Empty leg flights — also called repositioning flights, deadhead legs, or ferry flights — represent one of the best-kept secrets in private aviation. These are flights that occur when a private jet needs to fly without passengers, typically to position for the next charter or return to its home base. By booking an empty leg, you can enjoy private jet travel at discounts of 25-75% off standard charter rates.

How Empty Legs Are Created

Empty legs arise in several common scenarios:

• One-way charters: When a client books a one-way flight from City A to City B, the aircraft must fly back to City A (or to its next assignment) empty. This return flight is an empty leg.
• Positioning flights: An aircraft based in City A has a charter pickup in City C. The flight from City A to City C without passengers is an empty leg.
• Maintenance positioning: Aircraft flying to or from maintenance facilities create empty leg opportunities.
• Owner movements: When a managed aircraft repositions between an owner's trip and a charter booking.

The aviation industry estimates that 30-40% of all private jet flights operate empty, representing billions of dollars in potential value for savvy travelers.

How Much Can You Save?

Discounts on empty legs vary widely depending on the route, aircraft type, and how urgently the operator wants to fill the seat. Typical savings range from:

How to Find Empty Leg Flights

1. Charter Brokers

Many brokers maintain lists of available empty legs and can alert you when flights matching your route and schedule become available. Building a relationship with a broker is one of the most effective ways to access the best empty leg deals.

2. Operator Websites and Apps

Major charter operators publish their empty leg availability on their websites and mobile apps. Check regularly, as new empty legs are posted continuously and popular routes sell quickly.

3. Empty Leg Aggregators

Several online platforms aggregate empty leg listings from multiple operators, giving you a broader view of available flights. These platforms often allow you to set alerts for specific routes.

4. Social Media and Newsletters

Follow charter operators and brokers on social media. Many post last-minute empty leg deals on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Subscribing to newsletters can also provide early access to listings.

The Pros of Empty Leg Flights

• Significant cost savings: The primary advantage — flying private at a fraction of the normal price.
• Same aircraft, same experience: You fly on the same aircraft with the same crew and service as a full-price charter.
• Larger aircraft for less: An empty leg on a Gulfstream G650 might cost less than a standard charter on a Citation CJ4.
• Last-minute opportunities: Empty legs are often available on short notice, perfect for spontaneous trips.
• Environmental benefit: You are utilizing a flight that would otherwise fly empty, reducing the per-passenger carbon footprint.

The Cons and Risks

• Limited flexibility: Empty legs have fixed routes, dates, and times. You must adapt your schedule to the flight, not the other way around.
• Cancellation risk: If the primary charter that created the empty leg cancels, your empty leg flight disappears too — often with short notice.
• Route limitations: The flight goes from Point A to Point B. You cannot change the route or add stops.
• Timing uncertainty: Departure times may shift based on the primary charter's schedule.
• Limited availability: The perfect empty leg matching your route and schedule is not always available.

Tips for Booking Empty Legs

Be Flexible

The more flexible you are with dates, times, and even destinations, the more empty leg opportunities become available. If you can travel within a 2-3 day window and are open to nearby airports, your chances improve dramatically.

Book Quickly

Popular empty legs — especially on desirable routes like New York to Miami or Los Angeles to Las Vegas — sell within hours of being posted. When you find a good deal, be prepared to commit quickly.

Understand the Cancellation Policy

Since empty legs depend on the primary charter, understand what happens if that charter changes. Some operators offer partial refunds if the empty leg is cancelled; others offer rebooking on an alternative flight.

Verify the Operator

Just because a flight is discounted does not mean you should compromise on safety. Ensure the operator holds valid certifications and safety ratings, regardless of the price.

Consider One-Way Trips

Empty legs work best for one-way travel. If you need a round trip, you might book an empty leg for one direction and a standard charter for the return, still saving significantly overall.

Popular Empty Leg Routes

Certain routes consistently produce empty leg opportunities due to the nature of travel patterns:

• New York to/from Florida: The most common empty leg route in the US
• Los Angeles to/from Las Vegas: Weekend traffic creates frequent repositioning
• London to/from the Mediterranean: Summer holiday season
• Teterboro to/from any ski destination: Winter season staple
• Major event cities: Before and after large events like the Super Bowl, Cannes, or Art Basel

Find Available Empty Legs