JetSmarter Alternatives 2026: Best Empty Leg Platforms Now

JetSmarter no longer operates under its own name. In April 2019 it agreed to settle a class arbitration brought by members (CNBC reported a $3 million settlement), and the same month Vista Global agreed to acquire it. In June 2019, Vista combined JetSmarter with XOJET and rebranded the business as XO, and jetsmarter.com now redirects to XO. If you have searched for JetSmarter recently looking to book a flight, the brand you are looking for was retired in 2019.

This guide explains what happened, how XO relates to JetSmarter today, and which platforms currently serve the empty leg market in 2026.

What was JetSmarter and what happened to it?

JetSmarter was founded in 2012 and launched its app in 2013. It grew into a membership-based app promising access to shared private jet seats, private charter and empty leg flights at sharply discounted rates. It raised more than $100 million, including a $105 million round in 2016, from backers that included members of the Saudi royal family and Jay-Z. The pitch was compelling: for an annual membership fee, you could browse empty leg inventory and shared-seat “shuttle” routes in a consumer app, rather than calling a broker.

The model ran into trouble operationally. Members complained that the company changed its membership model and the flight access they had paid for, and a class arbitration followed. In April 2019, JetSmarter agreed to settle with members (CNBC reported it as a $3 million settlement), and the same month Vista Global, the parent company of VistaJet, agreed to acquire JetSmarter. In June 2019, Vista combined JetSmarter with XOJET, which it had acquired in 2018, and rebranded the combined business as XO, powered by JetSmarter’s technology. The JetSmarter brand is retired, and jetsmarter.com now redirects to XO; any platform still listing JetSmarter as active is out of date.

The underlying tension was structural: JetSmarter sold prepaid annual memberships, while the flights members wanted depended on variable inventory such as empty legs. When the company changed what memberships included, members who had already paid objected, and that dispute is what led to the class arbitration.

Is XO the same as JetSmarter, and is it a replacement?

Partly. XO (flyxo.com) is the business Vista Global created in 2019 by combining JetSmarter with XOJET, so it is JetSmarter’s successor, running on JetSmarter’s technology. Today XO offers on-demand private charter, shared flights, and deposit-based XO Memberships, with access to aircraft that include the Vista Members’ fleet. It also lists empty leg and route deals. It is a legitimate platform, built mainly around private charter and memberships for frequent flyers.

If what you valued in JetSmarter was the ability to browse live empty leg inventory and book a whole aircraft at a steep discount without a membership, a dedicated empty leg marketplace is likely the closer fit. XO carries JetSmarter’s corporate lineage; the marketplaces below are closer to its empty leg pitch.

What are the best JetSmarter alternatives for empty legs in 2026?

SkyAccess

SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, is the closest functional equivalent to what JetSmarter promised on the empty leg side. It is a live marketplace where 900+ FAA Part 135 (and international equivalent) certified charter operators list their empty legs, with new flights added throughout the day. There is no membership, no annual fee, and no quote-request loop: you browse live inventory, see a whole-aircraft price, and book directly. Taxes and fees, including the US Federal Excise Tax, are itemized at checkout, so you see the full total before you pay.

Empty legs on SkyAccess typically run 25 to 75% below a comparable full charter. The flight is operated by the same FAA Part 135 certified operator (or the EASA, CAA, or Transport Canada equivalent for international flights) that would fly the standard charter; the aircraft, crew, and safety standards do not change. The discount exists because the operator would otherwise fly the leg empty.

One important distinction from JetSmarter: every booking on SkyAccess is the entire aircraft, not a single seat. There is no pooling with other travelers. The cost is for the whole aircraft whatever your group size, and you have the cabin to yourselves.

Jettly

Jettly (jettly.com) is a Toronto-based charter broker and booking platform that says it lists more than 20,000 aircraft globally. It offers on-demand charter, empty leg flights, and a jet card for frequent flyers. It is worth comparing pricing against SkyAccess on specific routes.

Villiers Jets

Villiers Jets (villiersjets.com) is a London-based charter broker, founded in 2013, with an affiliate program. It lists empty legs with estimated prices, offers shared seats on some flights, and provides full charter quotes, with final pricing confirmed on request. For complex European itineraries or transatlantic routing, it is a legitimate option; for US domestic empty legs with a published whole-aircraft price, a direct-booking marketplace can be faster.

