Empty Leg Flights vs. Standard Private Charter – Cost, Flexibility & Experience Compared

Private jet travelers today have more options than ever – from booking a standard private charter tailored exactly to their schedule, to snagging a heavily discounted empty leg flight if they’re flexible. Both models offer the luxury and convenience of private aviation, but they differ in price, booking process, flexibility, and overall experience.

In this comparison, we’ll break down empty legs vs. standard charters for a clear understanding of each, with a focus on what it means for travelers (especially in Asia-Pacific) seeking the best fit for their needs.

To start, here’s a quick side-by-side overview of how empty leg flights compare with regular private jet charters on key factors:

Empty Leg vs Standard Charter – Quick Comparison

Aspect	Empty Leg Flight	Standard Private Charter
Price	Deeply discounted (50–75% off typical charter rates). Priced to cover only repositioning costs; great deals for those flexible on schedule.	Premium cost (you pay for the entire flight). Pricing is trip-specific (aircraft, distance, etc.), offering transparent but higher rates for a bespoke service.
Booking Timing	Often last-minute availability. Empty legs appear on short notice (days or even hours before departure). Must be ready to book and go when the deal arises.	Planned in advance or on-demand as needed. You choose departure time and date, even months ahead if desired. The charter is arranged around your schedule.
Schedule Flexibility	No flexibility – route and timing are fixed by the original flight. One-way only; you adapt to the jet’s plan (if timing/route don’t fit, you can’t change it).	High flexibility – you set the itinerary. Round trips or multi-leg trips possible. Choose departure/arrival airports and adjust timing to your needs.
Aircraft & Experience	Aircraft set by opportunity – whichever jet is repositioning. Still a private jet experience (skip airport lines, luxury cabin) but amenities might be scaled back (limited catering, etc.). Some empty legs sell by-the-seat, so you might share the plane with others.	Aircraft of choice – a wide selection to fit your group and preferences. Full VIP service: bespoke catering, ground transfers, and your entire party flies alone. The experience is fully personalized to your expectations.
Risk of Cancellation	Higher risk – if the primary charter changes or cancels, your empty leg can be canceled last-minute. No alternative provided (just a refund), so travelers need a backup plan. Delays or changes are out of your control.	Low risk – the flight is dedicated to you. Barring extreme events (weather or mechanical issues), the charter will fly on your schedule. Operators will usually arrange alternatives if an issue arises, ensuring you still reach your destination.
Ideal Use Cases	Spontaneous leisure trips or opportunistic travel where schedule is flexible. Great for travelers looking to experience private jet luxury at a bargain (e.g. a last-minute getaway). Not recommended for time-sensitive or critical travel due to uncertainty.	Business travel, important events, or tight schedules where reliability is key. Ideal for executives, teams, or VIPs who need specific timing and guaranteed service. Also for group travel requiring a certain aircraft or itinerary (e.g. multi-city roadshows) where customization is paramount.

Price: Cost Differences and Transparency

One of the biggest differentiators between empty leg flights and standard charters is price – and the contrast can be dramatic. Empty leg flights are typically offered at 50% to 75% off the normal charter price for the same route.

These steep discounts exist because the jet has to fly anyway (repositioning for its next assignment or returning to base), so any passenger revenue – even a fraction of the usual rate – is better than flying empty. Essentially, the operator is covering fuel and basic operating costs, without the profit margin that’s baked into a full-price charter.

For travelers, this translates into private jet journeys that might otherwise cost tens of thousands of dollars being available for only a few thousand. For example, a flight that would normally be ~$20,000 might be sold as an empty leg for around $9,000 – a 50%+ discount. In some cases, the savings can reach as high as 75% off or more.

However, cost transparency and structure differ between the two models. With a standard private charter, you receive a detailed quote for your specific trip – typically a single price that includes the aircraft, crew, fuel, landing fees, and sometimes catering (or these are itemized). \

It’s usually a straightforward, upfront cost for the itinerary you choose, so you know what you’re paying for the convenience. Some charter brokers or services operate on hourly rates plus fees, but a reputable platform will make the pricing clear before you commit.

Empty leg pricing, on the other hand, is often a flat rate for the available leg, and it’s take-it-or-leave-it. You might see a listing like “Hong Kong to Singapore – Light Jet – $5,000” as an empty leg deal. That price is usually all-inclusive for that segment, but only for that predefined route and time.

