See Today's Empty Legs

The Cheapest Way to Fly Private — Ranked, Honestly.

You don't need a membership or millions. Here are the seven lowest-cost ways to charter, ranked by savings — and how to grab them today.

See Today's Cheapest Empty Legs Get 3 Budget Quotes

7 Cheapest Ways to Fly Private

Ranked by how much you can actually save. No fluff, no hidden fees — just the truth.

1
Empty-Leg Flights
When a private jet needs to reposition empty, operators slash the price to recover some cost. You fly the same aircraft, same crew, same experience — for a fraction of the charter rate. Availability is last-minute and one-way only, but the savings are unmatched.
Save up to 0%
2
One-Way / Dynamic Pricing
One-way charters often cost less than round trips because the aircraft may already be heading in that direction. Dynamic pricing means operators adjust rates based on real-time availability — book when demand is low and you lock in serious discounts.
Save 20–50%
3
Split With a Group
Charter is priced per aircraft, not per seat. A $14,000 light jet split six ways is $2,333 per person. The more friends, colleagues, or family you bring, the closer your per-person cost gets to a premium commercial ticket — with none of the hassle.
Save 50–85%
4
Choose a Turboprop or Light Jet
For short-haul trips under 2 hours, a turboprop or light jet is radically cheaper than a midsize or heavy jet. You still get a private terminal, no lines, and direct routing — just with a smaller cabin and lower hourly burn.
Save 40–60%
5
Fly Off-Peak
Tuesday, Wednesday, and mid-morning departures are typically cheaper than Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Avoiding peak holiday weekends and spring-break windows can cut positioning costs and hourly premiums significantly.
Save 15–30%
6
Be Flexible on Nearby Airports
Teterboro vs. Newark. Van Nuys vs. LAX. Smaller general-aviation airports have lower landing fees and shorter taxi times — and sometimes the aircraft is already based there, eliminating costly positioning legs entirely.
Save 10–25%
7
Book Shared / By-the-Seat Shuttles
Some operators offer semi-private shuttle routes where you buy a single seat on a scheduled private flight. You share the cabin with a handful of others. It's not fully private, but it's still an FBO experience at a fraction of charter cost.
Save 30–70%
Empty legs updated daily No membership required 3 quotes in minutes FAA Part 135 operators Best-price guarantee Transparent pricing Last-minute deals available

Real Cheap Examples

Actual deals and realistic savings on real routes. Prices vary by date and availability.

Empty Leg
Teterboro → Miami
Light jet repositioning south. One-way, same-day or next-day.
$13,000 $0
Save ~70% on a normally $13K charter
Group Split
LAX → Las Vegas
Light jet, 1 hour. 6 friends splitting the whole aircraft.
$7,000 $0
$7,000 ÷ 6 = $1,167 each
Turboprop
NYC → The Hamptons
King Air 350i. 35 minutes. No traffic, no ferry.
$8,000 $0
$8,000 ÷ 6 = $1,333 each

What "Cheap" Still Gets You

Even the lowest-cost private charter options come with perks commercial can't touch.

✈

No Commercial Terminals

Arrive 15 minutes before departure at a private FBO. No TSA lines, no crowds, no gate announcements.

↔

Direct Routing

Fly point-to-point with no connections, layovers, or missed flights. Your schedule, your route.

🚗

Tarmac Pickup & Drop-Off

Drive right to the aircraft stairs in many locations. No parking garages, no shuttle buses.

🐕

Pets Welcome

Your dog sits in the cabin with you. No crates, no cargo hold, no stress for your pet.

🍾

Catering & Drinks Included

Standard catering, beverages, and snacks are included on most charters. Upgrade to premium if you like.

📶

Wi-Fi & Power

Most jets have onboard Wi-Fi and charging at every seat. Work or stream the whole flight.

Cheapest Right Now

Empty-leg inventory changes hourly. The best deals don't last — they get booked by travelers who act fast. See what's available today and lock in a price before it disappears.

Browse Today's Empty Legs

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — on a short empty-leg or a well-split turboprop, per-person costs can drop below $1,000. It's not common for long routes, but for short hops with a group, it's absolutely achievable.

Yes. Empty-leg flights are operated by the same FAA-licensed Part 135 carriers as standard charters. Same pilots, same maintenance, same safety standards. The only difference is the price.

Absolutely. One-way pricing is standard in private aviation. If the aircraft needs to reposition, that cost is included transparently in your quote. No hidden fees.

No. Private Jet One is a charter broker. You pay per flight with no upfront membership, no monthly fees, and no long-term commitment. Every flight is à la carte.

The only "catch" is flexibility. Empty legs are one-way, fixed-date, and can change if the original trip changes. They're best for travelers with flexible plans who can move quickly when a deal appears.

Use as many of the 7 methods above as possible: book an empty leg, split with a group, choose a turboprop, fly off-peak, and be flexible on airports. The more flexible you are, the lower the price goes.