A deadhead is a jet repositioning with no passengers. Catch one going your way and pay a fraction of the charter price.
// aviation term · defined
A flight segment in which an aircraft repositions with no paying passengers aboard — typically returning to base or repositioning to collect its next revenue charter.
Marketed as: empty leg · ferry leg · repositioning flight · one-way empty.
A deadhead is the by-product of how charter actually works. A customer books a one-way — the jet then has to get back (or onward) for its next job. That return is the empty leg you can buy.
A client charters a Citation Latitude from KTEB (Teterboro) to KPBI (Palm Beach). They pay full charter for that single leg.
The aircraft is based in Teterboro or has its next revenue trip there. It has to physically fly back — burning fuel and crew time regardless of who is aboard.
That return is the deadhead. Selling it to you — even at a steep discount — recovers cost that would otherwise be lost. Everybody wins.
Live inventory: empty legs update hourly across 174 countries.
Browse live deadhead dealsThe term gets misused a lot. Tap each card to flip the myth and read the operational truth.
"I'm only buying a seat, right?"Like a cheap airline shuttle with extra legroom.
Tap to flip →You get the whole jet.
A deadhead is chartered per-aircraft, not per-seat. The cabin, the luggage bay, the privacy — all yours, whether it's a light jet or a super-midsize.
← Flip back"I can pick any date I want."Empty legs are basically on-demand charter.
Tap to flip →Date flexibility is required.
The aircraft moves on its operator's schedule, often within a 24–48 hour window around your preferred day. If you must be somewhere at an exact hour, this is not the right product.
← Flip back"I can redirect it anywhere."Pick the destination and the jet follows.
Tap to flip →The route is fixed.
The destination is locked by where the jet has to be next. You can usually shift departure time by a few hours and, if routing allows, land at a nearby alternate airport — not a different city.
← Flip backA sample of current repositioning inventory. Routes, aircraft and pricing shift constantly — these are indicative estimates, not guaranteed fares. Confirm live availability before booking.
Inventory moves fast — most deadheads are booked within hours of listing. See the full, real-time board on the platform.
Browse live deadhead dealsDeadheads aren't a free lunch. They're a trade: massive savings in exchange for flexibility. Here's exactly what you gain and what you give up.
| Attribute | Deadhead / empty leg | Full charter |
|---|---|---|
| Indicative price (vs full) | 40–75% lower | Baseline charter rate |
| Whole aircraft (not per-seat) | Yes | Yes |
| Pick your departure date | Window only | Yes |
| Pick your destination | Fixed route | Yes |
| Same FAA Part 135 operator | Yes | Yes |
| ARGUS / Wyvern preferred | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed availability | Reactive | Yes |
Tell us where you fly. We'll watch the empty-leg board and ping you the second a deadhead matches. No spam, no obligation.
The five questions everyone asks. Answered the way a dispatcher would, not a marketing page.
Yes — deadhead and empty leg describe the same flight. "Deadhead" is the operational term pilots, dispatchers and brokers use internally for a repositioning leg with no paying passengers. "Empty leg" is how that same inventory is marketed to customers. When you see either phrase on a deal board, you're looking at the same thing: a jet that has to move, with cabin space to sell.
Yes. Deadheads are chartered per-aircraft, not per-seat. Whether you book a Citation CJ3 or a Challenger 350, the entire cabin is yours — same as a full-price charter on the same jet. There are no seat-mates, no shared luggage, and no other passengers.
Because the aircraft is already committed to fly. A client chartered a one-way, and the jet now has to reposition — for example, returning from KPBI to its KTEB base. The operator will burn that fuel and crew time whether the cabin is full or empty. Selling it to you at a discount recovers cost that would otherwise be a complete loss, which is why indicative pricing typically runs 40–75% below the equivalent full charter.
Only within a narrow tolerance. The route is fixed by the aircraft's next revenue commitment — it has to be in a specific city at a specific time. What you can usually adjust: departure time (by a few hours) and, if routing permits, the arrival airport (e.g. KHPN White Plains instead of KTEB Teterboro). What you cannot do is redirect the jet to an entirely different destination.
Yes — identical. A deadhead leg is flown by the same FAA Part 135 carrier, the same crew, on the same aircraft, as the full-priced revenue trip adjacent to it. There is no downgrade in certification, maintenance, pilot qualification, or insurance because the cabin happens to be empty. Private JetOne preferentially sources operators rated by ARGUS or Wyvern.
Most empty legs are claimed within hours of listing. Browse what's on the board right now, or set a route alert and let the deal come to you.
