When booking a last-minute holiday, most people head to comparison websites or into a travel agent to try and find the best deal. Most people don’t even consider flying by private jet as an option, writing it off as an extravagance reserved for rich businessmen and celebrities.
But something you might not know is the well-kept secret that flying privately might actually be cheaper than you think. Taking advantage of empty leg flights could give you the ticket to luxury air travel, at a fraction of the cost.
What is an Empty Leg?
The concept of the empty leg journey is pretty simple and it can be a great option for those who are looking for private air travel but don’t quite have the bank balance to match.
If a private aircraft has been booked for a one-way journey, it’ll have to return from dropping off its customer at their destination back to its home base, ready to pick up its next charter. This means that the aircraft is making a return journey without any passengers on board.
Why Are They So Cheap?
Because private jets are a bespoke option for flying, taking customers to any destination they desire, it’s difficult for operators to find a full-price customer for such a specific route, time and aircraft on the return leg.
As the aircraft needs to return to its home base anyway, customers can find significant discounts (usually up to 75% off the normal charter price) as the operator will want to fill the flight and avoid flying back empty.
How Can I Find One?
Individual private jet operators will offer different aircrafts and routes so it’s worth contacting them directly to find out more about their available private jet charters.
Alternatively, you can search online for empty leg flights as any deals may be advertised on the operator’s website. This is a great option if you don’t have a specific holiday destination in mind and you’re willing to be spontaneous with your trip – who knows where an empty leg charter might take you!
Contrary to popular belief, chartering a private jet might not be as out of reach as you’d think for normal people like you and I. You don’t need to be paying big bucks to fly privately when you know how. Taking advantage of empty leg charters is a great way to experience the luxury of flying on a private jet and give you an unexpected adventure to a far-flung destination – all for a fraction of the cost of a normal charter!
