Private Jet Charter Basics: How Charter, Jet Cards and Empty Legs Work

You share your dates, route and passenger count, and receive quotes for suitable aircraft, each including the crew and the flight time. You pay for the whole aircraft, not per seat, including any positioning flight needed to bring it to you or take it home after a one-way trip.

On the day, you drive to a private terminal, known as an FBO, often minutes before departure, and board without the usual airline queues. You still need valid ID, and passports for international trips.

On-demand charter means paying trip by trip, with no commitment; it suits occasional flyers. Jet cards are prepaid programs with fixed hourly rates and set booking terms, suiting people who fly regularly and want price certainty. Fractional ownership means buying a share of a specific aircraft and paying monthly and hourly fees, suiting heavy users who want ownership benefits without running a flight department.

Each model has different cancellation terms, peak-day restrictions and minimum flight times, so compare the contract details, not just the headline rate.

Ask for the name and certificate number of the operator that will have operational control of your flight, and confirm it holds FAA Part 135 authority for that aircraft; the FAA’s Safe Air Charter resources explain how. Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules (14 CFR Part 295), air charter brokers must disclose that they are acting as brokers and identify the operating carrier, normally before you sign.

Many buyers also look for independent safety audits, such as ARGUS, Wyvern or IS-BAO registrations. Be wary of any flight sold by a private owner who isn’t a certificated operator: so-called illegal or gray charter can leave passengers without proper safety oversight or insurance.

An empty leg is a flight an aircraft must make anyway, such as returning to base after dropping off another client, sold at a reduced price. They can be excellent value for flexible travelers.

The catch is that you fit around someone else’s schedule. If the primary charter changes time or cancels, your empty leg can move or disappear. Never rely on one for a wedding, a board meeting or a connecting long-haul flight.

Charter is often one piece of an itinerary: a quick hop to a resort without good airline service, a multi-city investor roadshow, or a family trip where traveling with a dog in the cabin matters; see traveling with pets. In Africa, light-aircraft hops between safari camps are standard; see fly-in safari.

If you are weighing a charter, Empyrean can help you think through the options and coordinate the rest of your trip, such as hotels, ground transfers and a commercial backup flight. Our executive and VIP travel page explains how that fits into a wider program.