How to Find and Book Empty Leg Flights on Private Jets

Private jet travel is synonymous with luxury, exclusivity and typically, a high price tag. However, there’s a little-known way to enjoy the perks of private travel for a much lower cost. Enter empty leg flights — one-way journeys on private aircraft scheduled to fly without passengers. 

Sometimes referred to as ‘deadheads’ or ‘ferry flights,’ empty legs occur when a jet is repositioning to pick up people at another location, or when it’s returning to its home base after completing a charter. 

For example, if a client books a private jet from LA to New York, the jet might need to return to LA without any passengers (creating an empty leg).

Operators sell empty leg flights at discounted rates to offset costs, making them an affordable way to fill flights that would otherwise have no one onboard. For those with flexible itineraries, empty leg flights can make private jet travel a realistic option.

Five key things to know about empty leg flights

1. They offer significant cost savings. One of the biggest draws of empty leg flights is their affordability compared to standard private charters. Discounts can be as steep as 75% off normal rates, making private air travel accessible to a broader audience.

2. They provide a high-end experience. Travelers on empty leg flights can enjoy the unparalleled comfort of flying on a private jet, from plush seating and ample legroom to personalized service and in-flight entertainment. Even at a discounted cost, empty leg flights maintain the hallmark features of private aviation.

3. Their availability varies. Empty legs are unpredictable because they’re completely dependent on other bookings. As a result, you won’t find flights for every destination or on a set schedule. For spontaneous travelers with no formal plans, this variability can be part of the appeal, but it’s not ideal for those with a strict itinerary.

4. They’re primarily one-way bookings. Empty leg flights are almost always one-way, meaning travelers need to arrange alternative transportation for their return journey. This is an important factor to consider when calculating overall costs and logistics.

5. They’re an eco-conscious choice. Flying on an empty leg reduces the carbon footprint of private aviation, by making use of aircraft scheduled to operate without passengers. Although private jets still have a larger environmental impact than commercial planes, choosing an empty leg is a more sustainable way to fly private.

Empty Leg Cost and Pricing

Empty leg pricing is heavily discounted because it’s based on filling a private jet’s one-way repositioning flight. While most private charters cost thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars per hour, empty leg flights typically cost 25% to 75% less than full price. 

Factors influencing empty leg pricing include:

• Route. Popular routes like New York to Miami see lower prices due to higher demand, but longer or less common routes tend to cost more.
• Demand. Seasonal trends, such as holiday travel or peak vacation periods, can trigger an increase in flight costs.
• Aircraft type. Smaller jets cost less than large, long-range models.

That New York to Miami route is a good example of the cost savings offered by empty leg flights. A one-way trip on a midsize jet from New York to Miami ordinarily costs over $20,000. But on an empty leg flight, the same journey is often booked for $9,000 to $12,000.

Continuing with this example, here’s a comparison chart illustrating the cost of different types of flights traveling one-way from NYC to MIA:

Note that empty leg deals are available across the U.S., even for coast-to-coast routes. An empty leg flight on a light jet from San Diego to Chicago might cost around $7,250, whereas a normal price for this 4-hour charter could be approximately $25,000.

Empty legs usually include all taxes and fees in their listed price — i.e. fuel, landing fees, and any other ancillary charges for the flight. And because most of the time you’re booking the whole jet, you can opt to fill all the seats and/or bring pets with you at no extra cost.

Lastly, the price for empty leg flights is generally negotiable. But keep in mind, while the operator can cancel the flight at any time, you can’t cancel a booking once you’ve locked in your reservation since empty legs are non-refundable.

How to Find Empty Leg Flights

Most charter companies have empty leg discounts — even if they don’t always promote them — as it’s a great way to increase revenue and optimize their fleet. To find out about these deals, you can contact operators at your local airport and ask to get on their “empties” list, although these flights tend to be offered to regular customers before they’re offered to the general public.

Additionally, operators often post empty legs — especially those that become available at the last minute — on social media. Following the X and Instagram accounts of operators in your area can be a great way to find these deals. 

