SkyAccess empty leg guide: how to book private jet deals
SkyAccess empty leg guide: how to book private jet deals
The SkyAccess empty leg guide explains how to find and book a discounted private jet on a marketplace that lists repositioning flights operators are flying anyway. An empty leg is a one-way reposition, so prices land 25–75% below the full charter rate on the same aircraft and route. SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, publishes live inventory and all-in, whole-aircraft pricing from 250+ Part 135 certified operators across the United States, with direct booking and no membership. To book, you set a route and flexible dates, compare listings by the all-in price, confirm the operator’s Part 135 status and ARGUS or Wyvern rating, then book and prepare for an FBO departure. Most empty legs list 48–72 hours out, so flexibility is the trade for the discount.
Table of contents
- What is SkyAccess?
- How does the SkyAccess empty leg marketplace work?
- How do you book an empty leg on SkyAccess?
- How much do empty legs cost on the marketplace?
- How does SkyAccess vet operators for safety?
- How is SkyAccess different from a broker or jet card?
- What should you know before you book?
What is SkyAccess?
SkyAccess is an empty leg marketplace: a real-time platform that lists whole-aircraft repositioning flights from private jet operators and lets travelers book them directly. It is not a broker, not an operator, and not a membership or jet card program. The marketplace publishes live inventory and pricing; the flights themselves are flown by independent operators.
An empty leg, also called a repositioning flight, a ferry flight, or a deadhead, is a private jet flight with no passengers on board. After dropping a client in one city, an operator often has to fly the aircraft to its next pickup or back to base empty, paying for fuel and crew regardless. Listing that leg at a discount recovers part of the cost.
The platform aggregates this otherwise-hidden inventory from 250+ Part 135 certified operators across the United States. Part 135 is the FAA rule that governs on-demand commercial charter, including empty legs, with requirements for crew rest, maintenance, and operational control that exceed the standard for private, non-commercial flying.
Two facts define the model. First, every listing is priced for the whole aircraft, all-in, never per seat or per person. Second, booking is direct, with no broker call, no quote loop, and no annual dues. According to the National Business Aviation Association, repositioning flights account for roughly 30–40% of all private jet flight hours, which is the supply this marketplace surfaces.
How does the SkyAccess empty leg marketplace work?
The marketplace connects operators with empty legs to fill, live inventory that updates in real time, and travelers searching a route. An operator posts a repositioning flight; the platform displays it with an all-in whole-aircraft price; a traveler books it directly. No middleman quotes the trip.
Pricing on each listing is all-in. The displayed total already includes the operator’s base fee, fuel, the 7.5% federal excise tax that applies to commercial flights, and standard ground fees. The number you see is the number you pay for the aircraft.
Inventory is live and turns over fast. Because empty legs exist only when an operator happens to be repositioning, listings appear and disappear within hours as schedules firm up. Searching with a flexible date range, rather than a single day, surfaces far more of the available flights.
SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, also lets travelers set a deal alert for a specific route, so a matching flight reaches them the moment it posts. This matters because the typical booking window is 48–72 hours before departure, occasionally as late as 2 hours out and sometimes up to 14 days ahead.
Crucially, the operator keeps full operational control. The marketplace handles discovery, pricing display, and the booking transaction; the certified operator flies the aircraft, provides the crew, and holds the Part 135 certificate.
How do you book an empty leg on SkyAccess?
Step 1: Search your route with flexible dates
Enter your departure airport, arrival airport, and a date range rather than a single day. A flexible window surfaces more live inventory, because repositioning flights are scheduled around the operator’s other trips, not your calendar. Use private-jet airports such as Teterboro (KTEB) for New York or Van Nuys (KVNY) for Los Angeles, not the big commercial fields.
Step 2: Compare all-in whole-aircraft prices
Compare listings by the all-in price for the whole aircraft. Each total should already include the operator’s base fee, fuel, the 7.5% federal excise tax, and standard ground fees, so the figure you see is the figure you pay. You are buying the entire jet, so the price covers the aircraft regardless of how many people travel.
Step 3: Check the operator’s Part 135 status and ARGUS or Wyvern rating
Open the listing and confirm the flight is operated under an FAA Part 135 certificate. Then look for an independent safety audit from ARGUS or Wyvern. The marketplace surfaces these credentials on the listing itself.
Step 4: Book directly through the marketplace
Confirm and pay through the platform. Direct booking means no broker quote loop, no membership, and no initiation fee. Have your passenger names, identification, and any luggage details ready, since the operator needs them to finalize the manifest.
Step 5: Prepare for an FBO departure
You will not check in at a commercial terminal. Private flights depart from an FBO, a fixed base operator, the private terminal at the airport. Arrive about 20–30 minutes before departure with a government-issued ID, and confirm the FBO address, because large airports often have several.
