Do you want to take a private flight without having to pay the cost of chartering your own airplane?

From waiting in line at checkpoints to having to cram yourself into a flight with hundreds of other people, there are many inconveniences that come along with taking flights. If you travel a lot, it is easy to feel burned out.

But did you know that there are other options available to you, such as taking an empty leg flight? By taking an empty leg flight, you save money, can fly on your own schedule, and get to travel in luxury. 

If you want to find out about what empty leg flights are and how you can use them, read on and we’ll tell you what you need to know. 

The Basics of What an Empty Leg Flight Is

Empty leg flights are flights that airlines need to schedule which don’t have any passengers. The most common reason that an airline needs to schedule an empty leg flight is for purposes of repositioning an aircraft or to return it from a charter. Other names for these kinds of flights are “dead-end flights,” “repositioned legs,” and “ferry flights.” 

The price for taking these kinds of flights differs between each airline, but most passengers enjoy discounts that are around seventy-five percent below the usual charter price.

One charter company that consistently offers empty leg flights is Presidential. They offer various discounted and last-minute empty leg flights. Since they have a large fleet, they often have available options. 

There are various charter companies that offer membership programs that offer their members great deals on empty leg flights. They sometimes even offer their members flights that are completely free. 

It’s Best to Be Flexible to Take Empty Leg Flights 

Charter flights are extremely expensive to operate and most companies will do their best to avoid having to fly empty leg flights. This is the reason why they usually don’t advertise these one-way flights until the very last minute. 

The routes that these flights take are also extremely limited and it is difficult for people to predict. 

There are several other downsides to taking empty leg flights. It often happens that charter companies cancel them at the last minute without giving the passengers notice.

There are several situations where a charter will cancel an empty leg flight. One of the most common is when another passenger books the charter for its full price. 

When charter companies do cancel these flights, they probably won’t rebook you on a different flight like commercial airlines will do. This means that you might find yourself stranded until you can figure out new travel arrangements. 

Another downside of booking empty leg flights on private jets is that you’ll only be able to book a one-way trip through the charter company. Once you arrive at your destination, you’ll need to find a way to return. 

The Unique Experience of Taking an Empty Leg Flights

Just like other charter flights, you can arrive at your airplane just a few minutes before your flight. But it’s important to keep in mind that the schedules for these flights are stricter. This is why you shouldn’t expect the pilot to wait for you if you are running late for your flight. 

Though it is sometimes to make plans with the caterers to provide you with meals, most empty leg flights do not include this service. They’ll probably offer you basic foods such as packaged snacks, soft drinks, and alcohol. 

How to Book an Empty Leg Flight

It is sometimes a challenge to find empty leg flights because it’s not very common for charter companies to advertise them. With this being said, charter companies like Presidential do have a page on their website where you can search their available empty leg flights. 

It’s also possible for you to find empty leg charter flights through brokers who advertise flights that other companies have that are available. With this being said, it’s usually the best option to book directly with a charter company. 

If you happen to be traveling a popular route such as between New York and Florida, it will be fairly easy for you to find an empty leg flight. During the Covid-19 pandemic, passengers have been booking more charters on these routes. Since the charter companies need to reposition their aircraft, this means that there are more empty leg flights available.

How Much Empty Leg Flights Cost 

Depending on the charter company you’re booking with, the flight’s route, and the time of year, the price for an empty leg flight can vary.

If you want to take a flight from New York to South Florida, expect to pay around ten thousand dollars one-way. Since a typical cost to rent a jet on this route can cost more than twenty thousand dollars, you clearly save a lot of money by choosing to take an empty leg flight. 

Those who want to travel on an empty leg flight from San Diego to Chicago should expect to pay around seven thousand dollars. 

If you’re thinking about booking an empty leg flight, remember that the price you pay is for the entire jet. This is why, if you have friends and family that you want to bring along, it’s not a bad idea to invite them. 

Book an Empty Leg Flight Today

By choosing to fly on an empty leg flight, you’ll save huge amounts of money. In order to take advantage of these flights, you need to have a flexible schedule. You should also keep in mind that you don’t get to choose where you fly to. 

If you want to find out more about how to take an empty let flight, we’re here to help. Along with offering empty leg flights, we have a fleet of charter jets that are available to fly anywhere in the world. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.