Internet Relates To Woman Discovering If She'll Have 'Best Or Worst Flight'

A video capturing "the suspense" of a passenger waiting to find out whether she's bagged a whole row to herself on a flight has gone viral on TikTok. The moment of anticipation was captured in the clip shared by Lucie Rauschnabel (@lucierausch) and has garnered 5.2 million views since it was posted on July 19. The video begins with a message overlaid on the screen saying: "POV [point of view] both seats next to you are empty. Boarding closes in 2 minutes. You are either about to have the best or worst flight of your life. The suspense is so real." The footage shows a woman sitting in an aisle seat, appearing nervous while looking down the plane aisle. The setup perfectly encapsulates the tension many travelers feel in such situations, where the potential for comfort or discomfort hangs in the balance. A caption shared with the post added that "it was an overbooked flight too." The passenger's mix of nerves and excitement in the viral post is understandable and could happen to anyone, with air travel showing no signs of slowing down. According to a December 2023 survey by Euromonitor International, the market research firm, global tourism spending is projected to reach a record U.S. $2 trillion in 2024, driven by soaring leisure demand. In the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, air travel has experienced a resurgence, after grinding to a halt during the height of the pandemic. Total passenger demand in April increased by 11 percent compared to the same month in 2023, according to a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released in May. Furthermore, globally total air traffic in November 2023 was reported to be at 99.1 percent of pre-pandemic (November 2019) levels, as per an IATA report in January.

'I Know This Feeling All Too Well'

Lucie's relatable video has struck a chord with many other TikTokers, who shared their thoughts and similar experiences. Fochier USA commented "You are so lucky," reflecting the envy many feel when witnessing someone potentially scoring extra space on a flight. Judy B echoed this sentiment, writing "I know this feeling all too well." User @kittycatanja pointed out another travel joy: "it's almost as good when no one is behind u so u can recline without guilt." User @_andy_uk captured the collective anticipation perfectly, stating, "Desperately waiting to hear those magical words 'boarding complete'." Jonasitoo510 shared "One time I have a whole row to myself I just layed down on all three seats." Sarra recalled "I had this and then had the best time thereee." Mom who knits reminisced about her own positive experience, saying "That happened to me last year on an overnight flight to Edinburgh. Oh my God, it was heavenly! I sprawled out and slept the majority of the flight." Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email. This video has not been independently verified.

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