What Is an Empty Leg Flight and How to Catch One in 2026?

Flying private for a fraction of the price sounds like a dream, right? Well, welcome to the world of empty leg flights, one of private aviation’s best-kept secrets. If you’ve ever wondered, “What is an empty leg flight?” or “How can I get on one?”, you’re in the right place. We’ll tell you all about it and let you in on where and how to grab these offers.

This guide will walk you through empty leg flight meaning, how to book an empty leg flight, and whether it’s really possible to live the high life without the high cost.

An empty leg flight, also called a one-way repositioning flight, occurs when a private jet flies empty to its next scheduled pickup location. Essentially, it’s a pre-paid flight that would otherwise be empty, and operators sell these flights at heavily discounted rates to make up for costs. Instead of having a private jet flying empty, the best option is to always have passengers even if at only a portion of the operating cost.

The best example we can think of would be an Uber driver – luxury, nevertheless – heading to pick up their next rider, yet you get to hitch a ride for a bargain. Since they have to complete the trip to destination anyway, having someone pay even if only a portion of that leg is never bad business. And who knows? You may get the chance to head off to paradise and still get some spare change to rent an island while at it!

A pratical example: A client books a private jet from New York to Miami, but the aircraft needs to return to New York for its next booking. Instead of flying back empty, the operator lists that return flight at a discount. This is an empty leg flight, and you can take advantage of it if you meet some of the criteria we cover in the next few lines.

Private jet charters are expensive to operate, so owners recoup some of their costs by selling empty legs at a discount. Sometimes, up to 75% off standard charter prices. This can easily make a private jet flight as competitive as a first-class ticket on any airline, with far more perks included.

Here’s a quick comparison:

• Regular private jet charter (NYC → Miami): $20,000+
• Empty leg flight (same route): $5,000 or less

While still pricey compared to economy class, empty leg flights allow travelers to experience private jet luxury for a fraction of the usual cost.

Prices for empty leg flights vary based on several factors, as you’d expect. The most common considerations when looking at how much empty leg flights cost are as follows:

• Route distance
• Aircraft type
• Demand & availability
• Season demand

To help you understand better how empty leg flight deals work, we’ll present some general price estimates. Please note that these will vary according to the previous criteria, but also on how competitive retes are at your private jet charter company.

• Short-haul (e.g., London → Paris): $2,000 – $5,000
• Medium-haul (e.g., LA → NYC): $5,000 – $15,000
• Long-haul (e.g., Europe → USA): $10,000 – $50,000

For perspective, a first-class ticket on a commercial airline might cost just as much, but you wouldn’t get the VIP treatment, flexibility, and exclusivity of flying private. We frequently mention the many benefits of flying on a private jet, and if you can grab all of these for a bargain, then you may as well go out and enjoy it!

Finding an empty leg flight can take a bit of work, but if you know where to look, you can score a luxury flight for less. We invite you to use JetFinder’s Empty Legs Flight Finder and find out what’s available in your selected route. Here you can get real-time quotes and book your flights safely and promptly.

Our goal is to provide our customers with the very best deals available 24/7 regardless of destination and personal requirements. An empty leg may be the holiday opportunity for you and your family, or an affordable investment for your next business endeavour. In either case, taking advantage of said offers is a great opportunity as there is daily, worldwide availability.

The best way to find an empty leg flight is to use our dedicated search at JetFinder.com. We provide real-time empty leg listings and our customer service team is available 24/7 to help you find the flight you need. With an easy booking process and several payment methods that even help you fly a private jet with crypto, our competitive prices are always about finding you the best deal available.

The process to find a private jet flight and an empty leg is very straighforward. Follow these steps to get your quote:

1. Visit JetFinder.com
2. Enter your preferred departure city and date
3. Browse available empty leg flights
4. Book your flight & fly private for less

A great tip for those looking for a private jet deal is to follow us on social media to ensure you don’t miss out on exclusive deals before they’re gone!

