At 5 AM, you open your phone — iFlyPlus's empty leg push has just updated. 🏔️ 50+ routes line up on screen — a Challenger 350 from Shanghai to Beijing, a Gulfstream G200 from Shenzhen to Bangkok. 🌸 You tap the screen, and a perfect match catches your eye: tomorrow afternoon, Shenzhen → Shanghai, at one-third of the standard rate. Your advisor's voice message is already playing: "This empty leg was released 20 minutes ago — let me secure your position." 🍾
🔍 What Is an Empty Leg Flight?
After completing a one-way charter mission, a private jet must reposition to its next departure point. This "deadhead" segment is called an empty leg flight. Since the aircraft is already confirmed to fly, the operating costs (fuel, crew, landing fees) are covered by the preceding itinerary. Therefore, empty leg flights are typically priced at 30%-70% of the standard rate — a window of exceptional value for discerning travelers.
💡 Core Logic: It is not a "discount" — it is "the aircraft is flying anyway." You are filling a confirmed capacity gap.
📡 Three Official Search Channels
| Channel | Access Point | Update Frequency | Ideal For | How to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iFlyPlus Website Empty Leg Hub | iflyplus.com/emptylegs | Real-time (auto-pulls from 11,800+ global aircraft) | Self-guided browsers who like to compare | Login → Empty Leg Hub → Filter by route/date/aircraft → One-click inquiry |
| Dedicated Advisor 1-on-1 Push | WeChat / Phone / WhatsApp | Instant (push within 5 min of release) | Efficiency-focused V2+ members who prefer butler-style service | Tell your advisor your regular routes → they proactively match and push |
| V0 Black Card Priority Alerts | Free registration | Daily (curated route summary) | First-time private jet travelers | Register V0 Black Card (free) → Set preferred routes → Receive daily alerts |
📋 Website Search: Step-by-Step Guide
| Step | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ① Login | Visit iflyplus.com/emptylegs | Use registered account to access member-exclusive rates |
| ② Filter | Select departure city, arrival city, date range | Flexible dates expand search results significantly |
| ③ Sort | Sort by "Recently Released," "Competitive Pricing," "Aircraft Type" | "Recently Released" gives best chance at scarce windows |
| ④ Details | Click to view aircraft, seats, luggage allowance, price | Note the "window period" — some legs are available only 24-48 hours |
| ⑤ Inquire | Click "Advisor Lock Position" or "Online Inquiry" | Advisor responds upon receiving your request ⚠️ Tone example (not an SLA) |
| ⑥ Confirm | Advisor confirms seat + sends confirmation | Position secured — no public bidding required |
🎯 Timing Strategy: When to Search for Best Results?
| Time Period | Empty Leg Release Pattern | Recommended Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Daily 5:00-7:00 AM | System batch updates: unsold from prior day + new additions | 🌅 Best search window — less competition, more choices |
| Monday / Thursday | Post-business-peak repositioning creates high volume | 📅 Business route density peaks |
| 3-5 Days Before Holidays | Post-holiday charter peak repositioning windows release en masse | 🎯 Popular destinations (Sanya, Bangkok, Maldives) see more legs |
| During Major Events | Post-event dispersal (Boao, Davos, Art Basel) | ✈️ Regional empty leg surge |
| Quarter-End (Mar/Jun/Sep/Dec) | Quarterly fleet adjustments release unsold segments | 📊 Annual peak in empty leg availability |
💎 Advisor Push vs. Website Self-Service: Which to Choose?
| Comparison | Website Self-Service | Advisor 1-on-1 Push |
|---|---|---|
| Information Breadth | Full inventory, free filtering | Curated matches to your preferences only |
| Response Speed | Wait after submitting inquiry | Push within 5 minutes of release |
| Flexibility | Fully autonomous, ideal for comparison | Advisor coordinates special needs (pets, medical, equipment) |
| Best For | First contact, self-exploration | Frequent travel, complex itineraries, time-sensitive |
| Member Benefits | Visible to all logged-in users | V2+ members enjoy priority locking |
💡 Best Practice: Use both. Browse the website daily to build route intuition; let your advisor deliver precision matches for key trips.
👤 Member Cases
Case 1: Mr. C — High-Frequency Business Traveler
"I fly at least twice a week — Shenzhen ↔ Shanghai is my main route. Ever since I told my advisor my regular routes, every time an empty leg drops, he pushes it to me within 5 minutes. Last month I secured 3 consecutive empty legs, reducing my annual private jet travel costs by 40%. The key — these routes get booked within an hour on the website. Advisor push keeps me always one step ahead."
- Channel: Advisor 1-on-1 Push (V2 Member)
- Result: ~40% value appreciation on annual private jet travel
Case 2: Ms. M — Family Vacation Planner
"I usually plan family vacations 2-3 weeks ahead. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, I open the website empty leg hub. Last month, I found Sanya → Chengdu — a Challenger 350 at one-third the standard rate, 48-hour window. From browsing to confirmation in under 10 minutes."
- Channel: Website Empty Leg Hub (self-service)
- Result: 4 family trip empty legs secured in 6 months
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are empty leg flights held to the same safety standards as standard-rate flights? A: Absolutely identical. Same aircraft, same crew, same safety protocols. The only difference is the pricing logic — you are filling a confirmed capacity gap.
Q: Can I bring pets on empty leg flights? A: Most empty leg flights allow pets. Inform your advisor at the time of locking your position so the aircraft's pet-friendly amenities can be confirmed.
Q: What if I miss one? Are there other opportunities? A: Empty legs update daily. Set route alerts on the website, or ask your advisor to add you to a waitlist for specific routes. New legs typically appear on the same route within 24-72 hours.
Q: What is the difference between V0 Black Card alerts and advisor push? A: V0 Black Card delivers a daily curated summary — ideal for building route awareness. Advisor push is real-time, one-on-one, precision-matched to your specific preferences. We recommend using both simultaneously.
iFlyPlus · Empty Leg Flight Search · 12 years serving ultra-high-net-worth travel · 11,800+ aircraft globally · 5,000+ airports across 186 countries
"Every empty leg is a release of operational intelligence. You simply need to be there at the right moment, for the right flight."