XO

XO (flyxo.com) is worth including for completeness. As the business that absorbed JetSmarter, it serves a different buyer profile: frequent flyers who want a deposit-based membership with preferred pricing and priority access, alongside on-demand charter and shared flights. If your travel volume justifies a membership, XO is a credible option. For occasional empty leg booking, a dedicated empty leg marketplace is usually the simpler fit.

How do you find an empty leg flight today?

Empty legs are time-sensitive and route-specific. The most efficient approach in 2026:

1. Search a live marketplace first. Platforms like SkyAccess show live inventory sorted by route, date, and aircraft type. Start here, not with a broker call.
2. Set a route alert. If no leg is available for your route now, set a deal alert. Inventory shifts daily as operators confirm upcoming charters and post return repositioning flights.
3. Stay flexible on time and aircraft. Flexibility on departure time by one to two hours, or on aircraft type (light vs midsize), opens significantly more inventory. The more fixed your requirements, the smaller the pool.
4. Book within the 48 to 72 hour window. Most empty legs are listed inside that window before departure, though some appear up to 14 days out. Acting within 48 hours of your travel date typically gives you the most options.

One realistic expectation: empty leg inventory is fluid. If your schedule is fixed and the route matters more than the price, a standard on-demand charter is the more reliable choice. Empty legs reward flexibility.

What did JetSmarter’s exit change about the empty leg market?

JetSmarter’s troubles were not a verdict on the empty leg model; they reflected a membership model, built on top of variable inventory, that struggled to deliver what members had paid for. The underlying market is real: industry estimates commonly put the share of private jet flying done as empty repositioning flights at roughly 30 to 40%, and operators have a genuine financial incentive to sell those flights rather than absorb the deadhead cost.

The platforms that grew in JetSmarter’s wake did so by solving the operational side, not just the consumer UX. Live inventory, transparent whole-aircraft pricing with taxes and fees shown at checkout, and direct booking without a membership are the attributes that make the model work for both operators and travelers. That structure was not what JetSmarter ultimately delivered.

Empty leg cancellations remain a real factor: an empty leg exists only because of another charter, so if that trip moves or cancels, the leg can change or disappear, and no platform has eliminated that risk. Marketplaces that are transparent about cancellation risk and let operators manage their own inventory avoid selling prepaid access to flights that may not materialize.

Common myths about JetSmarter replacements

• ✗ Myth: XO is the same product JetSmarter was.
  ✓ Reality: XO is JetSmarter’s corporate successor: Vista Global combined JetSmarter with XOJET in 2019 and rebranded the business as XO, running on JetSmarter’s technology. Today XO focuses on private charter, shared flights and deposit-based memberships. It also lists empty leg deals, but it is not a pure empty leg marketplace.
• ✗ Myth: You need a membership to access empty leg discounts in 2026.
  ✓ Reality: No membership is required on SkyAccess. You browse live inventory and book directly. The prepaid membership was JetSmarter’s specific approach, and it is the part of the model members ended up disputing.
• ✗ Myth: Empty legs let you book individual seats, like JetSmarter’s shuttle routes.
  ✓ Reality: Empty legs on SkyAccess are whole-aircraft bookings. Shared-seat products still exist on some platforms (XO sells shared flights, and Villiers Jets offers shared seats on some flights), but they are a separate product from booking an empty leg.
• ✗ Myth: Empty leg pricing is unpredictable and changes constantly.
  ✓ Reality: On SkyAccess, each empty leg shows a whole-aircraft price, and taxes and fees, including the US Federal Excise Tax, are itemized at checkout, so you see the full total before you pay.
• ✗ Myth: JetSmarter is still operating as JetSmarter.
  ✓ Reality: The JetSmarter brand was retired in 2019, when Vista Global folded the company into XO, and jetsmarter.com now redirects to flyxo.com. Any other platform presenting itself as JetSmarter is not the original company.

