ServicesEmpty Leg Flights
Empty Leg Flights in Martinsville
An empty leg is a jet flying without passengers to reach its next trip or its base. If your plans fit its route and departure window, you can charter that flight one way. We check what's open, confirm the details and give you an all-inclusive quote by phone.
What an empty leg is and when it makes sense
Charter aircraft rarely end a trip where the next one begins. A light jet that drops passengers in Florida still has to get back, and a midsize jet booked out of Chicago may need to position there first. Operators would rather fill that repositioning flight than burn fuel with no one aboard, so the leg is offered to a new client as a one-way charter.
The trade-off is control. The operator sets the route, the aircraft type and the rough departure time around the trip that pays for it. Empty legs work best for travelers with some slack: a family heading south for a week, a couple flexible by a day, a team that can leave in the morning or the afternoon. If your meeting can't move by an hour, a standard on-demand charter is the better call.
One person handles your request from the first question to wheels up. You won't be passed between a sales desk and an operations desk while a leg sits open.
Our part in booking your empty leg
Finding legs that fit
We search for repositioning flights close to your dates and route, counting legs that land at another airport in the same area. A jet arriving an hour's drive away can still make the trip work.
Confirming the exact jet
Each leg belongs to one tail number. Before you say yes, we verify the seats, luggage room, cabin height and whether it is WIFI equipped.
One price with everything in it
Fuel, landing and FBO handling, segment taxes and crew costs are all inside the quote rather than showing up afterward. There are no hidden costs, and a one-way flight is never priced as a round trip.
Your passengers and pets
Pets can come along. Ahead of departure we check the operator's animal policy, collect passenger names and confirm ID requirements.
A plan if the leg moves
When the trip behind your leg changes, your flight may move or drop with it. We watch for that, let you know at once and bring replacement options in a comparable aircraft class.
When an empty leg suits your trip
There's no return flight needed
If you'll drive home, take an airline back or stay for weeks, a one-way charter beats paying for a return leg.
You can shift your dates
Another client's trip sets the schedule, so being able to move by a few hours or a day opens up many more legs.
You're flying as a small group
Since you book the full cabin rather than one seat, four to eight people sharing the aircraft get the best value.
Your destination is in demand
Florida, the Northeast and western ski towns get regular repositioning flights, most of all near holidays and at the start and close of each season.
Any aircraft size will do
When a turboprop or light jet would work as well as a midsize, you can grab whichever leg fits your plans.
How an empty leg booking runs
- 1
A call about your trip
Tell us where you're going, how many passengers and bags, any pets, and how flexible your timing is. Travelers from Martinsville, Mooresville and Bloomington usually start at the nearest FBO that suits the aircraft.
- 2
Matching open legs
We check repositioning flights that fit, then explain each one: aircraft type, departure window, arrival airport and how firm the leg looks based on the trip behind it.
- 3
Your quote and confirmation
You get one all-inclusive quote by phone. Once you accept, we lock the leg with the operator and send you the FBO address, arrival time and crew contact.
- 4
Departure day
Arrive at the FBO about 15 to 30 minutes before departure. There's no terminal security line; the crew loads bags, checks IDs and briefs you on board.
What sets the price of an empty leg
Empty legs are priced as point to point one-way flights, usually below a standard charter on the same route because the operator is flying it either way. How far below depends on a few things we explain on the call.
- Aircraft class
- A turboprop burns less fuel per hour than a super-midsize or heavy jet, and the hourly operating cost carries straight into the leg price.
- How close to departure
- Operators often lower the price as the date nears and the leg stays empty. Waiting can save money, but it also risks the leg being taken or cancelled.
- Route changes
- Asking to depart or land at a different airport adds flight time and positioning, which moves the price toward a regular charter.
- Fees at each end
- Landing fees, FBO handling and overnight costs vary by airport. All of them are inside your quote rather than billed afterward.
Questions about empty legs
Something not covered here? (765) 544-5538
Could my empty leg be cancelled once it's booked?
It can. Your leg only flies because another client booked a trip, and when that trip shifts or cancels, yours can shift too. We explain how firm each leg looks before you commit, and if something changes we call you with comparable aircraft options.
What if the jet has a mechanical issue?
Our mechanical insurance pays up to 100% of a replacement flight's cost. When the scheduled aircraft is grounded for a mechanical reason, we line up the substitute and work it out with the operator, so you aren't stuck on the phone in the FBO lounge.
Do I get to choose when we leave?
Only a little. An operator may move a leg by a few hours when the next trip allows it. Larger changes rarely work, and in that case a standard one-way charter is the better option.
Will other travelers be on the plane?
No. The entire aircraft is yours for that leg, so only your group and the crew are on board.
Is a last-minute empty leg possible?
Frequently, because plenty of legs only open up a few days before departure. If an urgent trip comes up, call and we'll look at open legs and on-demand charter side by side.
See which empty legs line up with your plans
Give us your route, your passengers and how flexible you can be. We'll come back with the legs worth considering and an all-inclusive quote for the one that fits.