If you wanted to adjust any aspect (say, originate from a different airport or depart later), the deal would no longer apply and you’d revert to a normal charter quote. It’s also worth noting that because these flights are so last-minute, pricing can sometimes be negotiable if the departure is imminent and the operator really wants a buyer – some travelers have successfully negotiated empty leg prices down further in the final hours before takeoff.

JetScanner360’s own service emphasizes transparent pricing on both models – listing empty leg deals at their discounted rate with no hidden fees, and providing clear charter quotes through its platform so travelers can easily compare the two.

In Asia-Pacific, where private jet traffic is growing but not yet as ubiquitous as in North America or Europe, the empty leg opportunities can be fewer – making platforms that aggregate these deals especially valuable.

If you’re an APAC traveler, you might find empty legs on popular business routes (for instance, Singapore–Hong Kong or Bangkok–Kuala Lumpur) occasionally popping up. When they do, the price can be very attractive. The key is being ready to seize the deal, since you’re competing with a global market of bargain hunters eyeing these one-off flights.

Booking Process & Timing

The booking process for an empty leg versus a standard charter can feel like night and day. With a standard private charter, the process is oriented around you: you choose your ideal departure date and time, origin and destination airports, and even specify preferences for aircraft type or in-flight services.

The booking can be made through a broker or a digital platform like JetScanner360 well in advance – weeks or months ahead if needed – or closer to departure for on-demand trips. Once you confirm, the aircraft is reserved for you and will be ready at the appointed hour. It’s a relatively predictable and controlled process: you plan, book, and then fly as scheduled.

Empty legs turn that on its head. Empty leg flights are typically published on short notice, because they depend on another client’s one-way charter happening. You usually can’t book them far ahead of time – they appear when an aircraft’s schedule is set and it’s known that the jet will be flying empty on a certain leg. This might be a week out, a few days, or often just 24–48 hours before departure (sometimes even the same day).

For example, an empty leg from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur might only become available two days prior, once a one-way charter from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta is confirmed for a certain date. Travelers interested in empty legs need to monitor listings frequently or set up alerts, and be prepared to act fast. Good deals can be snapped up within hours of being posted.

The actual booking of an empty leg is usually first-come, first-served. Platforms and brokers list current empty legs (JetScanner360, for instance, publishes worldwide empty leg offers daily, which are available for instant online booking if they depart within the next 3–6 hours).

If you see one that fits your needs, you often can book it immediately online – a very streamlined process – but you’ll likely need to pay in full upfront and the booking is typically non-refundable on your side. There’s an adrenaline rush to this style of travel: it rewards those who can move quickly.

By contrast, a standard charter booking might involve a bit of back-and-forth (choosing among aircraft options, signing a contract or agreeing to terms, arranging payment which could be a deposit then balance, etc.), although modern services like JetScanner360 aim to make even charter booking a seamless, digital process.

From a timing perspective, empty legs require you to adapt to the plane’s schedule. If the jet is departing at 4:00 PM, you’ll need to be at the private terminal by then – there’s usually no wiggle room to delay if you’re running late, since the plane may have another job after or the crew is scheduled tightly.

In a standard charter, since you are the primary customer, there is often a bit more flexibility – if you’re delayed by an hour, you can inform the operator and it’s usually workable (within reason), because the flight revolves around you. Of course, major schedule changes could incur fees, but minor timing tweaks are one advantage when you charter the whole aircraft on your terms.

For APAC travelers, using a platform that shows both options can be useful. Imagine you input a route like “Singapore to Bangkok” on your desired date.

A service like JetScanner360 might show you: a charter quote for, say, a light jet at full price on that date and alert you if there’s an empty leg within a surrounding timeframe (maybe a jet needing to reposition from Singapore to Phuket the day before, which could work if you’re flexible by a day). Booking empty legs often means adjusting your timing – perhaps leaving a day earlier or later than originally planned – whereas booking a charter means you set the timing and proceed accordingly.

Flexibility in Schedule and Destination

When it comes to flexibility, standard charters are the clear winner. With a private charter, you have complete control over schedule and destination. Want to fly from a smaller executive airport closer to your home rather than the major city airport? You can do that. Need to visit two or three cities in a single day and return by night? A charter can accommodate multi-leg itineraries.

Essentially, a charter is like having your own private airline for the day – the route, timing, and even intermediate stops are up to you. This is invaluable for business travelers with multiple meetings or for hitting remote vacation spots that airlines don’t serve directly. You also aren’t limited to one-way travel; you can charter a round-trip or an open-jaw (fly to City A, return from City B) easily.

