By the Waltzing Matilda Aviation Team | FAA Part 135 · ARGUS Gold-Rated Charter & Aircraft Management | Last updated August 2026
Quick answer: An empty leg flight is a private jet trip flown without passengers already booked on it — typically while an aircraft repositions to or from a base, or ahead of its next charter or owner flight. Because the aircraft is flying that route regardless, operators like Waltzing Matilda Aviation offer the availability to travelers at a discount, often 25–75% below standard charter rates.
If you've spent any time researching private aviation, you've probably come across the term "empty leg" and wondered what it actually means. An empty leg flight is one of the smartest ways to experience private jet travel at a meaningfully lower cost, and understanding how they work can help you take advantage of them when they come up.
Here's everything you need to know about empty legs: what they are, why they exist, how pricing works, who they're best suited for, and how to find current empty leg deals with Waltzing Matilda Aviation.
What Is an Empty Leg Flight?
An empty leg flight (also called a deadhead flight, repositioning flight, or one-way charter) is a private jet trip that flies without any paying passengers on board for one direction of its journey.
Here's how it happens: a repositioning flight comes up any time an aircraft needs to move without passengers already booked on it — whether that's returning to base after dropping off a charter client, heading out to pick up passengers for their next trip, or repositioning ahead of a scheduled owner flight. Since the plane is flying that route regardless, operators like WMA offer that availability to other travelers at a substantially reduced rate rather than let the aircraft fly empty.
In short: the jet is flying that route either way. An empty leg simply gives someone else the chance to be on it.
Why Do Empty Legs Exist?
Private charter flights are rarely round-trip in the way commercial airline routes are. A client flies from Boston to Palm Beach for a week; the aircraft doesn't sit idle in Florida waiting — it typically repositions back to base, or moves on to serve its next charter or owner flight. That repositioning flight has to happen regardless of whether it's carrying revenue passengers.
For charter operators and managed aircraft alike, offering that leg at a discount accomplishes a few things:
- It offsets fixed operating costs — fuel, crew time, and positioning costs that would otherwise be a pure loss.
- It improves aircraft utilization — a core priority for owners in an aircraft management program, since every productive hour flown helps offset ownership costs.
- It gives travelers a lower-cost entry point into private aviation — often 25–75% below the cost of a standard on-demand charter for the same aircraft type and route.
How Much Does an Empty Leg Flight Cost?
Empty leg pricing varies based on aircraft type, route, how far in advance it's booked, and how much flexibility the operator has around timing. As a general guideline across the industry, empty legs are typically priced 25% to 75% lower than a comparable on-demand charter quote for the same trip.
The exact savings on any individual empty leg depend on:
- Aircraft category — light jet, midsize jet, or large-cabin jet
- Route and distance — repositioning legs on popular corridors tend to move fast
- Timing flexibility — the more flexible your schedule, the more empty leg options open up
- How last-minute the booking is — some of the best empty leg deals appear within days (or hours) of departure
There Are Different Tiers of Empty Leg Pricing
Not all empty legs are priced the same, and understanding why can help you know what to expect:
- Exact point-to-point match — This is the cheapest tier. If the aircraft already needs to fly from, say, Hanscom Field (KBED) to Teterboro (KTEB) on a specific date and time, and your trip matches that route exactly, you'll see the deepest discount available.
- Directional match — This tier still saves you significantly, but costs more than an exact match. For example, if the aircraft needs to get from KBED to Naples (KAPF), and your trip is from Teterboro to Opa-locka (KOPF), that still gets the aircraft generally where it needs to go — but the extra stops mean additional landing fees, so it won't be priced as low as a true point-to-point match.
"Why Can't You Sell Me the Flight for $500?"
This is one of the most common questions we get, usually framed as "isn't $500 better than nothing?" It's a fair question, but here's the reality: our aircraft operate at roughly $5,000–$10,000 per flight hour. Selling a flight for a few hundred dollars isn't worth it — not because we don't want the aircraft utilized, but because every time a passenger boards, it contributes to wear and depreciation on a multi-million-dollar asset. There's also inherent liability in transporting passengers that simply isn't offset by an insignificant fare. The discount on an empty leg needs to meaningfully cover that cost, which is why pricing reflects a real percentage off standard charter rates rather than a token amount.
