Light Load Alert: These US Flights Had The Lowest Load Factors in April 2024
Need an easy standby win? Here are the best international flights to find an empty seat in April 2025.
Matt C
March 13, 2025
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If you’ve been burned by full flights lately, you might be wondering where you can actually score an open seat. Good news: we analyzed Department of Transportation (DOT) data to reveal which routes had the lowest load factors last April – giving passriders a valuable window into where they might have the best shot next month.
We analyzed flights departing from the U.S. with at least 15 departures in April 2024 and only included routes that are still operating in April 2025—because nothing stings more than planning around a great route only to find out it’s gone. Seasonal trends, aircraft swaps, and other changes mean history isn’t a perfect predictor, but this list offers strong clues on where to fly with less competition.
So, where should you pack your bags? Here are the top 10 routes in each region with the lowest load factors last April:
Mexico & Caribbean: Best Bets for a Beach Escape
Spring break usually means packed flights to beach destinations, but a few routes bucked the trend last April.
Frontier’s Atlanta to Montego Bay flight took the crown for the lowest load factor at just 42%, while United’s Washington Dulles to Providenciales service wasn’t far behind at 44%.
Load Factor | Route | Airline |
|---|---|---|
42% | Atlanta (ATL) - Montego Bay (MBJ) | Frontier |
44% | Washington, DC (IAD) - Turks and Caicos (PLS) | United |
46% | Orlando (MCO) - Nassau (NAS) | JetBlue |
46% | Atlanta (ATL) - Punta Cana (PUJ) | Frontier |
47% | Houston (IAH) - Nassau (NAS) | United |
49% | Houston (IAH) - Cancun (CUN) | United |
49% | Orlando (MCO) - San José (SJO) | Spirit |
50% | Atlanta (ATL) - Cancun (CUN) | Frontier |
50% | Minneapolis (MSP) - Cancun (CUN) | Sun Country |
51% | Houston (IAH) - Belize (BZE) | United |
Europe: Stretch Out Across the Atlantic
Europe flights tend to be tough for nonrevs to certain markets, but a few routes saw lower-than-expected loads last April.
United’s Los Angeles to London Heathrow flights saw a load factor of just 44%, while JetBlue’s Boston-Dublin service had a comfortable 53% load factor.
Load Factor | Route | Airline |
|---|---|---|
49% | Los Angeles (LAX) - London (LHR) | United |
53% | Boston (BOS) - Dublin (DUB) | JetBlue |
55% | San Francisco (SFO) - Amsterdam (AMS) | United |
57% | Newark/New York (EWR) - Athens (ATH) | Emirates |
57% | Chicago (ORD) - Frankfurt (FRA) | Lufthansa |
58% | Washington, DC (IAD) - Rome (FCO) | ITA |
59% | Los Angeles (LAX) - Paris (ORY) | French Bee |
60% | Washington, DC (IAD) - Zurich (ZRH) | SWISS |
60% | Boston (BOS) - London (LHR) | Virgin Atlantic |
61% | New York (JFK) - Paris (CDG) | Norse |
Asia: Cross the Pacific in Comfort
Asia flights can be a mixed bag for nonrevvers, but April data shows some promising options.
United’s San Francisco to Osaka service had a load factor of just 48%, and its Seoul flight wasn’t far behind at 49%.
Load Factor | Route | Airline |
|---|---|---|
48% | San Francisco (SFO) - Osaka (KIX) | United |
49% | San Francisco (SFO) - Seoul (ICN) | United |
53% | Washington, DC (IAD) - Tokyo (HND) | United |
53% | Los Angeles (LAX) - Hong Kong (HKG) | United |
54% | San Francisco (SFO) - Beijing (PEK) | United |
54% | Minneapolis (MSP) - Tokyo (HND) | Delta |
55% | Seattle (SEA) - Tokyo (HND) | ANA |
60% | Los Angeles (LAX) - Osaka (KIX) | JAL |
60% | Detroit (DTW) - Tokyo (HND) | Delta |
61% | San Francisco (SFO) - Taipei (TPE) | STARLUX |
If you’re looking for a unique destination, consider Casablanca. Royal Air Maroc’s Miami and Washington Dulles routes had the lowest load factors at 36% and 37%, respectively.
Dubai flights also had some space, with Emirates’ Boston and Washington Dulles flights reporting sub-50% loads.
Load Factor | Route | Airline |
|---|---|---|
36% | Miami (MIA) - Casablanca (CMN) | Royal Air Maroc |
37% | Washington, DC (IAD) - Casablanca (CMN) | Royal Air Maroc |
39% | New York (JFK) - Casablanca (CMN) | Royal Air Maroc |
47% | Boston (BOS) - Dubai (DXB) | Emirates |
49% | Washington, DC (IAD) - Dubai (DXB) | Emirates |
55% | Seattle (SEA) - Dubai (DXB) | Emirates |
56% | Houston (IAH) - Dubai (DXB) | Emirates |
58% | New York (JFK) - Cairo (CAI) | Egyptair |
60% | San Francisco (SFO) - Auckland (AKL) | Air New Zealand |
60% | Newark/New York (EWR) - Addis Ababa (ADD) | Ethiopian |
What This Means for Passriders
While these routes had light loads in April 2024, it’s always best to check updated availability before making travel plans. Our favorite tool to do that is Staff Traveler, which can give you real-time insights into current loads.
If your airline isn’t listed in this roundup, don’t worry! Check your airline’s staff travel agreements to see which carriers you can ZED on. Many of these routes are operated by airlines that participate in interline agreements, meaning you might have more options than you think. Whether it’s a legacy carrier, a leisure airline, or an international partner, a little research into your ZED agreements can open up a whole new world of possibilities. Check out our detailed guide on ZED travel for more details.
Airlines adjust schedules, and demand shifts based on holidays, events, and aircraft swaps year-over-year. However, if you’re hoping to score a seat next month, these routes could be your best bet for an open cabin.
Do any of these options strike your fancy for an April 2025 international adventure?
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