Right-size the aircraft
Book the smallest cabin that fits people and bags: a turboprop for short hops, a light jet for most trips under three hours.
Often 15–40% less
Private jet charter, priced with care
Fly private for less, without cutting corners.
The right-sized aircraft, a flexible departure time and the occasional empty leg take real money off a charter. Tell us the trip and an advisor returns all-in options from FAA Part 135 operators.
- All-in quotesFederal excise tax, segment fees and known extras are in the price, not added later.
- One advisorThe same person handles your trip from the first quote until you land.
- No membershipNo deposit, card or sign-up to ask for a price. Pay only when you book.
- Part 135 operatorsEvery option is flown by a certificated air carrier, named before you sign.
Where the savings come from
Seven honest ways to pay less for a private flight
There's no secret discount. Charter prices follow the aircraft you choose, when it flies and how far it has to travel empty. Each lever below is something your advisor checks on every request.
Be flexible on time
If an aircraft is already where you are, you don't pay to bring it in. A few hours of give widens the options.
Often 5–15% lessSkip peak days
Holiday weekends and Sunday-evening returns are when aircraft are scarcest. Moving a day can open lower-priced choices.
Often 5–15% lessAccept a fuel stop
On longer trips, a smaller aircraft with a quick stop can undercut a larger one flying nonstop.
Often 10–25% lessUse a nearby airport
A secondary field close to home can mean lower fees and a different set of aircraft based nearby.
Often 3–10% lessTime your one-way
One-way prices often include the aircraft's empty trip home. Matching an aircraft already headed your way removes it.
Often 10–35% lessTake an empty leg
Discounted repositioning flights on a fixed route and time. They can be cancelled if the original trip changes.
25–75% less, when one fitsAdd up your savings
Tick the levers that suit your trip and see a combined estimate.
Percentages are rough estimates against a standard quote for the same trip. They vary by route, season and aircraft availability, and they don't simply add up.
One-way repositioning flight
Empty legs
The deepest discount in charter, with conditions
When an aircraft flies empty to reach its next passengers or to return to base, the operator will often sell that leg for 25 to 75 percent less than a regular one-way.
- Fixed route and time. The leg goes where the aircraft needs to go, close to when it needs to go there.
- It can be cancelled. If the original booking moves, the empty leg moves or disappears with it.
- Best for flexible plans. Ideal when you can shift a few hours and have a backup way home.
When a known empty leg fits your dates, your advisor puts it next to the regular options so you can weigh the saving against the risk.
How one-way pricing worksAircraft
Pay for the cabin you need, not a size bigger
Most of the price is the hourly rate of the aircraft. Matching the category to your party and distance is the single biggest saving available.
Turboprop
- Seats
- 6–9
- Typical range
- ~1,800 nm
- Per hour, est.
- $1,800–3,200
Pilatus PC-12, King Air 350
Light jet
- Seats
- 6–8
- Typical range
- 2,000–2,150 nm
- Per hour, est.
- $3,500–5,500
Phenom 300E, Citation CJ4, Learjet 75
Midsize jet
- Seats
- 7–9
- Typical range
- ~2,100 nm
- Per hour, est.
- $4,500–7,000
Citation XLS+
Super-midsize
- Seats
- 8–10
- Typical range
- 3,200–4,000 nm
- Per hour, est.
- $6,500–9,500
Challenger 350, Citation Longitude, Praetor 600
Large cabin
- Seats
- 10–16
- Typical range
- 4,000–4,300 nm
- Per hour, est.
- $8,500–13,000
Gulfstream G450, Challenger 650, Falcon 2000LXS
Hourly figures are estimated US market ranges before tax and fees. Ranges are typical with reserves and vary by model, load and winds. Compare every category.
How it works
From request to wheels-up
A short, clear process with one advisor and no obligation until you sign.
Tell us the trip
Route, dates, passengers and anything you're flexible on. Two minutes with the form above.
Compare all-in options
Usually two or three aircraft at different price points, each with the operator named and the total shown.
Confirm and sign
Approve an option, sign the charter agreement with the operating carrier's details, and pay as it sets out.
Fly
Your advisor confirms the terminal, crew and timings and stays with the trip until you land.
