What Is a Positioning Flight? Why Charter Quotes Include One

You ask for a quote on a one-way charter. The price looks high for such a short flight. Then the operator mentions a "positioning flight." What is that, and why are you paying for it?

What a positioning flight is

A positioning flight is a flight with no passengers. It moves the aircraft so it can start your trip. It is also called a ferry flight or a repositioning flight.

There are two types:

• Before your flight. The jet flies empty from its base to your airport to collect you.
• After your flight. The jet flies empty from your destination back to its base, or on to its next job.

Why you pay for it

Charter is priced by the aircraft, not by the seat. The operator pays for fuel, crew, airport fees and maintenance on every hour the jet flies. Empty hours cost the same as full hours. If your trip needs an empty flight, the cost has to go somewhere. Usually it goes into your quote.

A quote may show the empty flights as a separate line. Or they may be folded into the total. Ask which, so you can compare quotes fairly. Our guide to what a charter quote includes covers the other lines to look for.

A simple example

Say the jet is based in City A. You want to fly from City B to City C, and you will not come back. The jet must fly A to B empty. Then B to C with you. Then C back to A empty, unless another customer needs it near C. You pay for the part of the work that belongs to your trip, which can be more than the flight you actually take.

A round trip is different. The jet can wait for you or fly back with you, so fewer empty flights are needed.

Why one-way trips often cost more

This is the main reason. A one-way trip away from the jet's base usually means at least one empty flight. A round trip that starts and ends near the base may have none. The price per mile of a one-way trip often looks higher for this reason.

When the cost goes down

• Start near the jet. Ask which airports the operator has aircraft at. A closer jet means a shorter empty flight.
• Fly when the jet is going your way. If the operator already has an empty flight on your route, that is an empty leg. These can be sold at a lower price. See our guide to private jet empty legs and browse the current list.
• Be flexible. A day earlier or later can match your trip to an aircraft that is already nearby.
• Ask several providers. Each has aircraft in different places. The same trip can be a short positioning for one and a long one for another.
• Consider the route. A round trip, or a trip that returns to the jet's home airport, can remove one empty flight.

Questions to ask

1. Where is the aircraft based?
2. Does the quote include positioning flights? How many?
3. Is there a cheaper option if I change the date or airport?
4. Is there an empty leg that fits my route?

A clear operator will answer these directly. Our guide on how to charter without overpaying has more tips from a broker's view.

Sources: FAA, Part 135 operations (faa.gov); operator quote terms and conditions.

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