Saving money and charter jet flight are two phrases you won’t see in the same sentence very often. Yet while it’s true that chartering a jet is going to cost you more money than flying coach, or even first class, there are ways for a savvy flyer to enjoy the comfort of a chartered flight and still save a few (thousand) bucks.
Do you want to know a secret?
Here’s the dirty little secret: more often than not (around 60% of the time, actually), charter jets fly without passengers. Often, this is because they are simply returning after dropping off a one way customer. At other times, this is because they are carrying cargo instead of live passengers. In either case, they are going to be making the same trip, whether they have you on board or not.
Often, you can get a great price on a charter jet flight by simply asking the company if they have any “empty leg” flights going your way. If an empty charter jet happens to be headed the direction you want to go, you can usually negotiate a very good deal on the flight.
How much can I save?
Savings typically run in the 20%-25% range, but if you stand your ground you can often get an even better deal. After all, the jet is going to be making the trip and burning the fuel anyway. It simply makes sense for them to take on a passenger at any reasonable price if they have the opportunity to do so.
Of course, this often means that you will need to work around their schedule a bit. Still, if you’re not in a particular hurry, there’s no reason to pay full price for a chartered flight if you can hop an empty leg flight instead.
Can I really do this?
Your chances of hitching a ride on an empty leg flight go up dramatically if you’re traveling along the beaten path. Your chances of catching a charter jet going where you want to go aren’t quite so good if you are traveling to (or from) one of the less popular destinations. Of course, it never hurts to ask. Unless you’ve already made travel plans, it’s always a good idea to check to see if you can catch an empty leg flight.
