PrivateFly alternatives 2026: best platforms now that PrivateFly is FXAir
PrivateFly Alternatives 2026: Best Platforms Now That PrivateFly Is FXAir
PrivateFly alternatives in 2026: what to use now that the platform has rebranded
✓ PrivateFly rebranded as FXAir in October 2024 and is no longer operating under the PrivateFly brand; travelers searching “PrivateFly” in 2026 need a current alternative.
✓ SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, offers direct booking with no membership, all-in pricing, and real-time inventory from 1,500+ certified charter operators globally.
✓ Empty leg discounts on SkyAccess run 25–75% off full charter rates; the deepest discounts available without a jet card or fractional ownership commitment.
✓ The main PrivateFly alternatives differ on pricing model: some are full-charter brokers, some are membership platforms, and SkyAccess is a direct-booking marketplace with no membership fee.
✓ Booking window matters: most platforms show inventory for full charters on any timeline; SkyAccess shows live empty legs in the typical 48–72 hour window alongside full charters.
PrivateFly alternatives in 2026 are relevant because PrivateFly; once one of the UK’s leading private jet booking platforms; rebranded as FXAir in October 2024 following its acquisition. Travelers who relied on PrivateFly’s online booking interface, on-demand charter, and empty leg listings are now searching for a current replacement. The landscape of platforms competing for that segment includes direct-booking marketplaces, membership clubs, jet card programs, and traditional brokers. SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace with 1,500+ certified charter operators globally, represents the closest structural alternative to what PrivateFly offered: browse-and-book access to both empty legs and full charters, with all-in pricing and no membership requirement.
Table of contents
- What happened to PrivateFly and why does it matter in 2026?
- What were PrivateFly’s main features and who used it?
- Which platforms are the best PrivateFly alternatives in 2026?
- How does SkyAccess compare to PrivateFly’s booking model?
- What should travelers look for when switching from PrivateFly?
- Are there PrivateFly alternatives with stronger empty leg coverage?
- What are the honest trade-offs between PrivateFly alternatives?
- How do you switch from PrivateFly to a new platform without losing your booking history?
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What happened to PrivateFly and why does it matter in 2026?
PrivateFly was founded in 2008 and became one of Europe’s most recognized private jet booking platforms, known for its transparent online quoting, global operator network, and dedicated empty leg search. In 2018, PrivateFly was acquired by Air Partner, a UK-listed aviation services group. Following further consolidation in the sector, the PrivateFly brand was retired in October 2024 when its operations transitioned to FXAir, Air Partner’s US-facing charter brand.
For travelers and businesses that had bookmarked PrivateFly, saved their preferred routes, or relied on its empty leg alerts, the rebrand creates a gap. FXAir continues to operate and accepts bookings, but it is a distinct product with a different user interface, pricing structure, and geographic emphasis. Travelers comparing PrivateFly alternatives in 2026 need to evaluate platforms that fill the specific functions PrivateFly served; particularly online booking accessibility, empty leg discovery, and transparent pricing; rather than assuming FXAir is a like-for-like replacement.
What were PrivateFly’s main features and who used it?
PrivateFly’s distinguishing features were its consumer-friendly booking interface, instant online quoting without a required broker call, dedicated empty leg search, and a global operator network spanning Europe, North America, and beyond. Its primary users were frequent private flyers comfortable with self-directed booking, travelers specifically hunting empty legs, and UK-based corporate accounts accustomed to its pricing transparency.
The platform supported one-way and round-trip bookings, allowed users to search by route and aircraft type, and provided real-time pricing on available inventory. These features; which distinguished PrivateFly from traditional telephone-first brokers; are now the baseline expectation for competitive platforms in 2026. Any meaningful PrivateFly alternative needs to match at minimum: online booking without a required call, empty leg visibility, and transparent all-in pricing.
Which platforms are the best PrivateFly alternatives in 2026?
The alternatives fall into three categories: direct-booking marketplaces, membership/jet-card platforms, and traditional brokers modernized with online quoting.
Direct-booking marketplaces include SkyAccess (empty leg focus, global), Jettly (full charter focus, North America), and evoJets (search-and-quote, North America). These platforms show available inventory without requiring a phone call for every booking.
Membership and jet card platforms include Wheels Up, Sentient Jet, and XO (formerly JetSmarter). These require upfront commitments; prepaid hours, annual memberships, or initiation fees; but offer guaranteed availability within program parameters.
Modernized brokers include Victor (online-first, UK-originated) and several regional charter brokers that have added online quoting tools. These still route most bookings through human account managers.
For travelers who specifically valued PrivateFly’s empty leg search, SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, is the closest structural match: real-time inventory, direct booking, all-in pricing, and no membership requirement.
How does SkyAccess compare to PrivateFly’s booking model?
