How to Book Empty Leg Flights: Insider Tips for Huge Savings
Want to fly private for 30-75% off? Empty leg flights are the secret to affordable luxury travel. These repositioning flights occur when jets need to return to base or move to their next charter—and savvy travelers can book them at massive discounts. Here's everything you need to know.
Real Example: $80,000 Flight for $20,000
A Global 7500 returning from Miami to Teterboro normally costs $65,000-80,000. As an empty leg, it sold for $22,000. Same aircraft, same luxury, 72% savings.
What Exactly Is an Empty Leg?
Private jets operate on-demand, flying wherever clients need to go. But once a one-way charter drops passengers off, the aircraft often needs to return to its home base or reposition for the next booking. These repositioning flights are called "empty legs."
Instead of flying empty, operators sell these flights at steep discounts—sometimes 50-75% off retail pricing. The aircraft is flying anyway, so any revenue is better than none.
Types of Empty Legs
1. Return to Base
What it is: Aircraft returning to its home airport after dropping off passengers.
Example: A jet based in NYC flies clients to Aspen for ski week. It needs to return to NYC empty.
Availability: Most common type. Highest availability on Sundays and Mondays as weekend travelers return home.
2. Repositioning Flight
What it is: Jet moving to a different city for its next charter.
Example: Aircraft drops passengers in LA, then needs to fly to Miami for a pickup tomorrow.
Opportunity: Can create unusual routes (LA to Miami direct) at major discounts.
3. Maintenance Repositioning
What it is: Aircraft flying to a maintenance facility.
Note: Rare. Only available if maintenance facility is at a public/FBO airport, not a private hangar.
How Much Can You Actually Save?
Average Savings
Best Deals
Ultra-long-range jets (Global 7500, G650) offer the biggest discounts because:
- • Higher retail prices ($12,000-18,000/hr)
- • Expensive to fly empty
- • Operators highly motivated to fill
- • Can see 70-75% off retail
The Catch: What You Give Up
Flexibility Trade-Offs
Empty legs are deeply discounted because you're working around the operator's schedule, not creating your own.
- Fixed Departure Times: Usually non-negotiable. If the jet leaves at 2pm, you leave at 2pm.
- Limited Route Flexibility: The route is set. You can't deviate or make stops.
- Short Notice: Empty legs often become available 48-72 hours before departure. Sometimes just 24 hours.
- Cancellation Risk: If the original charter cancels or changes, your empty leg disappears.
- No Guarantees: Can't rely on them for must-attend events or inflexible schedules.
Insider Strategies for Finding the Best Deals
1. Sign Up for Empty Leg Alerts
The best empty legs sell within hours of being posted. Sign up for automated alerts from multiple operators. Specify your preferred routes and dates. The earlier you know, the better your chances.
2. Be Flexible with Dates (±3 Days)
If you're looking for a TEB to Miami flight "around March 15th," you'll find 10x more options than searching for exactly March 15th. Flexibility = savings.
3. Target High-Traffic Routes
Busy routes have more empty legs. Top routes for empty leg availability:
- • NYC (TEB) ↔ Miami/Palm Beach
- • LA (VNY) ↔ Las Vegas
- • NYC ↔ LA
- • Chicago ↔ Florida
- • London ↔ Nice/Ibiza (summer)
4. Book Round-Trips Strategically
If you're flying TEB to Miami on Friday and returning Sunday, you might find:
- • Outbound Friday afternoon: Tons of empty legs returning to Miami
- • Return Sunday evening: Tons of empty legs going back to NYC
Result: You could save 50-60% on both legs if you align with peak repositioning times.
5. Call Operators Directly
Not all empty legs are publicly listed. Calling charter operators and asking "What empty legs do you have this week?" can uncover unpublished deals. Operators prefer selling directly to avoid broker commissions.
6. Last-Minute Bookings = Biggest Discounts
Empty legs posted 24-48 hours before departure often sell at 70-75% off because operators are desperate to fill the aircraft. If you can handle short notice, these are gold.
Pro Tip: Create Backup Plans
Never rely solely on empty legs for critical travel. Always have a backup:
- • Book refundable commercial tickets as backup
- • Have alternative dates ready
- • Know the full charter price if empty leg falls through
Common Questions
Can I negotiate empty leg prices?
Sometimes. If it's within 24 hours of departure and hasn't sold, operators may accept 10-20% below asking price. But popular routes sell fast, so negotiate cautiously.
What happens if the original charter cancels?
Your empty leg disappears. Reputable operators will offer you an alternative aircraft at the same price, or full refund. Always book with established operators.
Can I bring my dog on an empty leg?
Yes, same policies as regular charters. Most private jets welcome pets with advance notice. Confirm when booking.
Are empty legs safe?
Absolutely. Same aircraft, same crew, same safety standards as full-price charters. The only difference is pricing.
Best Times of Year for Empty Legs
- January-February: Post-holiday lull. Lots of jets returning from ski destinations and Caribbean vacations.
- April-May: Spring break ends, summer season hasn't started. Good availability.
- September-October: Between summer and holiday season. Peak empty leg time.
- Monday mornings: Jets returning from weekend trips.
- Sunday evenings: Weekend travelers going home, aircraft repositioning.