What is an Empty Leg Flight, and How Do You Book It?
If you are new to the world of private travel, you may find that some lingo may be new to you. One phrase in particular – empty leg flight – may be one of them. As you maneuver your way through this newly discovered way of traveling, it may be worth your while to get to know what an empty leg flight is – as well as how to book one.
What is an Empty Leg Flight?
An empty leg flight is one that is traveling to a destination for a scheduled flight – but is empty heading there. For instance, let’s say someone booked a specific jet from Las Vegas to another location. However, the jet is currently in Los Angeles. It will have to fly to Vegas to pick up the passenger. This flight will be empty – and is considered an empty leg flight.
Benefits of an Empty Leg Flight
Any time you travel via a private jet rather than commercial airliners, you have access to the benefits that come with doing so. And, that includes when you travel via an empty leg flight. Sure, you may not end up with specialized catering due to last-minute booking, but everything else? You’ve got it. Let’s take a look at the benefits of booking an empty leg flight – and the benefits of flying private in the first place.
Save money. Because these private jets are already heading to the destination, they are able to offer the empty leg flight at a reduced rate. If you are able to take advantage of these flights, then you will find them to be much more affordable, saving you money in your travels.
Be spontaneous. Many of us spend so much of our time following plans and rigid itineraries – especially when we travel. But, life is so short – and sometimes we need to dust off the unbeaten path and try something new. Ditch the plans and head out on a last-minute, empty leg flight!
Discover new places. When you do decide to be spontaneous, you get another benefit – you get to discover new places. Sometimes opting for a deal on a private jet and being incredibly flexible about your destination means you could land in places you never had imagined visiting. Take this opportunity to explore new destinations. You may be surprised at what you find!
Save time. With empty leg flights, you get the perks of traveling on a private jet. And, that means saving time. You won’t find yourself standing in long TSA security lines or having to arrive at the airport hours in advance of your flight. Instead, you can show up right on time and walk right onto the jet. Maybe you will encounter a security checkpoint, maybe you won’t. Regardless, the entire experience saves you an immense amount of time when compared to commercial travel.
Luxurious accommodations. Now, speaking of flying on a private jet, it goes without saying that the accommodations on board the aircraft are going to be different than commercial travel. While the exact interior will vary based on the specific aircraft, you won’t find yourself sitting squished against a stranger. You will have a comfortable seat – and be able to choose freely as to which seat you want for yourself! Further, you will have a private cabin to do work, sleep, engage in conversation, watch a movie, listen to music (without having to use headphones), etc. You can have a meal, kick back, relax, and truly enjoy the flight.
Booking an Empty Leg Flight
There’s a good chance that flying private on an empty leg has already enticed you – and you probably want to know how to book a trip. If so, then you will want to pay attention. Booking an empty leg flight is easy and doesn’t involve much effort – with the easiest way of doing so being to reach out to your charter company directly.
Another way is to subscribe to an empty leg specials list. This puts you in the know. A list of all the empty leg specials that are available will be sent to you regularly allowing you to be able to plan and make your accommodations when you need them.
Or, in your spare time, simply browse the available empty leg flights with your favorite charter. You may find something that will allow you to be spontaneous and explore something new, just like we talked about.
Things to Know About Booking Empty Leg Flights
Before you make the decision to fly on an empty leg, there are a few things that you should know, such as:
- You don’t have to be a member of an elite group to take advantage of empty leg flights. Anyone can book one of these deals.
- Empty legs are, of course, only one way which means you will need to find another way back home. Another empty leg, perhaps?
- There are literally thousands of empty leg flights available at any given time.
- Empty legs can cost less than a first class commercial ticket.
- Because empty leg flights are built around someone else’s already-purchased flight, you may not have as much flexibility with timing as you normally would on a private flight.
As travelers were searching for safer, less-crowded ways of traveling during the global pandemic, many found that private travel to be a great option. Unfortunately, not everyone has the budget for private travel. That is, unless they book an empty leg flight.
Next time you want to head out on a vacation or weekend getaway – weigh all your options. There may be an empty leg flight waiting for you.