The ability to customize is a core benefit of on-demand chartering.

Empty leg flights, by design, sacrifice that flexibility. An empty leg’s schedule is predetermined by someone else’s itinerary. If a jet has to fly from Point X to Point Y tomorrow at noon, that’s the deal – take it or leave it.

You cannot ask the operator to delay departure until evening or to detour to another airport; the entire point is to meet the needs of the original full-fare client, not the empty leg passenger. Similarly, empty legs are overwhelmingly one-way.

The jet is repositioning in one direction, so round-trips aren’t an option unless by coincidence another empty leg happens to appear for your return (a rarity and would require a lot of luck and timing). Travelers often handle returns by other means – either booking a commercial flight home or, if they really loved the private experience, booking a new charter or finding another empty leg. (Some seasoned flyers will mix and match: e.g., fly out private on an empty leg for leisure, then simply buy an airline ticket back, accepting that the return will be less glamorous but far cheaper than chartering a return leg.)

Route options for empty legs are inherently limited. You’re at the mercy of where others have flown. In popular private jet regions like Europe or the U.S., you might commonly see empty legs between major business and leisure hubs (London–Nice, NYC–Miami, etc.).

In Asia, as business aviation grows, we’re seeing more empty legs like Hong Kong–Singapore, Bangkok–Dubai, or Kuala Lumpur–Jakarta when one-way charters occur. But you can’t just conjure an empty leg on an arbitrary route at a specific time – if your plans are that specific, you’re back to a standard charter.

To put it succinctly: empty legs offer a take-it-or-leave-it schedule. If the timing and destination align with your wishes, you’re in luck (and you’ll save a lot). If not, you either adjust your plans or opt for a normal charter or commercial flight.

For those who are flexible, this can be a fun way to travel spontaneously. Many empty leg enthusiasts say that part of the adventure is letting the availability guide where you might go.

For instance, maybe you didn’t plan to visit Phuket next week, but that empty leg from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket is just too good a deal to pass up – so why not? This opportunistic mindset can lead to serendipitous trips.

On a standard charter, conversely, your trip is exactly as you intend. There’s tremendous value in that for travelers who have specific goals: a team that needs to be in three cities in two days, or a family vacation that has a tight schedule due to school holidays. The charter bends to your needs, not the other way around.

Finally, consider airport flexibility. Charters can use secondary airports that airlines might not (closer to your final destination). Empty legs will use the airports dictated by the original booking – which might be main hubs or smaller airfields, depending on that client’s needs. If an empty leg’s airport isn’t the most convenient for you, you’ll have to decide if the savings justify a slightly longer ground transfer.

For example, an empty leg might depart from Senai Airport (Johor, Malaysia) instead of Singapore – a bit of a drive across the border – because the jet needs to reposition from there. You could take it and then drive down to Singapore, saving a huge sum, if you’re up for the extra logistics.

Passenger Experience & Aircraft Availability

Both empty legs and standard charters ultimately put you on a private jet – which means a high level of comfort, privacy, and service compared to commercial flying. You’ll enjoy skipping the crowded terminals, having a spacious cabin for just you and your invitees, and the thrill of flying private. However, there are nuances in the experience and choice of aircraft between the two models.

When you charter a jet normally, you often have a say in the aircraft or at least the category of jet. Through a platform or broker, you might be presented with options: perhaps a light jet vs. a mid-size jet, different models, ages, or features, and you pick what suits your preferences and budget. Need a larger cabin for 8 passengers or a bed for an overnight flight?

You can specifically request a Super-Mid or Heavy jet. Want the luxury of a stand-up cabin and Wi-Fi? You can filter for that. Essentially, the market’s inventory is at your disposal.

Additionally, you can make special requests – for example, catering your favorite meals, specific beverages on board, arranging ground transportation to meet you on arrival, even tailoring the in-flight experience (some charters go as far as decorating the jet for birthdays or providing toys and nannies for children on board). The passenger experience in a standard charter is highly customizable and designed to be truly VIP.

Empty leg flights, in contrast, are more of a “what you see is what you get” situation. The aircraft is whatever is flying that route – you don’t get to choose the size or model (aside from deciding to book it or not when you see the details). If it’s a 6-seat light jet and you have 7 people, you simply can’t use that empty leg.