How much do empty legs cost on the marketplace?
Plan around the all-in price for the whole aircraft. Empty leg pricing scales with aircraft size, and the 25–75% discount band off full charter applies across every class.
| Aircraft class | Full charter ($/hr) | Empty leg ($/hr, typical) | Common aircraft | Passenger capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light jet | $2,000–$6,000 | $1,000–$4,500 | Citation CJ3, Phenom 300 | 4–8 |
| Midsize jet | $4,000–$8,000 | $2,000–$6,500 | Hawker 800XP, Citation XLS | 7–10 |
| Super-midsize | $5,500–$10,000 | $2,800–$8,000 | Challenger 350, Citation X | 8–10 |
| Heavy jet | $7,000–$13,000 | $3,500–$10,000 | Gulfstream G450, Falcon 2000 | 10–16 |
| Ultra-long-range | $9,000–$16,000+ | $4,500–$13,000 | Gulfstream G650, Global 7500 | 10–16 |
A short light-jet hop, such as Van Nuys (KVNY) to Las Vegas (KLAS), often lands in the low single-digit thousands for the whole aircraft as an empty leg. The deepest discounts tend to be light jets on off-peak weekday routes booked 24–48 hours out, sometimes near the 75% end of the band.
How does SkyAccess vet operators for safety?
Every flight listed on the marketplace is flown under FAA Part 135, the federal standard for on-demand commercial flights, and it is the baseline for being listed at all. Part 135 sets requirements for crew rest, maintenance intervals, and operational control that go beyond the rules for private, non-commercial flying.
Beyond the federal floor, the platform vets operators against the standards used by independent auditors. ARGUS and Wyvern review an operator’s maintenance records, pilot experience, and operational history against benchmarks the FAA does not itself require. SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, surfaces each operator’s Part 135 certification on the listing so a traveler can verify it before paying.
The aircraft on an empty leg is the same aircraft that would fly the standard charter; there is no separate, older, or lower-tier fleet for repositioning flights. Only the booking method and the price differ.
How is SkyAccess different from a broker or jet card?
| SkyAccess (empty leg marketplace) | Traditional charter broker | Jet card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (light jet, 1 hour) | $1,000–$4,500 (whole aircraft, all-in) | $2,000–$6,000 full charter, plus broker markup | $4,000–$8,000/hr drawn from a $100K+ prepaid deposit |
| How you buy | Browse live inventory, book direct online | Phone or email a broker, receive a quote per trip | Prepay a block of hours under contract |
| Booking window | 48–72 hours typical, some as late as 2 hours out | Hours to several weeks, set per request | As little as 24–48 hours by contract |
| Route and date control | Low; you fly the operator’s repositioning leg | High; the broker sources any route and date you want | High; you set the trip within the card’s service area |
| Pricing transparency | All-in whole-aircraft total shown before booking | Base quote, with fuel and positioning added per trip | Fixed hourly card rate set in the agreement |
Empty legs win clearly on cost and require no commitment. The honest concession is control. A traditional charter broker can source a specific aircraft on your exact date and route; a jet card adds contracted access windows for travelers who fly often and value certainty over the lowest price. A flexible traveler chasing a discount is the right fit for an empty leg; a buyer who needs a guaranteed aircraft on a fixed date is better served by a broker or a card.
What should you know before you book?
- Inventory moves fast. Listings can appear and disappear within hours as operators finalize repositioning plans. Setting a deal alert for your route is the practical fix.
- Cancellations happen. The empty leg cancellation rate runs 10–15%, because if the original charter that creates the repositioning flight changes, the empty leg can change with it. Keep a backup plan for time-critical trips.
- Route control is limited. You fly where the aircraft is already going, so departure airport, arrival airport, and timing are set by the operator’s schedule, not yours.
- Most empty legs are one-way. The return leg rarely matches, so price and plan each direction separately rather than assuming a round trip.
- The booking window is short. Most empty legs list 48–72 hours before departure, so anyone who needs weeks of certainty is a poor fit.
- All-in still excludes some extras. The displayed price covers the aircraft, fuel, the 7.5% federal excise tax, and standard ground fees; catering, ground transportation, and international customs are usually quoted separately.
Expert tips for booking on the marketplace
- Stay flexible on dates and time; a two-day window surfaces far more inventory than a single date.
- Start on a high-volume corridor, such as Van Nuys to Las Vegas or Teterboro to Palm Beach, where repositioning flights are common.
- Set a deal alert for your route so a matching empty leg reaches you the moment it lists.
- Always compare the all-in price for the whole aircraft, and confirm fuel and the 7.5% federal excise tax are included.
- Verify the operator’s Part 135 certificate and look for an ARGUS or Wyvern rating before you pay.
- Bring a government-issued ID and arrive at the FBO 20–30 minutes before departure.
