The best-kept open secret in private aviation: jets frequently fly with nobody on board. Those repositioning journeys — empty leg flights — are sold at deep discounts to anyone whose plans happen to align. Here is how to be that person. If private aviation is new to you altogether, start with how private jet charter actually works.
Why empty legs exist
Charter aircraft rarely live where their next client is. A jet that flies a family Dublin to Nice must either wait there or fly home empty. Operators would rather earn something than nothing, so the empty return is offered at 25–75% below standard charter price. The flight was happening anyway — you are simply filling it.
The genuine upside
- The same aircraft, crew and FBO experience as a full-price charter.
- Discounts that make private flying rational for travellers who would never pay full charter rates.
- Popular routes appear constantly: London–Nice, Paris–Geneva, Dublin–London, Milan–Ibiza in season — the Geneva traffic in particular follows the ski season.
The honest trade-offs
- The schedule serves the aircraft, not you. Dates and times are fixed by the original booking — and can shift or cancel if that booking changes. Never build an immovable commitment on an empty leg alone.
- One-way by nature. Your return needs its own solution — scheduled flight, second empty leg, or a paid charter.
- Aircraft size is what it is. The plane was chosen for someone else’s trip; a couple may get a heavy jet, a family may not fit a light one.
How to actually catch one
Empty legs move fast and are rarely advertised well. The practical method: tell a broker or concierge your flexible city pairs and months, and let them watch the market. When something aligns, you decide within hours, not days. Flexibility of even a day either side multiplies your chances. Everywhere else in luxury travel the opposite rule applies — see when to book.
Who empty legs suit
Spontaneous couples, second-home owners on repeating routes, and anyone whose diary bends. Who they do not suit: wedding parties, honeymoon departures, connection-critical journeys and travellers who hate plan changes — pay for the certainty of a full charter instead. Our budget guide is candid about when that certainty is worth buying.
Want us to watch routes for you? Tell our concierge desk your usual city pairs and we will flag matches as they appear. Private jets at Stylish Jetset · Get in touch.
Flying Privately, Sensibly
Give us your city pairs. We will watch the market so you do not have to.