If it’s a turboprop and you prefer a jet, tough luck – that’s the deal available. That said, when an empty leg is listed, the type of aircraft is usually specified so you know what you’re getting (and reputable listings will include the model, year, cabin photos, etc.).

The quality of the plane is not necessarily inferior – you might catch an empty leg on a brand-new Gulfstream G650ER or on a modest older Citation Mustang, depending on what’s repositioning. There’s an element of chance.

Regarding the onboard experience, empty leg passengers still enjoy the core perks of private flying: quick boarding, privacy, and comfort. The pilots and any crew will treat you just as well as any charter client. However, operators may scale back some amenities for empty legs knowing that the flight is sold at cost.

For example, catering might be minimal – perhaps some snacks and drinks, but not the multi-course gourmet catering a full-paying client might get. Unless you arrange otherwise, don’t expect a lavish meal service; many empty leg fliers actually just bring their own preferred food or know that a short flight might not need much.

Similarly, the cabin might not be stocked with fine champagne (unless left over from the previous flight). It’s the small trade-off for the huge cost savings. If booking through a concierge service like JetScanner360, you could inquire if any extras can be arranged for a fee – sometimes, since you’re still technically a customer, they might help you add catering at cost if you request it.

But many travelers are happy to forego the fancy trappings given the price advantage.

Another aspect is that empty legs can sometimes be sold by the seat (especially via certain apps and membership programs). This means you’re not chartering the whole jet exclusively; you and perhaps a few other strangers each buy a seat on the empty repositioning flight.

This essentially creates a semi-private flight – you still avoid the big airport hassles and fly out of a private terminal, but you might share the cabin. Platforms like XO have done this on popular empty legs (e.g., selling individual seats on a New York to Florida empty leg). JetScanner360’s platform focuses on listing whole empty legs, but it also notes if an empty leg could be booked per seat in some cases.

Standard charters are always private – it’s your aircraft, and only your invited guests join. So, for those who absolutely require privacy (e.g., sensitive business discussions in flight), a charter or a whole-plane empty leg is preferable to a per-seat empty leg where another party might be present.

In terms of aircraft availability, it’s worth noting that if you have very specific aircraft needs, a standard charter gives you that freedom. Say you insist on a plane with a flight attendant on board, or you want a large cargo hold for excess luggage – you can ensure the charter you book meets those criteria. With empty legs, you use what’s available; if the available empty leg’s plane doesn’t perfectly meet your wishes (no Wi-Fi, smaller cabin, etc.), you have to decide if the cost savings compensate for that.

Many times, the plane is perfectly fine (most private jets are quite comfortable across the board), but the lack of choice is a limitation.

Despite these differences, it’s important to stress: the baseline experience of flying private – avoiding crowds, having a quiet cabin, and flying direct – is delivered in both cases.

An empty leg passenger might not get the full red-carpet treatment that a bespoke charter client gets, but they still often comment that the experience beats any first-class commercial flight. And if it’s your first time flying private, an empty leg can feel every bit as glamorous – you’re still on a private jet!

Meanwhile, a seasoned charter customer might notice the little touches missing on an empty leg (like not having their favorite single-malt whisky on board by default). It all comes down to expectations and what matters for your trip.

Risk of Cancellations or Delays

When evaluating empty legs vs. standard charters, you must consider reliability. A standard private charter is about as reliable as it gets in aviation – since you’re effectively hiring the plane, it will be there for you at the agreed time, and barring unforeseen circumstances (like weather or technical issues), you will depart as planned.

In the rare case of a maintenance problem, the operator will typically try to arrange a substitute aircraft or adjust timing to still fulfill your trip, because they’re contractually committed to you.

Delays are uncommon, and cancellations from the operator’s side are very rare (and would usually come with options to reschedule or refund, and profuse apologies). Essentially, with a standard charter, you are in control, so the risk is minimal and largely in your hands.

Empty legs carry a significant risk of cancellation. This is probably the single biggest drawback of empty leg flights. Since an empty leg exists only because another person booked a charter, anything that affects the primary booking can trickle down to the empty leg.

If that client changes their plans – say they move their departure up and suddenly the jet’s repositioning is rescheduled to an earlier time (when you can’t make it), or they cancel their trip entirely – then the empty leg you booked might evaporate. Operators will cancel the empty leg if the jet is no longer going to fly that route, or if the schedule changes in a way that no longer fits your flight.

This can happen even last-minute, potentially just hours before your expected departure. It’s an uncomfortable truth: you could be all set to go, and then get a call that “sorry, the empty leg is off.”

