Eastern Airlines’ flight schedule is getting so odd that I think it’s time that I book one of these flights and see what happens…
In this post:
The basics of Eastern Airlines
I’ve written in the past about Eastern Airlines, which I consider to be the world’s strangest “real” airline. The airline is based in the United States and has over a dozen wide body jets that were acquired secondhand, including Boeing 767s and Boeing 777s.
For some background on the airline, the Eastern name probably sounds familiar. That’s because it was a major US airline back in the day, though it ceased operations in 1991. In 2015, rights to the Eastern name were purchased, through that airline went out of business within a couple of years. Then Dynamic International Airlines purchased rights to the Eastern name, and that brings us to the modern day iteration of this iconic brand.
Long story short, a few of the carrier’s planes sometimes operate charter flights (seemingly primarily for the military), but beyond that the airline tries to operate scheduled flights as well. The thing is:
- Eastern has a history of announcing routes and then never actually launching them
- The carrier’s alleged route network is all over the place, as the airline was going to launch everything from Chicago to Sarajevo, to New York to Anchorage to Jinan, to New York to Los Cabos
- Most of these routes don’t end up ever launching, and those that are launched often operate just a few times
The bizarre things is that Eastern has been doing this for years. This isn’t an imaginary airline like Global Ghana Airlines — the airline has actual planes, and sometimes it even flies them!
I’m ready to fly the world’s most exclusive airline!
The best way to book an Eastern Airlines ticket is through the company’s website. You can book the carrier’s entire route network there, which at the moment includes *checks notes*… a once monthly flight between Miami (MIA) and Santo Domingo (SDQ).
You know you’re dealing with an unusual airline when the banner on the homepage of the website simply lists the next flight that the airline will be operating.
Currently Eastern Airlines has a total of four roundtrip flights scheduled in the future. Yes, four — one in December, one in January, one in February, and one in March. Fares start at $193 one-way, and you can even travel with a free piece of sporting equipment (very useful for all the people taking snowboards between Florida and the Dominican Republic!).
I’m not going to lie, I’m extremely tempted to book one of these flights:
- Will the flight actually operate?
- What is Eastern’s onboard product like?
- Who exactly is taking this once monthly flight on Eastern?
It’s just so beyond bizarre. I mean, I’d love to be a fly on the wall in Eastern’s route planning department. How does that conversation go?
“So, what are we thinking for routes for the next four months?”
“Eh, let’s fly from Miami to Santo Domingo.”
“Okay, cool. How often? It looks like American Airlines flies that five times per day.”
“That’s a bit aggressive. Let’s do once per month.”
“Brilliant! I’ll put the flights on sale!”
Frankly I’m tempted to book the December 23 flight, just to see how it goes. Sadly that’s also Winston’s birthday (or what we celebrate as his birthday). Would he forgive me? On the one hand, I don’t think he would. On the other hand, I don’t think booking the flight would necessarily mean that I’d be traveling anywhere. I dunno…
Bottom line
I’ve long found Eastern Airlines to be strange, though the strangeness has reached a new peak with the airline now selling once monthly flights between Miami and Santo Domingo. I’m really tempted to book a flight on Eastern, so someone please talk me out of this…
What say you, dear friends?
You have to do it. Can’t wait for the review
Eastern was the worst flight experience ever encountered by my frequently traveling wife. The plane sat on the tarmac with everyone in it for hours. When they finally did take off, they had to immediately turn back around and do an emergency landing that was so hard it blew out some of the tires. Wife immediately changed airlines, but her luggage was already on Eastern. Weeks of phone calls finally got her luggage returned to...
Eastern was the worst flight experience ever encountered by my frequently traveling wife. The plane sat on the tarmac with everyone in it for hours. When they finally did take off, they had to immediately turn back around and do an emergency landing that was so hard it blew out some of the tires. Wife immediately changed airlines, but her luggage was already on Eastern. Weeks of phone calls finally got her luggage returned to our house about the same time wife got home from lengthy international trip. Good thing she changed airlines because they also canceled what would have been her return flight home.
Do NOT fly Eastern unless you want bad adventures to be part of your flying experience.
Good luck traveling on Eastern; I booked and paid my flight via Expedia on 11/25 to travel to SDQ on 12/23 and SURPRISE, I just received a call from them telling me my payment was not received and flight is canceled!
Could this be a case where Eastern is flying scheduled flights very rarely just to maintain some sort of Department of Transportation certificate as a scheduled airline, while operating primarily as a charter airline?
I think the free onboard cabin pets means you need to take Winston on a trip for his birthday
Sounds like a cover for the CIA.
Sporting equipment may be very useful depending on the destination. The rules are not designed just for the destination you are planning for. I must say the flights are not cheap considering they are a small unknown airline.
Who are the pilots and flight crew employed by an airline who only flies once a month?? What do they do the rest of the month?