Platform comparison: SkyAccess vs Jettly vs Villiers Jets vs XO

Feature	SkyAccess	Jettly	Villiers Jets	XO
Membership required	No	No	No	Optional (XO Membership)
Live inventory	Yes (live)	Yes (alerts)	Estimated prices, confirmed on request	On-demand charter
Empty leg focus	Primary offering	Yes (alerts + full charter)	Listed alongside charter quotes	Not primary (lists empty leg deals)
Booking model	Direct, whole-aircraft price (taxes and fees shown at checkout)	Direct or quote	Quote request	Membership / on-demand
Aircraft unit	Whole aircraft	Whole aircraft	Whole aircraft (shared seats on some flights)	Whole aircraft or shared flights
Operator network	900+ FAA Part 135 (and international equivalent) certified operators	20,000+ aircraft (company figure)	London-based broker	Includes the Vista Members’ fleet
Best for	US domestic + global empty legs, transparent pricing	Price comparison, route alerts	Europe, transatlantic, complex routing	Frequent flyers, members

Note: Jettly’s aircraft figure is the company’s own published number. Villiers Jets is a broker; its empty leg prices are estimates, with final pricing confirmed on request. XO’s membership pricing and terms vary by plan.

Frequently asked questions about JetSmarter alternatives

Is JetSmarter still operating in 2026?

Not under its own name. In 2019, JetSmarter agreed to settle a class arbitration brought by members and was acquired by Vista Global, which folded it into XO. Jetsmarter.com now redirects to XO. Any other platform presenting itself as JetSmarter is not the original company.

Did JetSmarter become XO?

Effectively, yes. Vista Global acquired JetSmarter in 2019 and combined it with XOJET, which it had acquired in 2018, to form XO, powered by JetSmarter’s technology. XO today focuses on private charter, shared flights, and memberships rather than operating as a pure empty leg marketplace.

What is the best JetSmarter alternative for empty legs?

For live empty leg inventory with no membership and a whole-aircraft price (taxes and fees shown at checkout), SkyAccess is the closest functional equivalent to what JetSmarter advertised. Jettly and Villiers Jets are worth comparing depending on your route: Jettly for US domestic price comparison, Villiers for European and transatlantic routing via broker quotes.

Are empty leg flights safe?

Yes. An empty leg is operated by the same certified charter operator, on the same aircraft, with the same crew as a full-price charter on that route. In the US, operators hold an FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate, the on-demand charter license that requires meeting training, maintenance, and operational standards more stringent than private flying. The flight itself is identical to a full-price charter; only the booking mechanism and price differ.

How much can I save on an empty leg vs a full charter?

Typically 25 to 75% below a comparable full charter for the equivalent aircraft and route. The discount varies by route specificity, aircraft type, and timing. Legs on high-demand routes tend to have smaller discounts; long repositioning legs on less common routes can reach the high end of that range.

Why did JetSmarter’s membership model fail?

JetSmarter sold prepaid annual memberships, while the flights members wanted depended on variable, unpredictable inventory. When the company changed its membership model and the flight access members had paid for, members objected, which led to a class arbitration that JetSmarter agreed to settle in April 2019 (CNBC reported $3 million). The core product, browsing and booking empty legs, was sound; the packaging (prepaid membership against uncertain inventory) was not.

Can I book an empty leg with just one passenger?

Yes. On SkyAccess, empty leg bookings cover the entire aircraft, not individual seats. Whether you fly alone or with a group of eight, the booking covers the whole cabin. There is no per-passenger pricing and no seat pooling with other travelers. A solo traveler booking a light jet gets the full aircraft to themselves.

What happened to JetSmarter’s shared-seat shuttle routes?

JetSmarter’s shuttle routes ended as a JetSmarter product when the company was folded into XO in 2019. XO offers shared flights today, and some brokers offer shared seats on selected flights, but most of what you will find now is whole-aircraft empty leg bookings and full-price on-demand charter.

How quickly do empty legs confirm after booking?

Most bookings on SkyAccess confirm within minutes to a few hours after submission. Operator confirmation is the gating step: the operator reviews and accepts the booking. For legs within 48 hours of departure, confirmation is typically faster because operators are actively managing that inventory. Confirmation is not guaranteed to be immediate, but it is often quick for straightforward domestic routes.