Empty Leg Flights How to Find Cheap Private Jet Deals

Empty leg flights have emerged as one of private aviation’s best-kept secrets for scoring discounted private jet travel. These flights, also known as dead-head or ferry flights, occur when a private aircraft must fly empty to reposition for its next paying trip or return to base​. Instead of flying without passengers, operators offer these empty legs to travelers at steep discounts – often up to 75% off standard charter prices​.

In this article, we’ll define what empty legs are and how they come about, explore the cost savings and ways travelers can book them, compare empty leg bookings to regular charters, highlight major platforms listing such deals, and provide real-world examples of empty leg pricing.

What Are Empty Leg Flights and Why Do They Happen?

Empty leg flights are essentially one-way repositioning flights flown empty of passengers. For example, if a client charters a private jet for a one-way trip, say London to Dubai, the jet might need to fly empty from its previous location (e.g. London to Rome) to pick up that client​. That empty repositioning segment is an empty leg. They most commonly occur when an aircraft needs to relocate for its next customer or return to its home base after a one-way charter​.

Rather than fly these legs with no revenue, operators market them at discounted rates to recuperate fuel and staffing costs.

Empty legs are quite common in private aviation – an estimated 30% to 50% of all private jet flights are empty legs according to charter operator data​. This high prevalence is the result of one-way charters and the geographic mismatch of where jets end up versus where new trips begin. Because operators are highly motivated to find any passenger for these otherwise empty flights, empty legs are priced far lower than normal charters, making private jets accessible to more travelers.

How Much Cheaper Are Empty Legs? Cost Savings Explained

The appeal of empty leg deals is drastically reduced pricing. Industry reports indicate empty leg flights are typically 50%–75% cheaper than a standard private charter on the same route​. Essentially, travelers willing to be flexible can experience private jet travel at a fraction of the usual cost.

According to The Points Guy, charter operators often list empty legs at half or less of normal rates​. For instance, a one-way mid-size jet charter from New York to South Florida might normally cost over $20,000, but could be available as an empty leg for around $9,000–$12,000​. That’s a savings of roughly 55%. Similarly, a Light Jet flight from San Diego to Chicago (nearly 4 hours) that would typically run about $25,000 one-way was found as an empty leg for only $7,250​.

Why can prices be so low? Since the flight has to happen anyway, any empty leg revenue is better than none for the operator. The charter company primarily aims to cover incremental costs like fuel and landing fees. This means empty leg pricing often just covers operating cost, without the profit margin built into normal charters.

Travelers essentially hitch a ride on a re-positioning flight, and both sides win – the operator earns something and the traveler flies private for far less.

Real-World Empty Leg Price Examples: The table below shows several examples comparing standard charter prices to empty leg deals:

Citations: examples from empty leg listings

1. New York–Miami and San Diego–Chicago ​
2. Cannes–Toulouse;

As shown, savings of 50% to 75% (or even more) are common. In one case, a Citation jet empty leg was just £319 per person (with all 6 seats filled) versus about £2,084 per person for a normal charter – nearly the same as a commercial airline ticket for that route​. For travelers, this means flying private can occasionally approach commercial economy-class pricing on an empty leg.

It’s worth noting that empty leg prices are often negotiable as well​. If a flight is coming up soon and still unfilled, a savvy traveler might further haggle the price down. However, once you commit to an empty leg booking, typically it’s non-refundable on the traveler’s side – you can’t cancel without forfeiting payment, even though the operator retains the right to cancel (more on that important caveat later)​

How to Find and Book Empty Leg Deals

Given the attractive pricing, how can travelers find these empty leg flights? Unlike regular charters, empty legs are often not heavily advertised far in advance. They tend to be last-minute opportunities, since they become available only when a one-way charter is booked and the reposition leg is confirmed. Nevertheless, there are multiple ways to find empty legs:

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• Charter Broker Websites: Many private jet brokers and operators list empty leg specials on their websites. For example, companies like Victor, VistaJet, Jettly, GlobeAir, and New Flight Charters all publicize empty legs​. These sites often have searchable lists or maps of current empty legs. You can filter by origin, date, or aircraft, and even set up alerts for routes you’re interested in​.

• Mobile Apps and Marketplaces: Digital platforms such as Jetscanner360, XO (FlyXO) and PrivateFly have apps featuring empty leg deals. Some, like XO, even allow booking by-the-seat on certain empty legs​. This means you don’t have to charter the entire jet – you can buy just a seat or two, potentially bringing costs down even more (though you may share the aircraft with other passengers).

• Email Newsletters: Many operators and platforms such as Jetscanner360 encourage users to sign up for empty leg alerts. By subscribing to newsletters from major charter companies, you’ll receive notifications when cheap one-way flights become available, often with short notice.

• Personal Brokers: If you use a private jet broker or membership service, let them know you’re interested in empty legs. Brokers can notify you or even hold a seat for you when a suitable empty repositioning flight pops up that matches your schedule.

When booking, the best practice is often to book directly with the operator whenever possible​, as this can avoid extra middleman fees. However, brokers and digital platforms such as Jetscanner360 can provide access to a wider range of operators’ empty legs in one place, which is convenient. Many empty leg booking processes are now online and instant, but some may require calling the provider to secure the deal.

