We all know that one person who swears they find the biggest travel savings by booking a vacation last minute. Of course, emergencies and unplanned events come up all the time, prompting last-minute travel arrangements. But what if you have the time to book in advance? Should you wait until last-minute to book a jet charter flight in an effort to secure the best rates?

Last-minute jet charters vs. booking ahead

Sometimes, the most affordable way to charter a private jet is by taking advantage of empty leg flights. An empty leg flight is a flight that hasn’t been filled with a passenger booking. When an air carrier flies a client to one destination and needs to return to its home base or to the airport of its next point of departure, it will likely sell that return flight at a discounted rate to help find passengers on short notice. 

However, that doesn’t mean you need to book these flights on a last-minute basis. If you know you’re going to need to be somewhere at a certain date, let your private flight advisor know as soon as possible. They can set up an alert in our Flight Radar®, Stratos’ industry-leading technology platform that notifies you when these flights become available. You can still take advantage of a discounted flight without going through the stress of securing an aircraft mere days or hours before you intend to depart. 

Search through available empty leg flights right on our webpage

Secure high-quality air carriers by booking early

When you book a private jet charter with Stratos, our main goal is to provide the tools and education you need to make an informed buying decision. One of the ways we do this is by helping you find the best available aircraft for your trip. Instead of rushing into a search and booking the first available aircraft, we want to analyze the options and let you pick the air carrier and aircraft that’s best suited to your travel needs and preferences.

Stratos founder and CEO, Joel Thomas says, “Booking a flight last minute could leave you with a limited selection of air carriers. Since many of the highest quality aircraft are in demand, you may be left with an air carrier that might not have the infrastructure capable of supporting a consistent service experience.”

To avoid this scenario, we always encourage our clients to book their charters as soon as possible. 

The rising cost of chartering a private jet

In the last year, chartering a private jet was more affordable than it once was. However, with the increasing popularity of private jets, the costs are set to increase. With the increased demand comes limited availability, which is even more reason to secure the jet you want as soon as travel plans arise. 

If you’d like to know more about the expected rate increase, take a look at our previous blog article: Returning to the Skies: Is the Cost of Private Jet Charters on the Rise? 

Stratos’ commitment to service excellence

At Stratos Jet Charters, we’re so much more than just a private jet provider. We care about our clients, and we want to see them reach their destination effortlessly every time they book a jet charter flight with us. This is why we only work with the best air carriers in the industry. We’ve spent many years nurturing these professional relationships so our clients can leverage them to secure the safest aircraft, the highest level of service, and the best rates available. This commitment to service excellence is just one of the ways we soar above the others.

Stratos founder & CEO Joel Thomas said it best, “Finding a broker that possesses strong relationships with the most reputable air carriers is the best assurance of a reliable travel experience.”

Ready to Soar Higher with Stratos? Reach out to a personal flight advisor today by requesting a quote through our website or at (888) 593-9066.  We can’t wait to work with you!