight to Salt Lake City. Major media outlets, including this one, reported the story. However, Peone's version of what happened omitted key details. Here's what actually happened.

Much of Peone's account of his Delta Connection flight from ASE to SLC adds up. Peone was the only passenger to board Delta Connection flight DL3652. However, he never actually made it to Salt Lake City that evening.

Peone's video has over 3 million views on Twitter as of Thursday, August 15th. (Image by @vincentpeone on Twitter)

Peone boarded the flight to Salt Lake City. The crew performed all required pre-flight duties and the aircraft made it to the runway. However, that's where Peone's private jet-like experience ended. A Delta spokesperson confirmed to TPG that the aircraft encountered a "mechanical issue" that forced it to return to the gate: "Delta Connection flight 3652 last week returned to the gate due to a maintenance issue. The aircraft departed a short time later without any customers on board."

Once the aircraft returned to the gate, Peone disembarked and was rebooked on another Delta flight. The aircraft Peone had originally boarded did, however, make its way to Salt Lake City later that evening, with no passengers. The airplane, a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet, was ferried to Salt Lake City with just the flight crew traveling on-board.

Delta Connection flight DL3652 from Aspen (ASE) to Salt Lake City (SLC) (Image courtesy of FlightAware)

Peone never clarified exact details of the flight. He does appear to imply that he was aboard for the entire flight from Aspen to Salt Lake City. At the end of the short video Peone posted to Twitter, he is seen shaking the hands of both pilots and thanking them for working the flight.

Related: Choosing the Best Credit Card for Delta Flyers

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It turns out that flight DL3652 was not a case of a passenger getting an entire aircraft to themselves. However, there have been a few confirmed incidents in which only one passenger was on board a flight including one lucky vacationer to Greece. As for Peone, we reached out to him for comment, but have not yet received a response.

Featured image by Getty Images

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.