The CEO of a private aviation company explains the ’empty-leg’ trick that can make chartering jets cheaper

Most fares for the same route on Delta Air Lines or United Airlines sit between $500 and $1,000 one-way through November.

Fisher said when a match on the opposing route can’t be found, customers won’t get the “fly empty” price but can still book the plane outright at the market rate for the charter. She said this scenario will be less likely as FlyJets’ network of planes and customers grows.

The company also plans to launch a new “FlyJets Exchange” tool this fall that would allow flyers to buy seats on existing trips booked by other members, she said.

There’s a growing trend of affordable charters

FlyJets joins a growing list of companies offering more affordable private air travel. The experience remains pricey, but travel experts say people are willing to splurge.

Oliver Bell, the cofounder of luxury travel company Oliver’s Travels, told BI’s Mikhaila Friel in June that this trend could be partly attributed to “revenge travel,” where people are “willing to spend more for incredible experiences” after the lockdowns of the pandemic.

In addition to the luxury, people who shell out for private travel save time. Charters are direct flights and typically operate out of small aircraft service stations that require little or no security checks. This means customers can arrive within minutes of departure and avoid the busy airport terminal crowds.

Take the semi-private air carrier JSX, which offers flights across the US and Mexico as a shared plane but with the perks of a private trip. Shorter flights, like Las Vegas to Burbank, cost around $275 one-way, while longer routes along the East Coast corridor start around $700.

KinectAir — a company selling empty legs in the traditional way — touts itself as a ride-share for the sky. CNN reported it sells short empty-leg repositioning flights across the US and keeps prices as low as $111 by using cheaper piston and turboprop aircraft instead of jets.

The catch, however, is that the company can’t sell individual seats, so the flyer has to book out the entire charter plane.

“Of course, [flying private] is by no means a “cheap” way to fly as it still will typically be more expensive than flying commercial,” Bell said. “But it is much more accessible than people think, which could be why we’re seeing an increase now that people are becoming more aware.”