Pros and Cons of Booking an Empty Leg
The Advantages
- Significant savings compared to a standard charter quote
- Full private jet experience — same aircraft, same crew, same cabin service as a full-price charter
- No membership fees or subscriptions required to inquire about availability
- Access to premium aircraft you might not otherwise book for a one-off trip
The Trade-offs
- Fixed departure and arrival airports — you can't customize the route the way you can with a standard charter
- Set departure windows — timing is generally non-negotiable since it's tied to the aircraft's existing schedule
- Availability changes quickly — good empty legs are often booked within hours of being listed
- Not guaranteed for every route — empty legs depend entirely on where WMA's fleet happens to be repositioning
Empty legs are best suited to travelers with flexible schedules and flexible destinations — if you can work around the aircraft's timing rather than the other way around, you stand to save considerably.
Who Should Book an Empty Leg Flight?
Empty legs tend to be a great fit for:
- Travelers going to or from a destination the aircraft is already flying
- Weekend or short-notice trips where flexibility isn't a constraint
- First-time private jet flyers who want to experience chartering without committing to full charter pricing
- Business travelers with adjustable meeting schedules
- Anyone who wants the safety, comfort, and time savings of private aviation at a lower cost of entry
How Do Empty Legs Fit into Aircraft Management?
If you own an aircraft that's enrolled in a management program, empty leg charter revenue plays a meaningful role in offsetting your fixed ownership costs. Every hour an aircraft flies — including a repositioning leg sold as an empty leg — is an hour that generates net revenue against costs like insurance, hangar, crew salaries, and scheduled maintenance. A well-run management program actively looks for opportunities to place charter clients on repositioning flights, which benefits both the traveler booking the empty leg and the owner whose aircraft is being managed.
This is one of many reasons owners choose a management partner that treats their aircraft with genuine care and attention to utilization, not just scheduling.
How to Find and Book an Empty Leg with Waltzing Matilda Aviation
Waltzing Matilda Aviation is a Boston-based, FAA Part 135, ARGUS Gold-rated charter and aircraft management company operating out of Laurence G. Hanscom Field (KBED), just 20 minutes from downtown Boston. Our fleet includes:
- Phenom 300 — a light jet seating up to 7 passengers, ideal for shorter regional trips (~1,970 nm range)
- Citation Excel (two in the fleet) — a midsize jet seating up to 8 passengers, well suited to New England and East Coast routes (~1,850 nm range)
- Challenger 604 (two in the fleet) — a large-cabin, stand-up jet seating up to 12 passengers, built for longer transcontinental missions (~4,000 nm range)
Because our fleet is actively flying charter and owner missions throughout North America, repositioning opportunities come up regularly. The best way to take advantage of them is to check current availability or sign up for alerts on our empty legs page.
View current empty leg deals from Waltzing Matilda Aviation →
Because empty leg availability changes quickly and isn't published far in advance, the best approach is to check back often or reach out directly so our team can flag opportunities that match your travel plans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Empty Leg Flights
What is an empty leg flight in simple terms?
It's a one-way private jet flight repositioning without passengers, offered to travelers at a discounted rate since the aircraft is flying that route regardless.
Are empty leg flights safe?
Yes. An empty leg is flown by the same certified crew, on the same aircraft, under the same FAA Part 135 operating certificate as any other charter flight. Nothing about the safety standard changes — you can read more about our safety certifications and standards here.
How far in advance are empty legs listed?
It varies. Some are known days or weeks ahead based on scheduled owner trips or charter repositioning; others appear with only a day or two of notice. Flexibility is the key to catching the best deals.
Can I request a specific empty leg route?
You can share your ideal dates and destinations with our team, and we'll let you know if a matching repositioning flight is available or comes up.
Do empty legs cost less than a regular charter?
Yes — typically 25% to 75% less than an on-demand charter quote for the same aircraft type and route, though savings vary by trip.
Is booking an empty leg the same experience as a full charter?
Yes. You're flying the same aircraft, with the same crew and cabin service — the only difference is the fixed departure point, destination, and timing.
Ready to fly smarter? Check current empty leg availability or contact our team to be notified when a repositioning flight matches your travel plans.