What is an empty leg? A guide to private jets flying back empty
An empty leg is a flight a private jet makes without passengers. Caught at the right time, it is often below the charter price on the same route. Here is how empty legs come about, how to find them and what to watch out for.
Empty legs in short
After dropping off its passengers, a private jet returns to base or repositions to another city for its next job. That flight happens anyway, so the company offers it for sale. The date and route are fixed, and the price is for the whole aircraft.
How do they come about?
- Return flightsA jet that flies passengers from Dubai to Riyadh flies back to Dubai empty.
- RepositioningA jet flies empty to another city for its next job.
- Season changesEmpty flights between holiday regions and big cities increase at the start and end of summer.
Why are they cheaper?
The aircraft is flying anyway, so the company wants to fill the empty seats. That is why the price is often below the charter price on the same route. How much lower depends on the flight and the date; there is no fixed rate.
What to watch out for
- Date and time are fixedAn empty leg depends on the original flight; its date and route cannot be changed.
- The original flight can changeIf the original flight changes, the empty leg can move or be cancelled; refunds follow the company’s terms. Have a backup plan for important appointments.
- It is one wayEmpty legs are mostly one way. You can request a separate quote for the return.
- The price is for the whole aircraftIt stays the same however many people fly, within capacity; ask about baggage space in advance.
How to find empty legs on Daddy’s Jet
Search the empty leg page by route and date. If you find a suitable listing, send a free request in one tap; it does not commit you. If there is no listing on your route, enter your date and several companies will send you their own quotes.
If your dates are flexible, browse listings; if your route is set, request quotes.