What recourse do you have? Typically, the only thing the operator will do is refund what you paid (if you haven’t flown yet). Unlike an airline, which might rebook you on another flight or compensate you with vouchers/hotel if they cancel, a private operator’s contract for an empty leg usually makes it clear that they owe you nothing beyond refunding your fare in case of cancellation.

You’re on your own to find alternate transport. This is why, as mentioned earlier, anyone taking an empty leg should have a backup plan. That could mean being ready to book a commercial flight short-notice or delaying travel if possible.

It’s generally advised not to rely on an empty leg for situations where you absolutely must be somewhere by a deadline (e.g., a crucial business meeting, a wedding, etc.). For those scenarios, the cost savings aren’t worth the anxiety – a charter or even a scheduled airline ticket might be safer.

Delays on empty legs can also occur. Perhaps the primary charter passenger showed up late, so the whole day’s schedule slid – and your empty leg timing shifts a few hours later than expected.

If you’re flexible, you wait it out at the FBO (private terminal) lounge until the jet arrives. If you aren’t, well, that’s tough – again, the operator isn’t beholden to you in the way they are to the charter client.

To quantify the risk, some industry insiders estimate a non-trivial percentage of empty legs never actually take off with their intended empty leg passengers due to these factors. One Forbes report bluntly noted: if the paying customer cancels their trip, the empty leg you scored is going to be canceled.

Empty leg travelers share anecdotes of having flights canceled the night before – and sometimes the operator might offer them another empty leg to somewhere else as a consolation (if available), but often they just end up with a refund and disappointment.

On the flip side, standard charters are very reliable. If you need to cancel or change, you’ll incur penalties per the contract (it’s usually not cheap to cancel last-minute, as the operator may have repositioned a plane for you or turned down other business).

But the operator won’t cancel on you except for extreme reasons. You effectively remove the uncertainty by paying the premium for a dedicated flight.

One more consideration: travel insurance generally doesn’t cover private jet trips in the way it covers commercial flights, and certainly not empty legs which are viewed as “use at your own risk” deals.

So you can’t fall back on insurance for an empty leg cancellation – another reason to only use them for discretionary trips or have a robust Plan B.

In summary, empty legs come with a caveat emptor (buyer beware) around reliability. It’s a bit of a gamble – one that can pay off with a wonderful experience at a fraction of the cost, or one that can leave you scrambling. Many travelers happily accept this risk for leisure trips or positioning flights of their own; many wouldn’t dream of taking that risk for something critical.

With charters, you’re buying peace of mind along with the flight.

Typical Use Cases & Real-Life Scenarios

With the differences laid out, it becomes clearer when each option makes sense. Let’s explore a few scenarios and use cases:

• Last-Minute Luxury Getaway (Empty Leg Scenario): Imagine a couple in Singapore who decides on a whim to spend a long weekend in Phuket. They have flexible work schedules and are just looking for a nice break. Instead of booking a commercial flight, they check JetScanner360 and discover an empty leg available the next day: a private jet repositioning from Singapore to Phuket, offered at 60% off the normal charter price.
  
  The catch? It departs at 10 AM instead of the evening when they initially thought of leaving. They decide to seize the opportunity. They book the empty leg, enjoy a VIP private jet experience to Phuket (complete with just them on board and a smooth 90-minute flight), and pay a fraction of what that jet would normally cost.
  
  This is a perfect example of an empty leg shining for spontaneous leisure travel – the couple’s timing was flexible, they saved thousands of dollars, and they got a taste of the private jet lifestyle.
  
  If for some reason the empty leg got canceled, they were prepared to fly commercial as a backup; but if it goes as planned, it’s a fantastic value and memorable trip.

• Business Roadshow or Critical Meeting (Standard Charter Scenario): Now consider a regional executive based in Jakarta who needs to visit Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok in one day for important meetings, then be back in Jakarta by evening. There’s no commercial airline itinerary that can accomplish this efficiently.
  
  The company books a standard charter jet. The jet departs Jakarta at 6 AM, lands in Kuala Lumpur for a 3-hour meeting, waits on the ground, then flies the exec to Bangkok by early afternoon for the next meeting, and finally returns to Jakarta by night. Throughout the day, the schedule adjusts slightly as meetings run longer – but it’s fine, the plane and crew are at the ready.
  