Never mind Eastern; you need to book a flight somewhere, anywhere. I've heard more than a few references to this site as 'One Credit Card at a Time'. I think your actual flight reviews are some of the best out there.
Looks like the jury is in, the title of this trip report should be ‘take one for the team’! Your return should be on a just as perplexing airline. Perhaps, Red Air? Just be careful!
Sounds like a shell corp used to launder money ♂️
Bingo! We have a winner Johnny!
Pointless IMHO.
Absolutely, you should do this.
You may (or may not) get there (or back home), so bring your laptop to continue your great travel reviews!
And to Eastern, bring back your “Moonlight Specials” flights to Houston.
For your sake, do not do this. My wife and I flew an Eastern charter round trip between Miami and Ushuaia in February. They did get us there, albeit late. The outbound flight was our worst long haul flight ever. Do not take Winston if you go!
Say more! What made it the worst?
Too much to list here. Here are some highlights.
It started when we discovered that the seat pitch was so cramped that tray tables could not be fully lowered. Running out of food and booze on a 15+ hour flight didn't help. No IFE or power ports. Being awakened at 03:15 to be served a chef salad (admittedly it was a good chef salad.)
If you do it, they will find your cold body with an Eastern Flight Wings Of Man pin plunged into your heart.
I can tell you from my experience flying Eastern Airlines to Georgetown, Guyana from JFK—the service sucks. When the pandemic hit I was stuck in Guyana and the US Embassy arranged special charter flights for US and Canadian citizens. Eastern Airlines exploited this charging $1300 for the one-way flight to Miami out of GEO. Customer service sucks and you can only purchase their tickets on their website much the same way Dynamic Airways did. I...
I can tell you from my experience flying Eastern Airlines to Georgetown, Guyana from JFK—the service sucks. When the pandemic hit I was stuck in Guyana and the US Embassy arranged special charter flights for US and Canadian citizens. Eastern Airlines exploited this charging $1300 for the one-way flight to Miami out of GEO. Customer service sucks and you can only purchase their tickets on their website much the same way Dynamic Airways did. I won’t fly with Eastern if Elon Musk paid for my ticket and give me $1m.
You know you want to!
Am I reading this correctly that it's a one-way? In that you have to find your own transportation back?
You can only go with Winston's approval. Which means if you go he goes with you.
interesting - you have not not flown much this year - your Air Greenland's new A330 flight will be fun as well as this Eastern or Luxair's 737 or Singapore (SQ)'s 777 or Canadian North's 737 or perhaps Starlux long-haul
Hope all is well in your home life and thank you for all the aviation updates
And? Was it total luxury?
Don, if you’re a spambot, you’re a funny one.
I wouldn’t waste a review trip on this. In my mind, it fits the definition of a “fly-by-night” operation. One has to wonder in this time of extreme commercial pilot shortages, how any competent pilot would chose to work for Eastern with the options that are currently available.
What are you waiting for?
I literally got a mailer this afternoon advising that the Eastern 777 was now available for short or long term ACMI lease, so I would wager that the scheduled flights may not operate.
as sentimental as you are, but have to join the crowd - go for it by all means necessary.
Yes pls do it!
If they could just bring Frank Borman back.
I vote for Frank Lorenzo in the back, giving a good push.
OK! I still have my no Frank Lorenzo pin . I'm surprised anyone else still remembers him.
I remember Frank Lorenzo a few times a week. You see, United is my preferred airline, and I wouldn't have half of their hubs to transfer at without Frank's mismanagement of Continental.
I looks like Winston could come along for free. Go for it
Next to "free sporting equipment" it says "Your pet flies free". Why not take Winston on a birthday flight?
Eastern did actually fly NYC-Belo Horizente Brazil, nonstop at some point in the recent future. I know somebody who flew on it earlier this year.
And? Was it total luxury?
Hm. This person flew in the recent future? I bet they returned in the near past, which means they lived to tell the tale. I guess?
Now I DEFINITELY think Ben should take this flight - but we know he won't, because if he did, he would have already returned and he'd be telling us about the flight.
*recent past. Whoops.
The guy had no comments about the flight other than that it was incredibly convenient to fly nonstop rather than through Sao Paulo or Rio and that it was cheap.
We need this flight review!!
PLEASE book! :)
Please book this!
Yes please! Hurry up and book the flight!
Though i'd probably book the flight early next year so your fur baby doesn't miss you. Not unless ofcourse you take him with you!
Idk, you could very much end up in a Pivot airlines situation.
As a airline maintenance employee with 36 years of experience my first question is ;
Who and where is the Aircraft maintenance accomplished ?
In the US?
What experience and training does the crew have?
The age and cycles of the A/C?
Are the A/C insured and registered in the United States?
Next forget all this B/S, take out a big insurance policy, at least yer family can have a great party!
There's a typo. It's not Sant"a" Domingo, it's Santo Domingo.
100% you need to do this