Empty leg flights are when an airplane is about to takeoff and open seats are available. These seats can be sold, traded and given away depending on the aircraft operator and what they want to do with them. Some will try to make more money by selling the seats…even at a discount since they may be last minute requests and authorized before takeoff. Others simple don’t want the hassle or don’t offer it in order to protect their client’s interest. Depending on the aircraft operator, empty leg flights can offer a significant savings to passengers, reduce a flight charter cost and provide a way for the general public to experience private air travel and not charter an entire aircraft. As you can imagine though, you have no say on when it leaves, where it goes, and who is in the plane with you are essentially hitchhiking…granted it’s a luxurious way to hitchhike on a plane!