What exactly are Private Jet Empty Leg Flights?
Private jet empty leg flights—that seems like a long and confusing term. What exactly are these for and how do they help people hire a private jet in the UK for cheaper prices?
What are private jet empty leg flights?
Private jets are often booked for one-way flights by a singular person, or a small group of people. This means that after the singular passenger or the small group of people is dropped off by the aircraft in their desired destination, the plane would have to go back to it's "home" airport alone—without any passengers. No-passenger flights are called empty leg flights, and the “returning home” flights are called repositioning flights.
Why are private jet empty leg flights bookable?
Since these repositioning flights are costly in fuel and other resources, airlines try to make up for these by making empty leg flights bookable. The aircraft would not have to return empty, without any passengers, to its home base. Instead, as it repositions itself, it also brings some individuals on the way as another one-way flight. These flights are listed and bookable online.
Private jet empty leg flights as a cheaper flight option
Private jet empty leg flights offer significantly cheaper discounts. Depending on the type of jet, you can get up to a 75% discount. Some even use celebrity private jets. A normal flight with a mid-sized jet will cost you around £20,000, but an empty leg flight will only cost you around £9,000 to 12,000. This is a significantly larger cut.
However, cons are also present in these empty leg flight accommodations. Private jet empty leg flights can get cancelled last-minute. This can happen especially during peak seasons, and unfortunately, you might still have to pay for something that you were not able to take advantage of due to booking laws.
They also have a fixed time and date. Unlike regular flights, empty leg flights are not flexible. Unless the scheduled date and time fits you very well, you can not book these flights. You would also have to be very punctual on these types of flights, as you are, technically, only hitching along as the aircraft does a repositioning.