Popular routes
Where smart pricing makes the biggest difference
Flight times are approximate and depend on aircraft and winds. Pick a route to start a request with the airports filled in.
About 2h 30m
TEB DJT
New York to Palm Beach
The winter commute. A light jet seats six and is usually the efficient fit; leaving outside Friday afternoon widens the choice.
Price this route
About 50 min
VNY LAS
Los Angeles to Las Vegas
A short hop where a turboprop or light jet keeps the bill modest, and a same-day return avoids a crew overnight.
Price this route
About 2h 45m to 3h
OPF TEB
Miami to New York
In spring, aircraft head north after the Florida season, which makes this a common route for empty legs.
Price this route
About 1h 45m to 2h
DAL ASE
Dallas to Aspen
Aspen limits aircraft size and peak-day slots. Eagle/Vail (EGE) or Rifle (RIL) can open more options for less.
Price this route
Under an hour
HPN MVY
Westchester to Martha's Vineyard
A turboprop handles the island hop at a lower hourly rate than a jet, for roughly ten minutes more in the air.
Price this route
About 2h
SDL SJD
Scottsdale to Los Cabos
An international trip: customs on arrival, passports for everyone, and the foreign fees shown in your quote.
Price this route
Safety and standards
A lower price never means a lower standard
Every option comes from a direct air carrier operating under FAA Part 135, or the foreign equivalent abroad, and you see the operator's name before you sign.
FAA Part 135
The certificate US on-demand charter operators must hold, covering maintenance, crew training, duty and rest limits and operational control.
ARGUS ratings
A third-party audit and rating of an operator's safety history and practices, graded Gold, Gold+ and Platinum.
Wyvern Wingman
An on-site audit standard covering safety management, maintenance records and pilot qualifications.
IS-BAO
The international code of practice for business aviation, with operators registered at stages 1 to 3.
Questions
Straight answers about price
Can't find what you need? Read the full FAQ or add your question to a quote request.
What is the cheapest way to fly private?
For one to four people on a trip of under about three hours, a turboprop or light jet booked one way with some flexibility on timing is usually the lowest-cost option. An empty leg that matches your route can go lower still. For larger groups, one bigger aircraft split per person often costs less than two small ones.
Are your quotes all-in?
Yes. Each option shows the aircraft, the operator, the flight time and a total that includes the 7.5% federal excise tax on domestic flights, segment fees, repositioning, crew overnights and landing and handling fees. Costs that depend on the day, such as winter de-icing, are listed with an estimate so nothing arrives as a surprise.
What exactly is an empty leg?
A one-way flight an aircraft has to make anyway, to reach its next passengers or return to base. Operators often sell it at 25 to 75 percent off. The route and time are fixed, and the leg can be cancelled if the original booking changes, so it suits travellers with a backup plan.
Do I need a membership, deposit or account?
No. Requesting a quote is free and carries no obligation. You pay only after you choose an option and sign the charter agreement with the operating carrier's details.
Who actually operates my flight?
A certificated direct air carrier operating under FAA Part 135, or the foreign equivalent abroad. Cheapest Way to Fly Private is the broker: we find and compare aircraft, and the operator holds operational control of every flight.
Can I bring my dog?
Many operators accept dogs and cats in the cabin, subject to their approval. Note the size and number of pets in your request; some ask for a crate or add a cleaning fee.
How far ahead should I book?
For holidays and big event weekends, as early as you can, because the best-priced aircraft are taken first. Short-notice trips are often possible as well. Availability, not the booking window itself, is what moves the price.
Tips
Know what moves the price
Short, practical reads on the decisions that change a charter quote. All tips
Turboprops: the smart choice for short trips
Why a PC-12 or King Air often beats a jet on trips under about 500 miles, and when it doesn't.
How flexible dates lower the price
What a few hours or a day of give does to a charter quote, lever by lever.
One-way trips and the repositioning cost
Why a one-way charter can cost close to a round trip, and how to stop paying for empty miles.
Request a quote
Tell us the trip. We'll find the smart way to fly it.
Share the route, dates and party size. Your advisor compares aircraft and operators and comes back with all-in options at more than one price point.