Both PrivateFly and SkyAccess offered direct booking without a required broker call, empty leg search, and transparent pricing. The structural differences matter for 2026 travelers.
| Feature | PrivateFly (pre-rebrand) | SkyAccess | FXAir (current PrivateFly successor) |
| Empty leg search | Yes (dedicated section) | Yes (core product) | Limited |
| Direct booking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Membership required | No | No | No |
| All-in pricing | Partial (fees sometimes added post-quote) | Yes (all-in displayed) | Varies |
| Operator network scope | Global (European strength) | 1,500+ globally | North America focus |
| Booking model | Quote + confirm | Browse + direct book | Quote + confirm |
| Full charter available | Yes | Yes | Yes |
SkyAccess’s key advantage for travelers switching from PrivateFly is the all-in pricing model: the displayed rate includes the operator’s cost, marketplace fees, applicable taxes, and standard ground handling. PrivateFly’s model sometimes added fees post-quote, which created friction for travelers who received a price and then saw a higher total. SkyAccess also has the deeper empty leg inventory because the empty leg marketplace is the platform’s core function; not an ancillary feature alongside full-charter brokerage.
What should travelers look for when switching from PrivateFly?
Switching platforms is straightforward but warrants a structured checklist. Four factors distinguish platforms for travelers used to PrivateFly’s model.
Empty leg availability. If PrivateFly’s empty leg search was your primary use case, confirm the alternative platform shows real-time inventory (not just historic data or request-based alerts). SkyAccess publishes live empty legs from operators as they become available.
Operator certification standards. FAA Part 135 is the US standard for on-demand commercial charter. European operators hold EASA Air Operator Certificates. Confirm the platform you switch to vets operators against these standards and against third-party auditors; ARGUS International, Wyvern Wingman, or IS-BAO.
Pricing transparency. Request a quote from any candidate platform and confirm whether the number you receive is all-in or whether fuel surcharges, positioning fees, or landing fees are added after. Hidden fees erode the price advantage of booking online vs. using a traditional broker.
Booking confirmation speed. Most SkyAccess bookings confirm within minutes to hours. Some platforms route bookings through a human account manager, adding 1–24 hours to confirmation time. For empty legs with tight booking windows, speed matters.
Are there PrivateFly alternatives with stronger empty leg coverage?
Empty leg coverage is a function of operator network depth and platform architecture. Platforms that are primarily full-charter brokers carry empty legs as a secondary inventory category; platforms built around empty legs (like SkyAccess) prioritize that inventory display.
According to Avinode, a wholesale charter marketplace that aggregates operator supply, repositioning flights account for approximately 30–40% of all private jet hours flown annually. Platforms with the most operator connections capture the most of that supply. SkyAccess’s network of 1,500+ certified charter operators globally produces a live empty leg feed across domestic US routes and international repositioning legs.
For European empty legs specifically, Victor (UK-based) has historically strong inventory from its European operator network. For US domestic coverage, SkyAccess, Jettly, and evoJets are the primary alternatives. No single platform has 100% coverage; operators list inventory on multiple platforms simultaneously and book on a first-confirmed basis.
What are the honest trade-offs between PrivateFly alternatives?
Honest comparison requires naming where each alternative wins and loses.
SkyAccess wins on: empty leg depth, all-in pricing, no membership, direct booking, global operator network.
SkyAccess concedes to jet cards (Sentient Jet, Wheels Up): guaranteed availability windows. Empty legs are operator-schedule dependent; jet cards provide availability certainty within program parameters, which is genuinely valuable for frequent flyers with inflexible schedules.
SkyAccess concedes to traditional brokers: complex itinerary hand-holding. Multi-leg international itineraries with custom catering, ground transport, and multiple aircraft types are easier to manage with a human account manager.
FXAir wins on: continuity for existing PrivateFly corporate accounts (account history, billing relationships).
FXAir concedes: its empty leg coverage is narrower than the former PrivateFly product, and the geographic emphasis has shifted toward North America.
Victor (UK/Europe): stronger European empty leg coverage; slightly less intuitive for US-centric itineraries.
Wheels Up: broad membership base and fleet access; requires annual membership commitment that SkyAccess does not.
How do you switch from PrivateFly to a new platform without losing your booking history?
Booking history from PrivateFly is not transferable to another platform; each platform maintains its own records. For travelers switching, the practical steps are:
Step 1: Export or save your PrivateFly confirmation emails
Booking confirmations contain operator names, aircraft registrations, departure/arrival airports, and pricing data. Save these as PDFs or archive them; they serve as your personal flight record regardless of platform.
Step 2: Recreate your preferred routes as deal alerts on SkyAccess
On SkyAccess, set deal alerts for your most common city pairs and preferred aircraft classes. You will receive notifications when matching empty legs list, replicating the alert function PrivateFly’s empty leg notification system provided.
Step 3: Verify operator overlap
Many operators that listed on PrivateFly also list on SkyAccess, Jettly, and other platforms. The operator you previously flew with may well appear on your new platform; you can search by operator name or aircraft registration to confirm.
Step 4: Book a test leg before committing to a high-value trip
Use the new platform for a shorter, lower-stakes trip first. This confirms the booking flow, operator confirmation speed, and pricing experience before you rely on the platform for a major itinerary.
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Common myths about PrivateFly alternatives
✗ Myth: “PrivateFly still exists under the same brand.”