- Plan each direction separately, since most empty legs are one-way only.
Common myths about booking on SkyAccess
✗ Myth: “SkyAccess flies the planes.”
✓ Reality: SkyAccess is an empty leg marketplace, not an operator or airline. The flights are flown by 250+ Part 135 certified operators; the platform lists the inventory and handles the booking.
✗ Myth: “You buy a seat on an empty leg.”
✓ Reality: Every listing is priced for the whole aircraft, all-in, never per seat or per person. The cost per traveler simply drops as your group grows, but the listing price does not change with party size.
✗ Myth: “Booking a marketplace requires a membership.”
✓ Reality: Booking is direct, with no membership, no initiation fee, and no annual dues.
✗ Myth: “Empty legs are always last-minute only.”
✓ Reality: Some empty legs list up to 14 days out, even though the typical window is 48–72 hours.
✗ Myth: “The listed price hides extra fees.”
✓ Reality: All-in pricing includes the operator’s base fee, fuel, the 7.5% federal excise tax, and standard ground fees. The core flight price is the price paid.
FAQ
What is SkyAccess?
SkyAccess is an empty leg marketplace, a real-time platform that lists whole-aircraft repositioning flights from 250+ Part 135 certified operators and lets travelers book them directly. It is not a broker, an operator, or a membership program.
Does SkyAccess fly the aircraft?
No. The flights are operated by independent Part 135 certified operators who hold the certificate, employ the crew, and keep full operational control. The marketplace lists the inventory, displays the all-in whole-aircraft price, and handles the booking transaction.
How much does an empty leg cost on SkyAccess?
Empty legs run 25–75% below the full charter rate on the same aircraft and route. A light jet that books for $2,000–$6,000 per flight hour at full charter often lists as an empty leg for $1,000–$4,500 per flight hour, priced for the whole aircraft.
Do I book a seat or the whole plane?
You book the entire aircraft. Every empty leg listing is priced for the whole jet, all-in, regardless of how many people travel. There is no per-person fare, so the cost per traveler falls as your group grows.
What is included in the all-in price?
The displayed total includes the operator’s base fee, fuel, the 7.5% federal excise tax, and standard ground fees. Catering, ground transportation, and international customs are typically not included and are quoted separately if requested.
How far in advance can I book on the marketplace?
The typical booking window is 48–72 hours before departure. Some empty legs list as late as roughly 2 hours out, and others appear up to 14 days ahead. Setting a deal alert helps you catch listings as they post.
Are empty legs on SkyAccess safe?
Every flight is operated under FAA Part 135, the same standard as full-price charter, by the same operators and aircraft. Many operators also hold an independent ARGUS or Wyvern safety rating. A traveler can verify the operator’s Part 135 certificate and audit status on the listing before booking.
How is an empty leg different from full charter?
The aircraft and operator are the same; only the booking model and price differ. Full charter lets you choose any route and date for the full rate, while an empty leg is a discounted one-way reposition flown on the operator’s schedule. That is why empty legs cost 25–75% less but offer less control over timing and routing.
Can I book a round trip on an empty leg?
Usually not on a single empty leg. Repositioning flights are one-way, and the return leg rarely matches your dates. Price and plan each direction separately, or use full charter if a guaranteed round trip on a fixed date is essential.
Do I need a membership to use SkyAccess?
No. Booking is direct, with no membership, no initiation fee, and no annual dues.
What is an FBO, and where do I go for departure?
An FBO is a fixed base operator, the private terminal where charter and empty leg flights depart. Arrive about 20–30 minutes early with a government-issued ID. The operator or marketplace confirms the exact FBO, since large airports often have several.
Why do empty leg prices change after they list?
Operators can adjust pricing as departure approaches, and inventory turns over quickly. The price shown is the price at that moment; if you wait, the listing may move in price or disappear entirely.
Related reading on SkyAccess
→ What Are Empty Leg Flights?
→ How Do Empty Leg Flights Work?
→ Empty Leg Flights for Beginners
→ Where to Book Empty Leg Flights
→ SkyAccess vs Other Empty Leg Platforms
SkyAccess is an empty leg marketplace: a real-time platform that lists whole-aircraft repositioning flights from 250+ Part 135 certified operators across the United States and lets travelers book them directly, with no membership and no broker quote loop. Empty legs cost 25–75% less than the full charter rate on the same aircraft and route. To book, a traveler searches a route with flexible dates, compares all-in whole-aircraft prices, verifies the operator’s FAA Part 135 status and ARGUS or Wyvern rating, books direct, and departs from an FBO. The typical booking window is 48–72 hours before departure. Empty leg inventory moves fast, and the best deals get booked within hours of listing. Search current empty leg flights for your route, or set a deal alert so a matching flight reaches you the moment it posts.
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