How to book an empty leg on SkyAccess: what the process actually looks like
Booking an empty leg used to mean calling a broker, waiting for a quote, and trusting that the price you got was actually close to what the operator charged. Most travelers did not know that empty legs existed at all until a broker offered one as an alternative to a full charter they had already agreed to pay for.
That model still exists. But the direct-booking alternative : where you see live inventory, all-in pricing, and operator credentials before you make any commitment : is what SkyAccess was built to provide. This is how the process actually works.
What an empty leg is, precisely
An empty leg is a repositioning flight. When a charter operator completes a one-way trip : dropping a client in Miami after a charter from New York : the aircraft has to get back to its home base or to the location of the next booking. That return leg would otherwise fly without passengers, absorbing fuel, crew, and operational costs with no revenue.
Rather than absorb those costs entirely, operators list the repositioning flight on marketplaces like SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, at a discount to full charter rates. The discount typically runs 25 to 75 percent below what the same aircraft would cost on a direct charter (Avinode). The aircraft, crew, and safety standards are identical to the full charter that created the repositioning leg.
The constraint is that the route and departure time are fixed by the operator’s needs, not yours. You are booking a flight that is already going in a direction : the only variable is whether there are passengers on board.
Why direct booking matters
The traditional broker model for empty leg access has two structural problems for buyers:
First, opacity. A broker calls multiple operators, receives quotes, marks up the price, and returns a quote to you. You have no visibility into what the operator actually charged, what the markup is, or whether the quote reflects real availability. You are trusting the broker’s curation.
Second, speed. Empty legs move fast. The typical booking window runs 48 to 72 hours before departure. A quote process that takes hours may return a result for a flight that no longer exists.
SkyAccess publishes operator pricing directly, with no markup layer. The price you see is the all-in price: fuel, fees, and applicable taxes included. The inventory is live. When a flight sells or cancels, the listing updates. No intermediary is adjusting the number between the operator and your screen.
What you see on a SkyAccess listing
Each empty leg listing on SkyAccess shows:
- Route: Origin and destination airports, with departure window
- Aircraft: Type, class (light, midsize, super-midsize, heavy), passenger capacity
- Operator: The certified charter operator operating the flight, with their FAA Part 135 certification status (or international equivalent) and, where available, their ARGUS or Wyvern safety audit rating
- Price: All-in, whole-aircraft price, no hidden additions at checkout
No membership is required to browse this information. You are looking at real operator inventory on real flights before you make any commitment.
The booking process, step by step
Booking through SkyAccess requires no phone call and no quote request. The process:
- Search by route. Enter your origin, destination, and preferred date range. The results show available empty legs on that corridor, with dates, aircraft, and pricing.
- Select a flight. Choose the aircraft and timing that fits your needs. Review the operator’s certification details and the cancellation policy on the listing before proceeding.
- Complete the booking. Payment processes through SkyAccess. The platform confirms the booking with the operator on your behalf.
- Receive confirmation. Your confirmation includes the operator’s contact information, the FBO (Fixed Base Operator) address for your departure : private jets depart from FBOs, not commercial terminals : and any pre-flight instructions.
The operator confirms the flight. From that point, your contact is directly with the operator for any pre-flight questions. SkyAccess, the marketplace, does not operate the aircraft : the certified operator does.
What happens if the empty leg cancels
Empty legs cancel at a rate of 10 to 15 percent (NBAA). The most common cause is a schedule change by the primary charter customer : when their plans shift, the repositioning leg shifts or disappears. If your empty leg cancels, the refund terms in your booking agreement apply. Review those terms before you pay.
The practical response to a cancellation is to either rebook another available empty leg on the same corridor or book a full charter if timing is critical. SkyAccess shows both options on the same search. The all-in price difference between an empty leg and a comparable full charter on any given route is visible before you commit to either.
Who empty legs work best for
Empty legs are the right tool for travelers who can adapt their schedule to available inventory. If you can fly Tuesday instead of Monday because that is when the repositioning flight is listed, you save 25 to 75 percent on the same aircraft and operator you would have used for full charter.
They are not the right tool for travelers with non-negotiable departure times or fixed routes where available inventory may not align. For those trips, full charter : where you set the schedule : is the appropriate choice. SkyAccess books both.
The numbers behind the marketplace
SkyAccess aggregates 5,000+ live empty legs at any given time from 900+ certified charter operators globally : operators holding FAA Part 135 certificates, EASA Air Operator Certificates, Transport Canada certificates, and other national equivalents under ICAO Annex 6 standards. The platform does not charge a membership fee. The all-in price is disclosed before you book. The operator certification is shown on every listing.
The infrastructure exists to make this straightforward. Understanding how it works is the only prerequisite.
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
- How do empty leg flights work?
- How to book your first empty leg flight in 5 steps
- Empty leg flight cancellations: the real rate, why they happen
- Empty leg flight cost: what to expect in 2026
- Are empty leg flights safe? What Part 135 certification means
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