Empty Leg Basics

Many clients ask me what an empty leg really is and how to take advantage of these seemingly good deals. As you shop for a charter flight, especially online, you will see the term “discounted empty leg” everywhere! An entire marketplace for these flights exists. A basic search for “empty legs” and “private jets” will lead you to more options than you know what to do with! Perhaps you were searching for one when you came across this blog post! Here are some or the basics.


An empty leg is quite simply when an aircraft operator needs to move an aircraft without any passengers. Often times the crew is positioning from their base to a point where passengers are to be picked up for a booked trip. For years, this was just missed revenue for charter operators. As the internet has transformed many other industries, it also provided a vehicle for these operators to advertise these legs to potential clients. Private jet travelers have a desire for a good deal, and the operators have a desire to fill these empty flight legs.

Keep in mind that these flights exist because someone else has already booked a full fare charter. That means you are most likely going to be flying under some conditions of the original customer’s flight. You might not be able to depart at your perfect time and might need to be flexible with the departure or arrival airport. Flexibility will always give you more options. If you decide to book your charter this way, ask what happens if the original booking party cancels! This could affect your travel plans adversely and leave you standing on the ramp with no jet!

Many charter brokers monitor the industry bulletin boards and are always up to date with current empty legs. A charter broker will include a fee for their services, but can be a great resource as they have access to hundreds of charter operators.

How do you get the best deal on an empty leg? Well, quite frankly, travel in the opposite direction of the masses. What do I mean? Here’s an example. On the east coast, private flying “snow birds” head south for the winter and north for summer. If you are traveling from Miami to New York in the fall or winter, you are very likely to find a great deal on an empty leg. Likewise the New York to Miami in the spring time shouldn’t be too difficult. On the same note, if a favorite ski resort just reported world record powder on the Friday before a holiday weekend; don’t expect to find a bargain into that resort area.

If your schedule does not allow for flexibility, ask your charter operator or broker if they have any true one-way pricing. It has become a trend for some operators, brokers and even jet card companies to offer true one ways, without having to wait for an empty leg. You might pay a slightly higher hourly rate, but the total trip cost will still be significantly lower than booking a traditional round trip for your one-way (where someone else might benefit from your empty leg).

If you have specific questions about planning a one-way charter flight, finding a good empty leg, just a general private aviation question, or would like to share your experiences on this topic, please feel free to contact me directly via this form.