Private aviation options explained: empty legs, charter, jet cards, and fractional ownership
Private aviation has several access models, and they differ significantly in cost, flexibility, and commitment. The most relevant options for travelers who fly occasionally are empty legs, full charter, jet cards, and fractional ownership. Each works differently, and the cheapest entry point (by a meaningful margin) is the empty leg.
This guide explains how each option works and who it makes sense for, so you can make an informed decision rather than calling a broker and taking whatever they recommend.
What a full charter flight actually is
Full charter means booking an entire private jet for a specific route and departure time. You pay for the aircraft, not a seat. A light jet on a two-hour route runs roughly $2,000 to $6,000 per flight hour in full charter; a midsize jet runs $4,000 to $8,000 per flight hour; a heavy jet runs $7,000 to $13,000 per flight hour (Avinode, 2026). For a two-hour flight, that puts a light jet at $4,000 to $12,000 total, whole aircraft.
Every operator listing on SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, holds an FAA Part 135 certificate (or the international equivalent for non-US operators, such as an EASA Air Operator Certificate in Europe or a Transport Canada certificate for Canadian operators). Part 135 certification is the federal license required for commercial air taxi operations in the US. It mandates drug testing, recurrent pilot training, FAA-approved maintenance programs, and dispatch authorization before every flight.
Full charter works well for frequent flyers who need a specific departure time on a specific date. You choose the aircraft, confirm the slot, and the rest is fixed. The trade-off is the price.
Empty leg flights: the same aircraft for 25 to 75 percent less
An empty leg is a repositioning flight. When a charter operator drops off a client, the aircraft needs to return to its home base or position for the next booking. That return trip would otherwise fly empty, absorbing full operating costs with no revenue. Rather than absorb those costs, operators list the repositioning flight at a significant discount on marketplaces like SkyAccess.
The discount typically runs 25 to 75 percent below full charter rates (Avinode pricing analysis). The product is identical to a full charter: same aircraft, same Part 135 certified operator, same crew, same safety standards. The only difference is that the route and time are fixed by the operator’s repositioning needs, not your preferences.
SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, publishes these flights in real time from 900+ certified charter operators globally. Pricing is all-in (fuel, fees, and applicable taxes) with no membership required to browse or book. The typical booking window runs 48 to 72 hours before departure, though some flights are listed further in advance.
Empty legs work best for travelers who can be flexible on timing and are booking a route that happens to align with an available repositioning flight. They work poorly for travelers who need a fixed departure on a fixed date with no flexibility.
Jet cards: prepaid hours with fixed rates
A jet card is a prepaid block of flight hours (typically 25 hours as the entry point) purchased in advance at a fixed hourly rate. The core benefit is pricing certainty: you know your hourly rate before you fly, and guaranteed aircraft availability within a defined notice window (usually 10 to 24 hours, depending on the program).
The cost structure differs materially from empty legs and full charter. Jet card rates are typically fixed at or above peak full charter rates, because the card provider is effectively insuring availability and managing a fleet to meet it. For a traveler flying 50 or more hours per year on regular routes, the predictability justifies the premium. For an occasional traveler, the same budget goes much further on empty legs or spot charter.
Jet cards require upfront capital commitment, a contract, and sometimes daily minimums or peak-day surcharges. They are not offered through SkyAccess, which operates as a no-membership, no-commitment marketplace.
Fractional ownership: the option for very frequent flyers
Fractional ownership means buying a share in a specific aircraft (typically 1/16 to 1/2 of a jet) through a program like NetJets, Flexjet, or VistaJet Private Aviation. The share entitles you to a defined number of flight hours per year, guaranteed availability, and the tax treatment of an asset (depreciation, potential 100% bonus depreciation under US tax law).
The entry cost is substantial. A 1/16 share in a midsize jet typically runs $400,000 to $700,000 depending on the program and aircraft, plus a monthly management fee and occupied hourly rate. The break-even versus full charter or jet cards generally requires flying 200 or more hours per year.
Fractional ownership is not available through SkyAccess. It is the right model for corporate flight departments and very high-frequency travelers who can justify the capital commitment and benefit from the aircraft equity.
Which option makes sense for you
The decision comes down to frequency and flexibility:
- Fly once or a few times a year, flexible on timing: Empty legs on SkyAccess offer the best value. You book the whole aircraft for 25 to 75 percent below full charter. The constraint is that you need to match your plans to available inventory.
- Fly regularly, specific dates matter: Full charter through a marketplace like SkyAccess gives you direct booking with transparent all-in pricing and no broker markup.
- Fly 50+ hours per year, need guaranteed availability: A jet card from an established program gives pricing predictability and guaranteed lift.
- Fly 200+ hours per year, want asset ownership and tax benefits: Fractional ownership from NetJets, Flexjet, or a similar program is designed for this profile.
For the majority of private aviation newcomers, empty legs are the entry point worth understanding first. SkyAccess publishes 5,000+ live empty legs at any given time across light, midsize, super-midsize, and heavy jets, all from operators who are vetted against Part 135 and international equivalent certification standards. No membership. No call required. All-in pricing shown before you book.
What you give up with each option
Every option has a real trade-off. Empty legs are cheapest but require flexibility. Full charter is flexible but more expensive. Jet cards guarantee availability but require upfront capital and fixed-rate contracts that price in a premium. Fractional ownership provides the most certainty but requires the highest commitment.
Understanding these trade-offs before you contact anyone (a broker, a card program, or a marketplace) puts you in a better position to evaluate what you’re being offered and whether it fits how you actually fly.
Ready to search live empty leg flights?
Browse 5,000+ live empty-leg flights from 900+ certified charter operators on SkyAccess, the world’s largest empty leg marketplace. All-in pricing, no membership required.
Related reading
- What are empty leg flights? The complete 2026 guide
- Empty leg vs jet card vs fractional ownership: which is right for you?
- Empty leg vs charter flight: what’s the difference?
- Empty leg vs first class: how the real costs compare
- Empty leg flight cost: what to expect in 2026
- Are empty leg flights worth it? An honest cost-benefit
Liked this post? Share with others!