Empty legs, explained: how to fly private for less

An empty leg is the least-known way to fly private — and often the best value. When a chartered aircraft has to fly somewhere without passengers (to reposition for the next client, or to return to base), that one-way flight is offered well below the usual rate. The cabin is the same; only the price changes.

Why they're discounted

The operator is paying to move that aircraft regardless. Selling the empty leg recovers some of the cost, so it's offered at a discount rather than left to fly empty. You get a private cabin at a fraction of the standard one-way fare; the operator turns a dead leg into a paid one. Everyone wins.

What you actually save

Discounts on our current board typically run 35–45% below the usual one-way charter price. A few recent examples:

How to catch one

Empty legs reward flexibility. The date and direction are fixed by the original charter, so the trick is to be open on timing and ready to move when a match appears on your route. They sell quickly.

• Be flexible on the day and the hour — the schedule is set by the original flight.
• Watch the routes you care about; tell our concierge and we'll alert you when one lists.
• Decide fast — popular city pairs can be claimed within hours.

What to know before you book

An empty leg is a one-way flight on a fixed date, and you take the whole aircraft. There's less room to change times than on a bespoke charter — that's the trade for the price. If your plans are firm and the route lines up, it's the best seat in private aviation, pound for pound.