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One-way deals
Repositioning flights, explained and matched to your route
Aircraft fly empty every day to get to their next trip. When one is heading your way, you can charter it for less. Here is how it works, what it costs and what to watch for.
Why aircraft fly empty
Three reasons a jet moves with no one on board
Repositioning is part of how charter works. These are the situations that create most one-way flights.
One-way trips
A jet that drops passengers far from its base has to get home or on to its next job. If nobody is booked for the return, it flies back empty.
Seasonal flows
Winter in Florida, ski weeks in Colorado, summers on the Riviera. Demand runs one way at a time, so aircraft come back in the counter-flow.
Bases, crews and parking
Maintenance visits, crew changes and full ramps at busy airports such as Aspen all send aircraft somewhere without passengers.
Pricing
What a repositioning flight costs
Discounts of roughly 25–75% against a regular one-way charter are common. That range is an estimate. Each flight is priced on its own, and these are the things that move it.
| Factor | Lower price when | Higher price when |
|---|---|---|
| Time to departure | The flight leaves soon and is still unsold | It is days away and the operator expects other buyers |
| Route | Few people want to fly that direction that day | It runs with a busy holiday or event flow |
| Aircraft size | Smaller cabins with lower hourly costs | Large cabin jets with high operating costs |
| Flexibility asked | You take the flight exactly as scheduled | You need a time change or an extra stop |
| Taxes and fees | Same as any charter: 7.5% federal excise tax and segment fees on domestic US flights, plus airport charges. Our quotes include them. | |
Repositioning alert
Tell us where you'd fly. We'll watch for it.
Give us the route, your earliest date and how flexible you are. When a repositioning flight that fits comes up, your advisor emails you the details and the all-in price. There is no obligation, and if nothing matches we can quote a regular charter for the same trip.
- Free text is fine: "anywhere in South Florida" works as a destination.
- One alert per trip. Send another for a different route.
- Pets, skis and golf bags: add them to the notes so we only send aircraft that fit.
What is a deadhead flight?
A deadhead, also called a ferry flight, empty leg or repositioning flight, is a flight an aircraft makes without passengers to reach its next job or return to base. Operators often sell these legs at a reduced price rather than fly them empty.
How much cheaper is a repositioning flight?
Discounts of roughly 25–75% against the equivalent one-way charter are common. Treat that as an estimate: the price depends on the aircraft, the route, how close to departure it is and whether the operator could sell the leg to someone else.
What happens if the original trip is cancelled?
The repositioning flight can be cancelled with it, sometimes close to departure. Your charter agreement sets out what happens next. Keep a fallback in mind; we can price a regular charter alongside as a back-up.
Can I change the time or add a stop?
Small timing changes are sometimes possible if the operator agrees and the crew's duty day allows it. A new stop or a large time change usually turns the flight into a regular charter, priced as one.
Do I pay per seat?
No. You charter the whole aircraft for that leg, for your group only. The price is for the aircraft, not per passenger, so a full cabin brings the cost per person down.