Empty legs are the cheapest way onto a private jet, but they come with their own rules. This guide covers how empty legs come about, what they cost, how booking works on PrivJet and when a charter is the better choice.

What is an empty leg?

An empty leg is a private jet flight that would otherwise fly without passengers. It happens all the time: a customer charters a jet from London to Nice, and afterwards the aircraft has to return to base or reposition for its next job. The operator sells that sector as an empty leg, well below the normal charter price.

You will also hear dead leg, open leg, repositioning flight or ferry flight. They all mean the same thing: you hire the whole aircraft for a route it is flying anyway. Aircraft, crew and safety rules are the same as on any other commercial charter.

Travelling alone or as a couple, you may only be looking for an empty seat on a private jet. That is what ShareMyJet is for: it lets you book single seats on empty legs departing at least 7 days out.

In depth: what is an empty leg? →

How much does an empty leg cost?

There is no list price. Each operator prices its empty legs individually, depending on aircraft, route, lead time and demand. The price always covers the whole aircraft, not a single seat.

As a guide, we analysed offer prices from the last 18 months: for empty legs departing from or arriving in Europe, the median ranges from €5,800 (Austria) to €8,200 (United Kingdom) depending on the country.

Empty leg prices by country
Country	Median	Typical range	Per person (6 pax)
Germany	€5,900	€4,400 – €8,400	€1,180
Austria	€5,800	€4,300 – €8,600	€1,160
Switzerland	€6,100	€4,600 – €8,900	€1,220
France	€6,500	€4,700 – €9,300	€1,300
Italy	€6,400	€4,600 – €9,500	€1,280
Spain	€7,000	€4,900 – €10,400	€1,400
United Kingdom	€8,200	€5,700 – €12,900	€1,640
Greece	€7,400	€5,100 – €10,800	€1,480
United States	€8,400	€5,200 – €13,800	€1,680

Median and middle 50% of offer prices for the whole aircraft in euros, excluding service fee. Empty legs departing from or arriving in the country, last 18 months, updated daily. Per person: median plus 20% service fee, divided by 6.

The PrivJet service fee of 20% is added to the flight price; the flight list above already shows the total. If several people share the jet, the cost per head drops accordingly – the last column works it out for six passengers.

Costs and price factors in detail →Charter cost calculator →

How to book an empty leg

You do not need a membership or jet card to book an empty leg on PrivJet. Booking takes five steps:

Choose a flight: route, date, aircraft type, seats and total price are shown for every offer.
Sign the pre-contract: enter contact and passenger details and sign digitally. You have not paid anything at this point.
Operator confirmation: the operator checks that aircraft, crew and slots are available as offered.
Pay the service fee: once confirmed, 20% of the flight price is due. You then see the operator, registration and payment details.
Balance and flight: the flight price is due no later than 7 days before departure, or immediately after confirmation for short-notice flights.

Nothing suitable right now? A free route alert tells you by push or email when new empty legs appear on your route. Or send a charter request and we collect quotes from up to 10 matching operators in parallel.

Booking checklist →Request a charter →

Pros and cons of empty legs

Why they are worth it

Price: savings of up to 75% compared with a regular one-way charter.
Same standard: same aircraft, same crew, same regulations as a charter.
Privacy: you fly only with your own party, usually through a separate private terminal.
Direct routes, including smaller airports without scheduled flights.

What to plan for

Route and date are fixed; changes are rarely possible.
The empty leg depends on another booking. If that changes, the operator may move or cancel your flight.
An empty leg is one-way, so plan your return separately.
Many offers only appear a few days before departure.

Empty leg, charter or scheduled flight?

All three get you there. The difference is who sets the route and time, and what you are paying for.

	Empty leg	Charter	Scheduled flight
Route and time	set by the operator	your choice	airline timetable
Price	whole aircraft, heavily reduced	whole aircraft, including positioning	per seat
Certainty	may change with the original booking	high	high, changes depend on fare
Best for	flexible travellers and small groups	fixed appointments	solo travellers on major routes

Empty leg or charter? The full comparison →

Empty legs in Europe and worldwide

Many operators only publish their empty legs on their own websites. PrivJet brings together offers from 200+ operators in one search and syncs them several times a day, so you can see what is available without checking each provider separately.

The focus is on Europe – Germany, Switzerland, the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Greece – but the search also covers empty legs across North America and the Caribbean.

Empty leg FAQ

How much does an empty leg flight cost?

It depends on aircraft, route and lead time. For empty legs departing from or arriving in Germany, the median offer price over the last 18 months was €5,900 for the whole aircraft, with the middle half of offers between €4,400 and €8,400. The 20% service fee comes on top.

How do I book a private jet empty leg?

Choose a flight, sign the digital pre-contract with passenger details and wait for the operator to confirm. You then pay the 20% service fee, followed by the flight price. Nothing is charged before the operator confirms.

Are empty legs safe?

As safe as any regular charter: the same aircraft and crews fly under the same rules. Operators are licensed for commercial passenger transport – in Europe with an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) under EASA rules. You see which operator flies once the service fee is paid.

How much luggage can I bring?

The limit is the aircraft’s baggage hold, not a fare. As a rough guide, a light jet takes about 5 large suitcases, a midsize jet about 8 and a heavy jet about 16. Soft bags are easier to stow. Mention skis, golf bags or pushchairs when booking so the operator can plan for them.

What happens if an empty leg is cancelled?

Because an empty leg depends on another charter, the operator may move or cancel it. If the operator cancels, our terms give you a full refund including the service fee, and the same applies in cases of force majeure. If you cancel yourself, it is free until the service fee is paid; after that the cancellation tiers in our terms apply.

What is the difference between an empty leg and a charter?

With a charter you choose route, date and time. An empty leg is an already scheduled repositioning flight with a fixed route – and much cheaper.

Can I book a single seat on a private jet?

Yes, through ShareMyJet, on empty legs departing at least 7 days out. You then share the flight with other travellers. Short-notice empty legs are only sold as the whole aircraft.