Major Platforms Offering Empty Leg Flights: To highlight a few key players:

• Jetscanner360 – Our platform is a recently launched digital platform that list empty leg flights posted by operators from all over the world. Our platform publishes worldwide flights daily and are available for instant booking on flights departing within 3-6 hours.
• FlyXO (XO) – Publishes many empty legs and even sells seats on them. (Note: XO is known to cancel empties frequently if the primary charter changes​
• VistaJet – Lists empty leg routes for their fleet; often luxury service-oriented.
• Victor – An online broker with an empty leg search tool​
• Jettly – Membership-based charter service that also shares empty leg deals.
• GlobeAir – European operator specializing in very light jets, regularly posts empty legs.
• PrivateFly – Has an empty leg finder covering various operators globally.
• New Flight Charters – U.S. broker that aggregates empty leg availability.

Each platform may have a different mix of routes at any given time. For example, one might notice many Florida–New York or Los Angeles–Las Vegas empty legs during certain seasons, reflecting popular one-way charter routes. Monitoring multiple sources increases your chances of finding a route that fits your needs.

Empty Leg vs. Standard Charter: Key Differences

While the cost advantages are clear, empty leg flights do come with trade-offs compared to a normal private charter booked on your own schedule. Here are some important differences and considerations:

• Fixed Schedule & Route: An empty leg’s timing and airports are predetermined by the original charter customer’s needs. You must be flexible to depart at the given time and from the specified airports​. With a standard charter, you choose your own departure time and even request specific airports. Empty legs offer no such flexibility – if the posted time or routing doesn’t suit you, there’s no leeway to change it.

• One-Way Only: Almost all empty legs are one-way. If you need a round-trip, you’d have to find another empty leg back or return by other means. Regular charters can be round-trip or multi-leg as needed. (Some travelers cleverly combine an empty leg one-way with commercial airline return or vice versa.)

• Risk of Cancellation: This is a critical caveat. If the original charter customer changes plans, your empty leg can be cancelled last-minute by the operator​. For example, if the primary client decides to take a different aircraft or cancels their trip, the empty reposition flight no longer needs to occur. In such cases, empty leg passengers may be left stranded without alternative arrangements​. Unlike airlines, charter companies typically do not rebook you or compensate beyond refunding what you paid​. Thus, you should have a backup plan (e.g. ability to catch an airline flight) if your empty leg cancels short notice.

• Advance Notice: Empty legs usually become available on short notice, often just a few days or weeks ahead. Standard charters can be arranged months in advance. If you need long-term certainty for scheduling, empty legs may be challenging.

• Passenger Count: With a normal charter you control the passenger list (up to the aircraft’s capacity). On empty legs, some are sold by-the-seat (you might share the jet with strangers), while others require booking the entire aircraft​. By-the-seat empty legs, offered by platforms like XO, are more like buying a ticket—still far fewer people than a commercial flight, but not entirely private.

• Service Differences: Operators might scale back the frills on an empty leg. For example, the catering or onboard amenities may be more limited since it’s a cost-cutting scenario​. You still get the core private jet experience (spacious cabin, avoidance of airport hassles), but perhaps without a full open bar or gourmet meal service that a full-price charter might include.

In summary, empty legs trade flexibility for price. If your schedule is tight or mission critical, a standard charter (or commercial flight) might be more reliable. But if you can adapt to the flight that’s on offer, empty legs provide incredible value. Many empty leg travelers are those with flexible schedules or opportunistic leisure travelers looking for a unique experience at a discount​

Tips for Empty Leg Travelers

To maximize the empty leg opportunity, consider these tips:

• Stay Flexible: Flexibility is your best asset. You may need to depart at odd hours or use a smaller regional airport instead of a major one to take advantage of an empty leg. Being open to spontaneous travel (within a few days’ notice) will net more options.

• Have Backup Plans: Because of the cancellation risk, avoid empty legs for time-sensitive trips like important meetings or events you can’t miss. If you do book one, have a backup flight (or the means to book one last-minute) just in case. Travel insurance generally won’t cover private jet cancellations, so personal contingency planning is key.

• Leverage Memberships: Some private jet membership programs offer members exclusive access to empty legs – even free empty flights as a perk in some cases​. For example, VistaJet’s membership has been known to include empty repositioning flights for members at no additional cost. If you frequently fly private, joining a membership or jet card program could yield more empty leg invites.

• Book Quickly: Good deals don’t last. Empty legs can be listed and snatched up within hours. If you see one that fits your needs, contact the provider or book it immediately. Waiting to “think about it” could mean losing the deal.

• Mind Positioning: An empty leg might not start exactly where you are – you may need to position yourself to the departure point. If an empty jet from Los Angeles to Aspen is available but you’re in San Francisco, you’d have to get to LA to take it. Factor in any positioning costs (a short commercial flight or drive) when evaluating the deal.

Conclusion

Empty leg flights unlock the world of private jet travel to a broader audience by dramatically lowering the price barrier. By hitching a ride on a private jet’s necessary repositioning trip, travelers can enjoy the luxury, privacy, and convenience of a private aircraft for up to 75% off the usual cost​.

We defined how empty legs arise from one-way charters and saw that while they offer huge savings, they also require flexibility and carry some risk. We compared empty legs to standard charters, noting the differences in scheduling, reliability, and service. With numerous platforms and brokers now advertising empty leg deals online, finding these flights has never been easier – though acting fast is essential. Real examples demonstrate that an empty leg can sometimes cost only a few hundred dollars per person, rivaling commercial airfare​.

For those with an adventurous spirit and adaptable travel plans, empty leg flights present a golden opportunity to fly private on a budget. Just remember the trade-offs: always have a Plan B and don’t bank on an empty leg for truly critical trips. With that in mind, you can savor a champagne experience at economy-class prices – flying private in style while keeping your wallet intact.

Sources:

1. Empty leg definition and prevalence; typical savings 50–75%​
2. Example prices and routes​
3. Empty leg booking platforms​
4. Cancellation risk and policy​
5. Private jet vs commercial emissions context​