Unlike commercial airlines, empty leg flights don’t follow set schedules. They depend on private jet bookings, so the more flexible you are, the better chance you have of getting a great deal. Nevertheless, with considerable availability, we believe that in the course of a year, you’ll find several opportunities to fly an empty leg, as long as you are somewhat flexible.

As an example, if you’re open to any airport in Florida instead of just Miami, you’ll find more options to choose from. Some may require you to drive a little further, but the benefits of flying private around the world cannot be understated.

Private jet operators look to fill seats, so prices can drop significantly closer to departure. If you can travel on short notice, this is your best bet for grabbing a great deal. With some flights listed just 24-48 hours before departure, the spontaneous travelers can easily be spoilt for choice.

We suggest booking within this time frame or even 72 hours prior to ensure all booking procedures are completed and flights confirmed.

Not finding the right empty leg flight? JetFinder’s team can help you locate exclusive private jet deals that might not be publicly listed. Just contact our team with your details and preferred route and we’ll check for availability. We’ll look to match you with an available empty flight that fits your schedule, while negotiating the best price for last-minute deals.

Our VIP customer service is renowned for providing an outstanding experience, reason why our customers trust us for their ongoing travel arrangements.

While flying private for less sounds amazing, empty leg flights do come with some drawbacks. It’s important to realize this apparently miraculous well-kept secret comes with a few considerations. That said, we believe they’re easily overlooked, just as long as your schedule allows for some flexibility. Here are the disadvantages of empty leg flights:

• No flexibility: The flight schedule is set and you can’t request changes.
• One-way only: You’ll need to arrange a separate return flight. Perhaps another empty flight can take you back home?
• Last-minute cancellations: If the original charter changes plans, your empty leg flight could be canceled.

If you’re adventurous and flexible, empty leg flights are an incredible deal. But if you need a guaranteed itinerary, a full charter or commercial flight might be better.

Yes! In fact, empty leg flights in Europe are quite popular, with routes like:

• London → Paris
• Milan → Ibiza
• Zurich → Nice

We suggest you have a look at our European destinations list where you can learn more about deals before you embark on empty leg flight searches. As always, our customer service team is available to help design a trip that matches your schedule.

Absolutely! Empty leg flights in the US are widely available, covering both coast-to-coast routes and shorter regional flights. Popular routes include:

• New York → Miami
• Los Angeles → Las Vegas
• Chicago → Aspen
• Dallas → Los Angeles

With major private jet hubs in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Dallas, finding an empty leg private jet flight in the US is easier than ever. JetFinder can also help you grab domestic deals, so if you’re looking to fly private for less within the States, check our listings or contact our support team.

Still unsure if this is the right choice for you? We decided to help you by comparing empty leg flights with our full private jet charter service. Keep in mind our rates remain the most competitive in the industry, and there’s always a great deal at your disposal.

As previously mentioned, if you want the luxury of flying private without the price tag, an empty leg flight is your best bet. However, should you need a guaranteed flight, a full charter is the way to go. In either case, you’re presented with an outstanding travel experience that will surprise you.

We believe it is, particularly if you’re flexible and spontaneous, as empty leg flights are an amazing way to experience private aviation at a discount. They are definitely not for everyone, as most of us require guarantees around our schedules, particularly for business and family holidays, or even that extreme adventure destination you’ve been dreaming of. That said, don’t rule out empty legs completely, as you may be surprised to find availability for at least one of the legs in your next itinerary. To put the arguments for and against it, we remind you of the ups and downs of these deals.

They are best for:

• Adventurous travelers who can book last-minute
• Luxury lovers looking for a deal
• Business travelers with flexible schedules

You may want to avoid an empty leg deal if:

• You have fixed schedules
• Are looking for a round-trip option
• Get anxious before uncertainty

For the ultimate deal hunters, an empty leg flight is the way to fly private for far less. Dream of skipping the airport crowds and sipping champagne at 40,000 feet? Then you may as well check an empty leg flight list and see where we can take you. When in doubt, contact us directly for your free quote and start flying in style!