An empty leg is a flight an aircraft has to make without passengers, usually to get to its next trip or back to base. Some operators sell these flights at a discount rather than fly them empty. For travelers with flexible plans, an empty leg can be a good-value way to fly private. The trade-off is that the operator's schedule, not yours, sets the route and time.

Where empty legs come from

Say a client charters a jet one way from Fort Lauderdale to New York, and the aircraft is based in Florida. Unless it picks up another trip, it flies home empty. That return is an empty leg. Aircraft also reposition to start a trip somewhere else or to go in for maintenance, and those flights can be empty legs too.

Empty legs are also called repositioning flights, ferry flights or empty sectors.

Why they're discounted

The operator has to fly the aircraft either way, so selling the seats recovers some of the cost. That's why an empty leg is usually priced well below a regular charter on the same route. How far below depends on the aircraft, the route and how close it is to departure. Your advisor can tell you how a specific empty leg compares with chartering the same trip.

You still get the whole aircraft and crew, and the same service as any other charter on that aircraft.

The trade-offs

Fixed route and time. The departure and arrival airports are set, and the time can only move within the operator's limits. If your trip doesn't line up with an available leg, it won't work.

One way only. An empty leg covers one direction. You'll need to plan the return separately, as a charter, another empty leg or an airline flight.

It can be cancelled. An empty leg depends on the trip that created it. If that client changes their plans, or the aircraft is needed elsewhere, your flight can move or be cancelled, sometimes at short notice. Keep a backup plan, especially if you must be somewhere on a specific day.

Terms vary. Payment and cancellation terms for empty legs are set by each operator and are often stricter than for a regular charter. Read them before you commit.

When an empty leg makes sense

Empty legs suit travelers who:

• Can be flexible on dates and departure times
• Only need one direction covered, or have a return arranged
• Fly routes with frequent private traffic, such as between South Florida, the Northeast and the Bahamas
• Have a backup plan if the flight changes

They're a poor fit for trips with a fixed meeting, event or connection, where a regular on-demand charter is the safer choice.

How to book one

Tell your advisor your route, a range of dates and your group size. They'll check current availability across operators and let you know when a suitable leg comes up. As with any charter, make sure the operator is properly certified; our safety and vetting standards explain what we check.

New to private flying? Start with our beginner's guide to chartering a private jet, or contact our team to ask about empty legs on your route.