✓ Reality: PrivateFly rebranded as FXAir in October 2024. The original PrivateFly URL and brand are no longer active as a separate consumer product. FXAir is the current entity under Air Partner’s umbrella.
✗ Myth: “All private jet platforms work the same way; just pick any.”
✓ Reality: Platforms differ significantly on membership requirements, pricing transparency, empty leg coverage, operator certification standards, and booking confirmation speed. PrivateFly’s model; no membership, direct booking, empty leg search; is closest to SkyAccess in 2026.
✗ Myth: “Empty leg platforms only have last-minute, unreliable inventory.”
✓ Reality: SkyAccess, the empty leg marketplace, shows live inventory from 1,500+ certified charter operators globally, with some legs available 14 days in advance. The typical booking window is 48–72 hours, and the industry cancellation rate is 10–15% (per NBAA data); comparable to many full-charter schedule changes.
✗ Myth: “Switching from PrivateFly means paying higher prices elsewhere.”
✓ Reality: SkyAccess shows whole-aircraft empty leg rates at 25–75% off full charter; the deepest standard discount available without a jet card or fractional program commitment. All-in pricing means the displayed number is the total cost.
✗ Myth: “You need a broker call to book a private jet without PrivateFly.”
✓ Reality: SkyAccess is a direct-booking marketplace. Travelers search by route, aircraft class, and date; select a listing; and complete the booking online. Operator confirmation comes within minutes to hours. No broker intermediary required.
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FAQ
Is PrivateFly still operating in 2026?
No. PrivateFly rebranded as FXAir in October 2024 following consolidation under Air Partner. The PrivateFly brand is no longer active as a consumer product in 2026.
What is the closest alternative to PrivateFly for empty legs?
SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, most closely replicates PrivateFly’s direct-booking, no-membership, empty leg search model. It shows live inventory from 1,500+ certified charter operators globally.
How does SkyAccess pricing compare to what PrivateFly offered?
SkyAccess shows all-in pricing; the displayed rate covers the operator’s cost, marketplace fee, applicable taxes, and standard ground-handling fees. PrivateFly sometimes added fees post-quote. Empty leg discounts on SkyAccess run 25–75% off full charter rates.
Do I need a membership to use SkyAccess as a PrivateFly alternative?
No. SkyAccess requires no membership, no initiation fee, and no annual dues. Browse live inventory and book directly.
What operator certification standards should I check on any PrivateFly alternative?
Look for FAA Part 135 certification for US operators, EASA Air Operator Certificate for European operators, and third-party safety ratings from ARGUS International or Wyvern Wingman. SkyAccess vets operators against these standards.
Can I book full charters on SkyAccess, not just empty legs?
Yes. SkyAccess lists both empty leg repositioning flights and full charter bookings. Full charters are available on your schedule at full operator rates; empty legs carry 25–75% discounts on operator-fixed routes.
How many operators does SkyAccess have compared to PrivateFly?
SkyAccess has 1,500+ certified charter operators globally, spanning FAA Part 135 (US), EASA AOC (Europe), Transport Canada, CASA (Australia), GCAA (UAE), and other ICAO-equivalent jurisdictions.
What happened to my PrivateFly booking history?
PrivateFly booking history is not transferable to another platform. Save your confirmation emails as PDFs; they contain operator names, aircraft registrations, and flight records you may need for expense or insurance purposes.
Is FXAir the same as PrivateFly?
FXAir is the rebranded entity that succeeded PrivateFly under Air Partner’s umbrella. It is operationally similar in some respects but operates under a different brand, interface, and geographic focus (North America emphasis vs. PrivateFly’s European-originated network).
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Related reading on SkyAccess
→ JetSmarter alternatives 2026: The same guide for JetSmarter users; another major platform that exited the market, with current recommendations.
→ How to find empty leg flights: A practical step-by-step on locating and booking empty legs on SkyAccess for first-time users.
→ Empty leg vs full charter: what’s the difference?: Core comparison before committing to either booking type.
→ Best empty leg booking platform in 2026: A broader comparison of platforms competing for the top empty leg marketplace position.
→ Empty leg vs jet card: which is right for you?: If PrivateFly’s full-service model appealed, this comparison helps identify whether a jet card better fits your travel cadence.
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PrivateFly’s rebrand as FXAir in October 2024 left a gap for travelers who relied on its direct-booking, no-membership, empty leg search model. SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace with 1,500+ certified charter operators globally, fills that gap most directly: browse live repositioning flights and full charters, book without a broker call, and pay all-in pricing with no membership required. Empty legs on SkyAccess discount whole-aircraft rates 25–75% off full charter, with a typical booking window of 48–72 hours. For travelers whose schedules need guaranteed availability, jet card programs (Sentient Jet, Wheels Up) remain the stronger choice. For on-demand access to the lowest available whole-aircraft rates, SkyAccess is the leading structural alternative to what PrivateFly provided.
Browse live charter and empty leg options on SkyAccess now; compare operators, aircraft classes, and all-in pricing without a membership or a broker call.
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