Empty leg flights are the best-kept secret in private aviation. They offer the same aircraft, the same crew, and the same FBO experience as a full-priced charter — at 40 to 75 percent off. If you have flexibility on your travel dates and routes, an empty leg can turn private jet travel from an occasional luxury into a regular option. Here is exactly how they work and how to take advantage of them.
What Is an Empty Leg Flight?
An empty leg (sometimes called a "dead leg" or "ferry flight") is a one-way trip that an aircraft must fly without paying passengers. These flights happen constantly in the charter world. Every time an aircraft completes a one-way booking, it must reposition somewhere — either back to its home base or on to its next booking — and that repositioning leg is an empty leg.
Because the operator is paying for the flight regardless of whether anyone is on board, they are willing to sell the seats at a steep discount. The alternative is flying the aircraft completely empty, which generates zero revenue on that leg. Even at 40 percent of the normal rate, an empty leg is found money for the operator.
How Much Can You Really Save?
Discounts vary, but here is a realistic range based on routes we see daily:
- LA to Las Vegas light jet: Standard rate $9,000 – $12,000. Empty leg $4,000 – $5,500.
- LA to New York heavy jet: Standard rate $45,000 – $60,000. Empty leg $18,000 – $28,000.
- New York to Miami midsize jet: Standard rate $20,000 – $25,000. Empty leg $8,000 – $12,000.
- Aspen to LA super-midsize: Standard rate $28,000 – $36,000. Empty leg $11,000 – $16,000.
The deeper discounts usually apply to last-minute empty legs (within 48 hours of departure) or on routes where operators have a hard time finding return traffic. The shallower discounts apply to empty legs booked a week or two in advance on busy corridors.
Where Empty Legs Come From
Empty legs are not random — they follow predictable patterns based on where wealth and business travel concentrate. The biggest sources of empty legs are:
- LA ↔ Las Vegas. The single busiest private jet corridor in North America produces empty legs both directions, multiple times per day.
- NY ↔ Florida. East Coast executives fly south for weekends and the aircraft must return. Friday southbound and Sunday/Monday northbound generate heavy empty leg traffic.
- Aspen, Vail, Sun Valley after ski weekends. Skiers book one-way inbound on Friday, and aircraft need to reposition out on Saturday or Sunday.
- Major events. After a Super Bowl, F1 race, Art Basel, or major fight night, there is a wave of outbound empty legs as aircraft that delivered clients reposition home.
- International returns. A heavy jet dropping clients in London or Paris often has an empty return to New York, Miami, or Teterboro.
The Trade-Offs: Why Empty Legs Are Not for Everyone
Empty legs are a great deal, but they come with real constraints. Understanding them before you book prevents frustration.
Fixed departure time. You cannot shift an empty leg by two hours to suit your schedule. The aircraft is going when the operator needs it to go. You either make the departure window or you do not fly.
Fixed airports. An empty leg between Van Nuys and Teterboro is exactly that. If you want to depart from Burbank or land at Westchester instead, you are looking at a standard charter, not an empty leg.
Cancellation risk. This is the single biggest catch. An empty leg exists because a paying client booked a primary trip. If that primary trip moves, shifts, or cancels, the empty leg can disappear with it. Reputable operators will refund you in full or rebook you on another flight, but your plans can still be disrupted. Empty legs are not recommended for time-critical travel like a wedding, a funeral, or an important business meeting.
Limited catering and customization. Some operators do not offer custom catering on empty legs, or charge extra for it. Bring what you need or confirm in advance.
Who Should Book an Empty Leg
Empty legs are a great fit for:
- Flexible travelers who can shift their dates by a day or two.
- First-time charter clients who want to experience private aviation at a lower entry price.
- Frequent travelers on common corridors (LA−Vegas, NYC−Florida) who can watch for deals on their usual routes.
- Travelers with a backup plan — a commercial flight they can fall back on if the empty leg is cancelled.
They are not a good fit for travelers who need certainty, are traveling to a fixed event or appointment, or need specific departure/arrival airports.
How to Find Empty Legs
Empty legs are published and updated constantly. There are a few ways to access them:
Work with a charter broker. This is the easiest path. A broker has visibility into empty legs from hundreds of operators simultaneously and can match what is available with your travel plans. At Prestige Charter Group, we maintain an active list of available empty legs and notify clients whenever something relevant to their usual routes becomes available.
Operator websites and apps. Some operators publish their empty legs publicly. These listings can be useful for browsing, but you are limited to that operator's fleet, and the best deals often get claimed before they are ever listed publicly.
Membership programs. Certain charter membership programs include empty leg access as a perk. These work well for members who fly frequently on predictable routes.
Booking an Empty Leg: What to Ask
Before you confirm an empty leg booking, make sure you understand:
- Exact departure time and airport. Confirm the FBO, not just the airport code.
- Aircraft type and tail number. This tells you the cabin size, luggage capacity, and lavatory situation.
- Cancellation policy. What happens if the primary trip cancels? Is there a backup aircraft? A refund?
- Catering and amenities. Is anything included? Can you add it?
- Total price, all in. No hidden landing fees, fuel surcharges, or handling charges.
The Bottom Line
Empty legs are the single best value in private aviation — full stop. If you have flexibility and a good broker watching for you, you can fly private at prices that are genuinely competitive with last-minute first-class commercial tickets. The trade-off is that flexibility: you have to be willing to move with the aircraft rather than the other way around. For travelers who can do that, empty legs open up a level of regular private travel that most people assume is out of reach.
Our team tracks empty legs across our operator network in real time. If you tell us your usual routes and approximate travel windows, we will keep an eye out and notify you the moment a matching flight becomes available.
Get Notified About Empty Legs on Your Routes
Tell us where you travel and how flexible you are. We will reach out whenever a relevant empty leg shows up.
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