That said, the most consistent way to find empty leg flights is to use a reputable charter flight broker. Here at AvSky Charters, we have access to more than 1,000 empty legs per day, and can help you set up the best possible itinerary. Use our real-time empty leg search tool to view currently available flights, or reach out to us via email to inquire.

Some brokers and private aviation companies also provide empty leg memberships or subscription programs. The terms of these programs vary, but here’s how they usually work:

• Monthly or annual fee: Fixed membership fees for access to exclusive deals.
• Deeper discounts: Members get better rates compared to non-members, sometimes (nearly) free flights with only fuel costs to cover.
• Priority booking: Members are notified first about empty leg listings before they’re shared with the general public.
• Additional perks: Benefits like flight credits or concierge services for travel planning.

Companies that offer empty leg memberships include XO, Surf Air and Jettly — though the availability and structure of these memberships can differ. It’s recommended you research the details of each plan to ensure they align with your travel needs. Additionally, these tend to be semi-private options — meaning you’ll be sharing your flight with a handful of other passengers. 

AvSky members get access to our full database of empty leg flights at wholesale cost, which offers incredible value if you plan to fly more than a couple of empty legs per year.

How to Book Empty Leg Flights

Empty leg flights are typically announced on short notice, just days or hours before departure. Operators notify clients once they finalize their schedules, so it’s rare to book these flights too far in advance. If you’re open to last-minute travel, you can monitor empty leg listings through private jet operators or dedicated apps, which continually update with new opportunities.

Peak travel seasons like holidays and summer months might see an increase in empty leg flights, as private jets reposition for high demand routes. Conversely, availability may decrease during off-peak times when fewer charters are in operation.

Although empty legs can be booked for international travel, flights abroad require extra planning to guarantee compliance with customs and immigration procedures. It’s important to verify whether the operator has the necessary permits for that specific journey.

For U.S. routes, booking an empty leg flight is pretty straightforward:

1. Browse available listings through your preferred provider or broker. 
2. Review the terms and conditions, and look for any hidden costs. 
3. Act quickly to secure your spot, as empty legs are first-come, first-served.
4. Once your flight is confirmed, pay upfront to lock in the deal.

Aside from that, staying flexible with your travel dates and destinations can increase your chances of scoring a great deal.

Potential Downsides to Be Aware Of

While empty legs can be a fantastic value, they also come with several challenges and potential downsides that travelers are wise to consider.

Limited flexibility

Empty leg flights hinge on the operator’s schedule, not yours, which leaves little room for flexibility. Departure times and locations are fixed, and changes are rarely (if ever) accommodated. This can be equal parts frustrating and inconvenient if you have strict travel timelines.

Plus, empty leg flights are announced not long before departure, meaning travelers have to be ready to book and fly quickly. But since routes all depend on the jet’s repositioning, they may not align with your personal travel plans.

Operational concerns

Booking an empty leg flight comes with the risk of sudden cancellation if the primary client’s plans change. For instance, if the original booking is rescheduled or canceled altogether, then the empty leg is no longer viable and you’ll need to make other travel arrangements.

In short, be prepared for the possibility of cancellations with little to no advance notice.

Complicated logistics

With empty leg flights, arranging ground transportation to and from the airport is your responsibility. The tricky part is, airports used for deadhead flights are often in remote or out-of-the-way locations — AKA they’re not super easy to access. 

These trips are also scheduled around the operator’s needs, so there’s no flexibility with timing. This makes coordinating empty legs a lot more complicated than booking a standard charter.

Return flights

Because empty leg flights are one-way, you need to plan and budget for your return trip separately. This is particularly challenging if you’re flying to a small airport without commercial service, as you might have to arrange another empty leg or charter a private flight for the way back. 

Non-commercial aircraft can substantially increase your return travel costs, not to mention the added hassle of researching follow-up flights.

Non-refundable

Empty leg flights are nearly always non-refundable, because they’re massively discounted and tied to fixed schedules. If your travel plans change at any time, for any reason, you could lose the full cost of your ticket and be out several thousand dollars. 

The non-refundable nature of empty leg flights means you have to be absolutely sure of your itinerary before booking. Otherwise, the financial consequences are significant.