How Much Can You Save on an Empty Leg Flight From Columbus?

Why is an empty leg priced lower?

Say a group flies one way from Columbus to Florida. The jet still has to come back, or move on to its next trip. That repositioning flight is the empty leg. The fuel burns and the crew works either way, so any fare an operator collects on that leg is better than flying with no passengers.

That is the whole reason for the lower price. It is not a different class of flight. You get the same aircraft, the same pilots and the same cabin as the paying group on the first leg.

What sets the price of a specific empty leg?

No two empty legs are priced the same. The operator looks at a few things before naming a number, and some of them change by the day.

We give you an all-inclusive quote, so the number you hear covers the flight as described. No hidden costs show up later. We also use point to point pricing, and you never pay round trip pricing for a one-way trip.

• Aircraft size. A turboprop or light jet empty leg costs less than a super-midsize or heavy jet leg on a similar route.
• Distance and flight time. Longer legs carry more cost, even at a lower rate.
• How soon it departs. Legs leaving in a day or two are often priced lower than ones posted weeks out, since the window to fill them is closing.
• Route demand. A leg into a busy destination may hold its price better than one into a quieter airport.
• Changes you ask for. Moving the departure time or adding a stop can turn an empty leg back into a regular charter price.

Is an empty leg flight just as safe as a full charter?

Yes, and this is the part we care about most. An empty leg is flown by the same operator, under the same rules, as the trip before it. The aircraft gets the same preflight checks. The crew works under the same duty and rest limits. Nothing is cut because the fare is lower.

Where people get into trouble is chasing the lowest number from a source they can't check. Before we offer you a seat, we look at who operates the aircraft and that the flight is set up as a proper charter. If something about a leg doesn't sit right with us, we tell you and pass on it.

One more safety point. Weather and maintenance can move an empty leg. When that happens, the right call is to wait or cancel, not to push. We would rather tell you a flight isn't going than put you on one that shouldn't.

What do you give up for the lower fare?

Flexibility. The empty leg runs on the original trip's schedule, not yours. If the first group changes their plans, your leg can move or drop off the board, sometimes with short notice.

You also take the route as it is. If the jet is going from Columbus to Naples, that is where it goes. You can't add a stop in Atlanta without the price changing.

So empty legs work best for travelers who can bend a little. Leisure trips, families with open dates and executives with a loose window tend to do well. If you have a board meeting you cannot miss, a regular on demand charter is the safer bet, and we will say so.

How do you find empty legs out of Columbus?

Empty legs out of Columbus and the surrounding area show up when jets drop off passengers here or nearby and need to head elsewhere. They also run the other way, bringing an aircraft back in. Travelers from Franklin, Seymour, Greenwood and Shelbyville often use the same departure points.

The simplest way is to call and tell us where you want to go and how flexible you are. We check what is posted, watch for new legs on your route and call you back with a quote when one fits. There is no sign-up and no long term commitment.