Flying Private On An Empty Leg Flight

Think flying private is only for the rich and famous?  You may be surprised.  When a private jet is booked for a one-way flight and doesn’t have any passengers for their next flight, they may offer seats at a discounted rate.  Referred to as an “empty leg flight”, frugal travelers can experience luxury flying at a fraction of the cost. 

What Is an Empty Leg Flight?

If a client books a private flight one-way, the aircraft will have no passengers when it is repositioned to its next destination.  This flight without passengers is called an empty leg flight. 

The intended destination of the empty leg flight could be the aircraft’s home base or another location to pick up its next client.  Also known as “ferry flights”, “repositioning legs” or “dead-heads”, empty leg flights always have a pre-determined aircraft type, departure date and time, and destination.     

Since the details of an empty leg flight are generally not released until a few days prior to its departure date, flyers who wish to take advantage of discounted private air travel must be able and willing to fly with short notice. 

Why Would a Private Jet Fly Empty?

It’s quite common for a private jet and its crew to fly empty when returning to its home base after completing a one-way charter.  Many times, it’s more affordable to continue to its next destination rather than wait for potential passengers to charter a flight from the current location. 

Also, if a private jet has needed service of some sort away from its base, it will fly empty leg back to its home base to await its next scheduled charter flight.

Empty Leg vs Standard Flights

When comparing empty leg to standard chartered flights, the main difference is cost.  Private jet operators will often offer travel at a discounted rate to offset the cost associated with flying an empty leg.  This allows interested passengers the experience of flying private when it might not be possible otherwise.

One option of empty leg travel would be a stand-alone charter, where the entire plane is booked for one passenger, or a single party.  The second option is pay-per-seat, in which the plane would be shared by several passengers, not necessarily in the same party.

Unquestionably, empty leg flights on a private jet are much more private and luxurious than crowded, jam-packed commercial flights, like United or Delta.  The cabin area of a private plane is spacious rather than cramped, seats are larger and more comfortable, and the inflight amenities are exceptional.

Benefits of Empty Leg Flights

Comfort and privacy are huge perks of flying empty leg on a private plane.  But there are other benefits as well, including:

Cost and Time  Savings – Due to the discounted rate offered for empty leg flights, many times these flights can be more affordable than flying commercial when traveling with a group.  Keep in mind that the price will be affected by the type of aircraft, popularity of the destination, and the season. 

In addition to cost savings, passengers on an empty leg flight also save travel time.  There is no need to wait in the long security lines at the airport.  The screening process for private flights is more relaxed and much faster. 

Also, empty leg flights can take more direct routes, thus avoiding layovers.  This allows the flight to get to its destination in a timelier manner.

Flexibility – A major benefit of flying on a private jet is that the traveler gets to determine the departure time.  Although empty leg flights do have predetermined timelines, some flexibility may exist, allowing adjustments to be made in departures to be more convenient for the passengers.

More importantly, passengers who can take advantage of last-minute availability can simply adjust their travel plans to fit the empty leg’s agenda.  This flexibility is quite beneficial for those with unpredictable travel schedules or for spontaneous trips.

Did We Mention Comfort and Privacy?  Flying on a private plane is like sitting in your living room while traveling to a new destination.  Seats are cushy and comfortable, with plenty of space to kick back and relax.  The cabin itself is spacious and easy to move around in.  Window views are plentiful.  No need to lean over the passenger(s) next to you to get a look outside!

And as for other passengers, if you’ve secured the empty leg flight for yourself or your own party, the flight crew are the only strangers aboard.  Many private jet companies even allow you to bring your pet with you.  They will have to be secured for take-off and landing, but otherwise they are free to roam around, just like home.

Downsides of Empty Leg Flights

Despite the number of advantages, there are some drawbacks to empty leg flights.  First and foremost, the flight is not guaranteed.  Routing can be changed, or the flight can be completely canceled, especially if the jet gets booked for another full-priced charter.  If either instance does occur, the charter company is not responsible for getting passengers to their intended destination.    

It’s important to remember that empty leg flights are one-way; therefore, travelers need to plan for an alternative way home.  Counting on another empty leg flight is not advisable either, since they are not consistent and only available on short notice.  There are no reliable, set schedules for empty leg flights.

Cargo and Empty Leg Flights

At Grand Aire, our Logistics Specialists are available 24/7/365 to assess customer needs and provide the absolute best transportation options.  Many times, this includes utilizing empty leg flights for moderate cargo loads or even life-saving transplant organs.

Let us put our 35+ years of experience with on-demand cargo, freight, medical, and passenger air charter service to work for you.  Contact us at 1-800-70-GRAND or email our team at logistics@grandaire.com.