Do you dream of flying in a luxurious private jet where you are treated like a queen or king? But, budget is the major limitation? Well, empty leg flights are your ticket to living like the rich and famous without the astronomical price tag.
This method is the ultimate solution to fulfil your dream of flying luxury at lower rates.
However, if you are a new flyer, it’s evident that you may think of this method as a Ponzi scheme. But it isn’t; all successful jet setters know these money-saving flight secrets.
Therefore, now is the time you should be aware of it, too. So, fasten your seat belts for the top 8 secrets you must know before a takeoff in 2023.
From stretch limos, whys, and hows to regulations, we will uncover all you need to book and fly smart in ultimate comfort, convenience, and style. After discovering this guide containing essential tips and tricks, you will step off the tarmac feeling like a VIP.
Empty leg flights, also referred to as ferry flights, are private jets that need to reposition without passengers after completing a charter flight.
For example, a private jet flies a group of executives from Los Angeles to New York. Now, the aircraft must return to its home base in Miami without any passengers.
Therefore, rather than fly empty, charter jet companies sell these empty legs at a considerable discount. Furthermore, this method applies to counterclockwise scenarios, allowing you to board a plane during its empty flight to pick up the passengers.
This allows budget-conscious flyers to experience the luxury and convenience of private aviation. On the contrary, it helps the private jet owners or the jet rental companies to keep the money rolling.
Everything in the world has distinctions, similar to the two sides of a coin. This also pertains to empty leg private jet flights, where the differences may not be massive, but they are noticeable. A few of the differences you’ll notice when flying on empty leg flights are –
Luxury at a Discounted Price: In comparison to a chartered trip, empty-leg flights are money-saving. But, the lower cost doesn’t put cuts on luxury, and you get to experience the joy of flying privately, having an individualized experience.
One-way Trips: The most significant difference between flying in a private charter and an empty leg private jet is that the latter is always one-way. Therefore, you will be able to go from Point A to B. However, to return to Point A, you must book another empty leg jet, flight, or any other mode of transportation.
Break the Queue: When flying in an empty leg private jet, you will enjoy a seamless boarding experience. You’ll not stand in queues waiting to board, your luggage will be loaded on priority, and you’ll not reach your plane on a bus. Instead, you will receive a personal car, possibly even a luxury vehicle (depending on the company), to transport you directly to your private jet’s doorstep.
Amenities: This is a slight disparity, but there are differences in amenities. It mainly depends on the rental company you’re flying with. Either, the amenities can be less than that of a regular charter. Or, they can be ultra-luxurious, depending on which time, date, and city you’re flying from and with which operator.
Booking empty leg flights is easy using a reputable private jet broker like BITS Lifestyle. The company offers a dedicated brand known as Aviobits that not only lets you charter a plane at normal rates, but you can even book empty leg flights with ease.
Here are the steps:
Tell the broker your desired departure and arrival airports along with travel dates. They will send you a list of all empty leg options that meet your criteria.
Select the jet size that best fits your party’s needs. Light jets carry 4-6 passengers. Midsize jets seat 6-9 people. Super midsize and heavy jets are the largest, with up to 16 passenger capacity.
Request catering, ground transportation, and any special amenities to customize your empty leg experience.
Provide passenger names, pay for the flight, and the broker will instantly book your seats on the empty leg flight.
Turn up at the airport and be pampered like royalty from the departure gate to arrival city!
The entire booking process only takes about 10-15 minutes since empty legs are pre-approved charter routes.
Don’t fret. The solution is to use apps or websites that allow you to board empty leg flights. You can use Jettly or Catch a Jet app to browse the available charters flying to the expected destination. Once you’ve found one, raise your query through the app and follow all the instructions.
In a matter of a few clicks, you will be at the final stage of booking, and soon, you’ll receive your booking confirmation.
It’s wise to have Plan A and B, but it’s wiser to have a Plan C, just in case. The third method is a bit tedious. To book these deadhead flights, you can contact different charter companies. You can ask their representatives if private jet empty leg flights are available for the destination you want to reach.
If there’s a flight available, you can ask for a quote, provide your information, pay for it and enjoy a luxurious flying experience.
Empty leg pricing depends on the aircraft size, route, and seasonal demand. Further, there is variance based on the charter fleets available and the jet companies. However, most often, the discounted price has a drop of 25 to 75 per cent of the original fare.
Suppose a charter flight costs $35,000 per hour, but if you are ready to fly at the last minute, you might get to fly in that charter for as low as $8,750.
Moreover, to give you an idea of the average pricing of flying in an empty leg private jet, here are some sample one-way rates:
To compare, a one-way transcontinental charter flight can cost $20,000 to $50,000 on these jet sizes! So, empty legs offer incredible value.
You can also save more by sharing the cost when booking as a group or family. Ultimately, empty legs deliver private aviation at commercial airline prices.
There are two main reasons empty leg flights are priced so low:
The private jet has to reposition back to base regardless of empty leg passengers. So, any additional revenue is profit.
Empty legs must be sold on short notice, so the charter operator wants to fill seats quickly at reduced fares.
Of course, the trade-off is less flexibility on departure times and airports. But empty legs are perfect for flexible travellers seeking luxury for less.
Empty leg charters provide an awesome experience at bargain rates. However, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider:
Overall, these minor drawbacks are offset by the huge savings and convenience of flying private for much less. If you’re ready to keep aside these limitations, empty legs are an excellent option for you.
The empty leg flights method is not a derived way of flying; it’s basically a mutual way of gaining some benefits. Therefore, the reasons behind their low prices are actually justified, and the most common reasons are:
After flying a charter flight, the aircraft needs to be repositioned back to its home airport. It returns to the location where the crew and staff are based. Or it may need to relocate for maintenance checks or a new charter. Therefore, this flight is often known as an empty leg if no passengers are travelling.
An owner takes their private plane on a one-way trip for business or vacation. Now, it has to fly back without them. For instance, the jet owner may be flying privately from New York to Miami for business or vacation. So, the charter will be empty during the return to New York.
Certain routes have peak demand in one direction. For example, Aspen vacations over Christmas. Planes have to return empty.
Flight crews are only allowed to work a certain number of hours consecutively due to FAA safety rules. Thus, jets often fly empty legs to pick up or drop off pilots.
This situation is rare, but it can happen. There can be weather events like hurricanes, requiring aircraft to move empty to safer airport locations at the last minute.
Ultimately, no owner wants their expensive asset sitting idle, and empty legs provide a lucrative revenue stream. It’s a win-win for operators and travellers alike.
The major benefit of flying on empty leg jet flights is the huge savings you get, but there are other advantages, like –
When you add up all these benefits, empty legs are the smart way to fly private for less.
Here are some key tips and facts to know before booking your empty leg flights:
By doing homework and managing expectations, empty legs offer an incredible experience. You get the red carpet treatment in the air without the hefty price tag.
Empty leg flights offer tremendous value for private jet travel by leveraging pre-planned repositioning routes. Though limited in scheduling flexibility, the deep discounts compared to full charters open luxury aviation to budget-minded flyers. Additionally, it’s beneficial for the charter operators and owners.
So, choose BITS Lifestyle, your trusted partner for booking empty leg flights, and prepare smartly to fly at a discounted price while having a VIP experience.
