A travel expert has shared his experience of watching the recent total solar eclipse from a commercial flight, detailing the planning and execution involved. Nicky Kelvin, a travel and points expert for The Points Guy, secured a last-minute British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Malaga, using 14,000 Avios points and paying only £2.50 for the journey.
Kelvin's meticulous planning involved using Flightradar24 to identify flights that would align with the path of totality. He specifically aimed for a seat on the right-hand side of the aircraft to maximize his viewing potential. "It was absolutely crazy, so cool. It took an insane amount of planning," Kelvin told the Daily Mail. He described the moment of totality, which lasted approximately 90 seconds, as "incredible" and "the most insane thing I've ever seen."
Upon boarding, the captain announced the possibility of viewing the eclipse, accompanied by safety warnings. As the celestial event progressed, shadows became visible below the aircraft, eliciting gasps from passengers. While initially about 95% obscured, the spectacle of totality prompted cheers and a jubilant atmosphere among those on board, many of whom had not booked the flight specifically for the eclipse.
Kelvin noted that while specialized charter flights for eclipse viewing exist, his approach offered a greater sense of challenge and excitement. He spent roughly ten hours researching flight paths and timings to find the optimal option. He plans to employ similar strategies for future events, including the next total solar eclipse scheduled for August 2, 2027, which will be visible in southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
For those interested in replicating such an experience, Kelvin suggests earning Avios points through loyalty programs and credit cards. Websites like seats.aero can assist in filtering flights compatible with these points.
Nasa reports that a partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, eastern Canada, and the northern United States. The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 2, 2027.