  The onboard experience is tailored for productivity: Wi-Fi for prep work, a quiet cabin to make calls between stops, and meals served on board so no time is wasted on airport food. In this scenario, an empty leg was never an option – the precision and multi-leg nature required a dedicated plane.
  
  Standard charters excel for business travel where timing, multi-city routing, or confidentiality are non-negotiable.

• Opportunistic Upgrade (Empty Leg Scenario): A family of four from Hong Kong plans to vacation in the Maldives. They have business class tickets booked on a commercial airline connecting through Singapore.
  
  A few days before departure, they spot an empty leg deal: a heavy jet is flying empty from Hong Kong to Malé (Maldives) around the same date, because a one-way charter customer flew Malé to Hong Kong earlier. The empty leg is heavily discounted – perhaps even comparable to the cost of four business class tickets they already have.
  
  The family decides to pivot: they refund or credit their commercial tickets and grab the empty leg. They depart a day earlier than originally planned (a slight change) but end up flying direct to Maldives on a private jet with all their luggage, in total comfort and privacy.
  
  The kids are thrilled to have a plane to themselves. This scenario shows how empty legs can be a boon even for family leisure travel, if you’re ready to adjust plans. The family did accept the risk (if it canceled, they might have been out their original flight option, but perhaps they coordinated with the airline on flexible tickets).
  
  It turned their trip into something extraordinary at a reasonable incremental cost.

• High-Profile Event or Group Travel (Standard Charter Scenario): A multinational firm is sponsoring a team offsite in Bali for top executives across ASEAN. They want everyone to arrive at roughly the same time for a press kickoff, including execs coming from smaller cities without direct flights.
  
  They arrange several charter flights: one from Singapore, one from Bangkok, one from Jakarta, all timed to land in Bali within an hour of each other. Each charter is stocked with catering and company branding, and a flight attendant to make the VIP guests comfortable. The schedules are assured, and even if an attendee is running late, the plane will wait (within reason) to ensure they make it.
  
  An empty leg in this case would be far too uncertain – the event’s timing is crucial, and coordinating multiple empty legs would be impossible. Standard charters guarantee that group travel for events goes off without a hitch, providing reliability and a uniform experience for all guests.

These examples illustrate a general pattern: empty leg flights are fantastic for flexible, often leisure-oriented travel or for private jet enthusiasts hunting a deal, whereas standard charters are the go-to for mission-critical or precisely scheduled needs. Many individuals use a mix of both, depending on the occasion.

For instance, a CEO might fly on a charter for an important meeting, but that same CEO could take an empty leg with family for a holiday getaway, when timing is relaxed and savings are welcome.

In the Asia-Pacific context, it’s worth noting that business aviation is on the rise. Asia’s business jet fleet is growing at ~5–6% annually, and new wealth and business demands are fueling more private flights.

This means empty leg opportunities in the region are likely to increase as well. Already, Southeast Asia has over 280 private jets in operation – each one a potential source of empty legs when they reposition. So an APAC traveler attuned to the empty leg market (via JetScanner360 alerts, for example) might catch deals like Bangkok to Singapore or Manila to Jakarta when they pop up.

Meanwhile, for the many new users in Asia exploring private jet charter for the first time, standard charters (potentially arranged through a user-friendly digital platform) provide that reliability and service that can justify the cost for important journeys in a region where commercial flight schedules can’t always meet unique needs.

Why JetScanner360 Supports Both Models

JetScanner360 was built to bridge the gap between all these options and make private jet travel more accessible and tailored to each traveler. The platform recognizes that both empty legs and standard charters have their place, and it actively supports and offers both.

For those seeking empty leg flights, JetScanner360 serves as a global marketplace of these deals. Rather than having to scour dozens of operators’ websites or sign up for countless newsletters, users can simply check JetScanner360 to see a consolidated list of available empty legs worldwide (including in APAC).

The platform instantly scans available empty-leg deals across its network of operators, delivering real-time options to the user. Each listing shows the route, aircraft, timing, and price, and if one matches your needs, you can book it right through the platform.

Jetscanner360 even allows instant booking for empty legs departing within hours, which is perfect for those spontaneous trips. The idea is to remove the friction from booking empty legs – no need for endless calls or email back-and-forth; if you see it and want it, it’s a few clicks away. And by publishing new deals daily, JetScanner360 helps travelers spot opportunities they might otherwise miss.

