An empty leg is a private jet flight that has to happen anyway. The aircraft must reposition, so the operator sells the seats at a discount rather than fly with no one on board. For a flexible traveller, it is the cheapest way to fly private.
Where empty legs come from
A client books a one-way charter, say from London to Nice. The jet lands on the Riviera, but its base is in London. It now has to fly back, with or without passengers. That return flight is the empty leg.
The same happens when a jet flies to pick up a client somewhere else. The positioning flight to that airport can also be sold.
How much do you save?
Our charter partner quotes savings of 40% to 75% compared with a standard charter. Its own example on London to Nice: a light jet for six passengers at €4,500 as an empty leg, against €12,000 as a standard charter. That is a 63% saving on the same aircraft and the same route.
| Standard charter | Empty leg | |
|---|---|---|
| Route and date | Yours | Fixed by the operator |
| Price | Full | 40% to 75% lower |
| Certainty | Confirmed once booked | Can be cancelled if the original trip changes |
| Best for | Fixed plans | Flexible dates and routes |
The catch: the flight can disappear
An empty leg exists only because someone else booked the outbound trip. If that client cancels or changes their plans, the empty leg is cancelled too. Our charter partner says it offers alternative options when this happens, but you should not build a fixed appointment on an empty leg.
Timing is the other constraint. According to our charter partner, most empty legs appear 48 to 72 hours before departure. You rarely see them weeks ahead.
Treat an empty leg as an opportunity, not a plan. If the date suits you, nothing else comes close on price.
How to book one
Search the current empty legs on our homepage. Each flight shows the route, the date, the aircraft, the seats and the price published by our charter partner. When one suits you, open it to confirm availability with its reference number. Our charter partner accepts payment by card, bank transfer or Bitcoin.
Frequently asked questions
Are empty legs really cheaper?
Yes. Our charter partner quotes savings of 40% to 75% against a standard charter on the same route.
Can I change the date or the destination?
No. The route and the departure window are set by the operator, because the jet has to be somewhere at a given time.
What happens if my empty leg is cancelled?
It can happen if the original charter changes. Our charter partner says it provides alternative options when this occurs. Always read the cancellation terms before you pay.
Which routes have the most empty legs?
Our charter partner names London to Nice, New York to Miami and Geneva to Ibiza among the routes with frequent empty legs.
Sources
- Definition, 40% to 75% saving, London to Nice example, 48 to 72 hours, booking steps and payment methods: our charter partner’s empty legs guide (consulted November 2026).
- Cancellation risk when the original charter changes: our charter partner’s guide, plus the Aerocorner and SkyAccess guides to empty legs.
