Imagine chartering a plane for just 1,200 yuan (S$261), complete with pilots, flight attendants, the whole works.

That was what one lucky traveller in China experienced while flying home from the central city of Wuhan to Guangzhou in the south for the Chinese New Year holiday, reports said.

A 10-hour flight delay meant all other passengers had swopped to an earlier flight, leaving the passenger, identified by only her surname Zhang, as the sole passenger on board the two-hour China Southern Airlines Flight 2833 on Monday.

Ms Zhang, reported South China Morning Post, posted photos showing only herself and flight attendants on the plane on Weibo, with the captions: "I'm the only one on the plane! Yes! Just myself as the passenger! And the whole crew! I feel filthy rich!"

According to Beijing Youth Daily, it is not rare for travellers to find themselves the sole passenger on some China Southern Airlines flights during the most important holiday in China.

It is a privilege that would make the eyes of less lucky travellers water, especially the 100,000 people stranded at Guangzhou station this week by a blizzard.

Ms Zhang's post drew hundreds of likes, shares and comments from Chinese netizens on Weibo, BBC reported on Wednesday (Feb 3).

Some have dubbed her the world's "luckiest passenger", the report said.

"What a great way to fly, you are indeed very lucky to experience such hospitality especially at such a chaotic travelling period," commented one Weibo user referring to the annual human crush in China when millions are anxious to return home in time for the Chinese New Year eve reunion on Feb 7.

"Sister, you are clearly the world's luckiest passenger - cherish it," said another.

But others felt the flight was too extravagant."Given the Chinese New Year timing when thousands of people are getting crushed while just trying to go home, isn't this wasteful?" remarked one Chinese netizen according to BBC.

Another user felt that the airline "should have just waited" and flown more passengers back. "Wasting fuel too," he added.