For travelers who need a standard on-demand charter, JetScanner360 acts as a digital concierge. Through the platform, you can input your desired trip (where, when, how many people, any preferences) and it will connect you with a global network of private aircraft operators to find the right jet at a competitive price.

Essentially, JetScanner360 leverages technology to do what a traditional broker might do over the phone – source options, calculate prices, and present you with choices – but faster and more transparently. The platform provides instant price estimates for many routes, and you can see different aircraft options, then confirm your booking online securely.

This saves time and often cost, as it encourages operators to offer their best rates in a competitive marketplace.

JetScanner360’s support for both models is rooted in the belief that users should be empowered to choose the right option for each trip. To that end, the platform and its customer service team offer guidance on which model might suit you best. If you search a route and there’s a huge empty leg discount available, the system will highlight it – “hey, you could fly tomorrow on a similar route for 70% less if you’re flexible.”

Conversely, if you’re looking at a complex itinerary, JetScanner360 might suggest a tailored charter because an empty leg won’t cover multi-leg needs. By having everything in one place, the comparison becomes easy and transparent.

The company also provides educational resources (like this article, and their blog and FAQs) to help new users understand nuances such as cancellation policies, what to expect at the private terminal, and so on. And importantly for our region of focus, JetScanner360 is based in Singapore (with a Singapore domain and presence) so it has a strong APAC focus while still being global.

That means it is curating empty leg deals that are relevant to ASEAN travelers and partnering with operators in the region, not just Europe/US. For example, JetScanner360 might showcase an empty leg from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur or Sydney to Singapore that might not be widely advertised elsewhere, because they liaise with operators here.

Likewise, if you need a charter from, say, Singapore to a secondary city in Indonesia, JetScanner360’s network can find an operator who can do that, even if you might not know who to call.

In short, JetScanner360’s platform is like a one-stop shop to compare cost vs. flexibility vs. experience trade-offs for private flying. It doesn’t force you down one path; it presents both empty leg bargains and full charter solutions. The ethos is customer-centric: whether you prioritize price or personalization, the platform supports you.

It even offers additional services – like organizing luxury add-ons (transfers, concierge, hotels) and handling special requests – to ensure whether you go empty leg or charter, your journey is smooth.

By supporting both models, JetScanner360 also helps operators fill more flights (which is why many operators share their empty leg data with the platform) and helps users get the best value. It’s about creating a win-win in private aviation: higher utilization of jets (fewer empty flights) and more affordable access for travelers.

So whether you’re the flexible adventurer or the executive on a mission, JetScanner360 stands ready to assist – guiding you to the right choice and backing it up with 24/7 support and transparent service.

(For more on how JetScanner360 works and how to get the most from the platform, check out our How It Works page and the FAQ section on our website.)

FAQ – Empty Leg Flights vs. Standard Charter

Q: What are empty leg flights and how do they differ from a standard private charter?
A: Empty leg flights (also called “dead-head” or repositioning flights) are private jet flights flying without passengers, which operators offer to new customers at steep discounts to recoup some cost.

They differ from standard charters in that the schedule and route are fixed (set by the original one-way charter that created the empty leg) and they’re one-way only. In contrast, with a standard charter you’re hiring the jet for your own chosen itinerary – you decide the departure time, location, and can book round-trips or multi-leg trips as needed.

Empty legs trade flexibility for price: you get up to 50–75% off, but you have to fit your plans into whatever flights are available. A standard charter is fully tailored to you, but you pay the full cost for that privilege.

Q: How much can I save with an empty leg flight compared to a normal private jet charter?
A: The savings can be very substantial. Empty leg flights are typically 50% to 75% cheaper than an equivalent charter. In some cases, the discount can be even greater – for example, an empty leg might cost only 25% of the regular price (meaning a 75% off deal).

Real-world examples include mid-size jets going for ~$10,000 on an empty leg versus ~$20,000 normally, or a light jet flight for $7,000 that would be ~$25,000 as a full charter (about 70% off). Essentially, you’re usually just covering the operating costs (fuel, crew time, fees) and not the repositioning or profit margin. This makes private jet travel almost approachable to a wider audience – sometimes rivaling commercial business class fares per person.

However, remember that these savings only apply if an empty leg happens to match where and when you want to fly (or if you can adjust to match it). If you need a specific schedule that doesn’t align with any empty legs, then you’re looking at standard charter pricing. JetScanner360’s platform helps by showing you any available empty legs alongside charter quotes, so you can clearly see the price difference.

