Empty Leg Information

What is an "Empty Leg" (private jet)?

An empty leg (sometimes called a repositioning flight or one-way repositioning) is a private jet flight that would otherwise fly empty. That happens when an aircraft has to travel without passengers to pick someone up, return to its base, or reposition between bookings.

Why do empty legs exist?

Empty legs occur because aircraft must reposition after a one-way charter or move between assignments. Operators often offer those repositioning legs at a reduced price rather than flying the aircraft empty.

How much can I save on an empty leg?

Savings vary by route, aircraft and season. Industry examples commonly show discounts in the range of roughly 30% to 75% off a regular charter rate — occasionally more in exceptional cases. Exact savings depend on the operator and the specific empty leg.

How far in advance are empty legs available?

Empty legs are often last-minute: they can appear anywhere from hours up to around 24–72 hours before departure. Availability is unpredictable — being flexible and subscribed to alerts increases your chance of finding a match.

Are empty legs guaranteed or can they be cancelled?

Empty legs are not guaranteed. They are tied to another customer's booking and can be changed or cancelled at short notice if the parent charter changes. Always check cancellation and refund terms before you pay.

Can I book a single seat on an empty leg?

Some platforms advertise per-seat empty-leg options, but availability and legality vary by operator and jurisdiction. If privacy is essential, confirm you are booking the whole aircraft and get that in writing.

Are empty legs suitable for groups or sports travel?

Empty legs are usually best for small, flexible parties (often 1–4 passengers). They are not recommended for large, schedule-critical groups (for example a full sports team) because timings can change and aircraft type / baggage space may be unsuitable for lots of equipment.

What is included in an empty leg booking and are there extra costs?

A quoted empty-leg price may cover the flight itself but can exclude extras (ground handling, transfers, special catering, taxes or repositioning surcharges). Always request the total all-in price and have terms documented (baggage limits, passenger count, payment & refund rules).

How do I find and book empty legs with Intelli.Jet?

Sign up for Intelli.Jet empty-leg alerts and work with our broker team: we monitor operators, confirm aircraft & AOC status, verify terms, and act fast to secure legs. Brokers with strong operator relationships often find the best opportunities and provide written terms and payment instructions.

Who actually operates empty leg flights?

Empty leg flights are operated by third-party, AOC-certified operators. Intelli.Jet acts as a broker and arranges the operator and handling on your behalf — the operator retains operational control of the flight.

Have you posted an empty leg request via social media?

If so, you might be concerned about any comments you've had from people replying to your post - and you should be.

There are many scammers in social media groups, especially Facebook, and anyone commenting on your post offering you a flight should be treated with caution, and all means necessary should be used to ascertain the legitimacy of anyone.

With this in mind, I created a guide to give people the tools and knowledge to help avoid becoming the victim of a scam.

It can be found HERE.