Q: Are empty leg flights reliable? What happens if an empty leg is canceled?
A: Empty leg flights come with more risk and less reliability than standard charters. They can indeed be canceled with little notice. This usually happens if the original charter customer changes their plans – for instance, if they cancel or reroute their trip, the empty leg may no longer exist.

If an empty leg you’ve booked is canceled by the operator, you’ll typically get a full refund for what you paid, but no compensation beyond that and no alternative flight provided. You’d be responsible for arranging other transport. Therefore, it’s crucial to have a backup plan when booking empty legs. Many empty leg travelers keep a last-minute commercial flight option in mind or are willing to change their travel dates if needed.

By contrast, a standard charter is very reliable – operators won’t cancel on you except in extreme scenarios, and if a delay or issue arises, they work to solve it (often by sending another aircraft). In summary: use empty legs when your schedule is flexible and it wouldn’t be a disaster if you had to change plans; if you absolutely must be somewhere without fail, a full charter (or an airline flight) is the safer bet.

Q: When should I choose an empty leg flight over a standard charter (and vice versa)?
A: Choose an empty leg if your top priority is saving cost and you have flexibility with timing and possibly even destination. Great opportunities for empty legs are last-minute leisure trips, repositioning flights for vacations, or adding a fun private jet experience to a trip that isn’t time-critical. For example, if you’re traveling for pleasure and can shift your departure by a day to catch a great deal, an empty leg is ideal. It’s also a way for newcomers to try private jet travel at a lower price point.

On the other hand, choose a standard charter if your schedule is inflexible, you have a critical itinerary, or you need specific arrangements. Business meetings, events like weddings or conferences, multi-city itineraries, or anytime you have a large group or require a specific aircraft – these are firmly in charter territory.

The charter gives you guaranteed timing, route, aircraft choice, and service level. In practice, many travelers use both models at different times. If it’s a “nice to have” trip, go ahead with an empty leg and enjoy the savings. If it’s a “must not fail” trip, invest in a standard charter for peace of mind.

Q: How does JetScanner360 help with private charters and empty legs?
A: JetScanner360 is a one-stop digital platform designed to make finding and booking both standard charters and empty legs as easy as possible. For empty legs, JetScanner360 aggregates available flights from operators around the world (including Asia-Pacific) and updates them daily

You can search or browse empty leg deals on the site – for example, see all one-way specials departing soon from your city – and book them instantly online. JetScanner360 also offers email alerts, so you can be notified if a desired route pops up as an empty leg. This spares you the hassle of manually hunting for deals.

For standard charters, JetScanner360 provides an online charter request system backed by a global network of vetted operators. You enter your trip details and get transparent quotes quickly, often instantly, showing different aircraft options and prices. Their team provides concierge-level support – handling logistics, special requests (like catering or ground transport), and ensuring a smooth experience from booking to flight.

Basically, JetScanner360 combines the best of both worlds: the cost-saving technology to find empty leg bargains and the personalized service to arrange bespoke charters. By presenting both options side by side, JetScanner360 helps users confidently decide which is right for each journey, and then facilitates the booking with transparency and security (payments, contracts, etc. are all handled through the platform).

Plus, being Singapore-based, JetScanner360 has particular expertise in the APAC region’s private jet landscape, which is a great advantage for travelers here. In short, whether you’re looking to fly private for less or to charter a jet on your terms, JetScanner360 is built to assist you at every step.

JetScanner360 Resources & Related Pages

For further information and assistance, you may find these pages useful:

• How It Works – JetScanner360 – A step-by-step guide on using the platform to browse empty legs, book charters, and customize your private flight. This page walks you through the process and features of JetScanner360, so you know what to expect when booking.

• JetScanner360 FAQ – Our comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions section covering topics from membership, safety, payment, to details about empty legs and charters. If you have more queries, the FAQ likely addresses them in a clear, concise manner (e.g. cancellation policies, what’s included in pricing, etc.).

• Ways to Fly with JetScanner360 – An overview of the different private flight options available (on-demand charter, empty legs, by-the-seat offers, etc.) and how JetScanner360 accommodates each. This is a great resource to understand all the travel models you can access via our platform, helping you make an informed choice for your trip.

• Contact & Support – JetScanner360’s support page if you wish to speak with our team directly. Our aviation advisors can provide personalized guidance – whether you want to double-check an empty leg’s details or need help planning a complex charter itinerary. We’re available 24/7 to assist with any inquiries or special requests.