Empty leg Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas
Empty leg Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas seats fill a repositioning trip. The leg covers 808 nautical miles and lands in Mexico after roughly 2h 14m. Seats are limited because the aircraft was already headed that way.
Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas private jet prices by aircraft
From Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, a private jet covers 808 nautical miles in 2h 16m on a light jet. One-way estimate: $8,500–$13,000.Same cabin, same distance, five aircraft types. The table shows how much time each class spends in the air and what a one-way charter tends to cost on this leg. Empty leg seats are priced below these figures, and the discount depends on how close the departure is and how many seats the operator needs to fill.
| Aircraft class | Flight time | Estimate one-way | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | 3h 08m | $7,000–$11,000 | Direct, no stops |
| Light jet | 2h 16m | $8,500–$13,000 | Best fit |
| Midsize jet | 2h 14m | $11,500–$17,500 | Direct, no stops |
| Super-midsize jet | 2h 06m | $15,000–$21,000 | Direct, no stops |
| Heavy jet | 2h 06m | $20,000–$30,500 | Direct, no stops |
Ballpark per aircraft, not per seat, before federal excise tax and segment fees. Duration covers taxi, climb and descent.
Why this trip suits a light jet
A light jet is the fit for 808 nautical miles of open water and desert, and it is the class most often assigned to empty leg positions here. Jets in this group, such as a HondaJet Elite II or Citation CJ4 Gen2, cruise fast enough to keep the block under two and a half hours and carry five to seven passengers with real baggage space.
Midsize jets cost more at $11,500 to $17,500 but add cabin room for families. Turboprops at $7,000 to $11,000 stretch the trip past three hours, and heavy jets at $20,000 and up buy space you rarely need on a route this short. For a Cabo San Lucas run, the light jet keeps the price and the flight time balanced.
Embraer Phenom 300E
- 7 seats
- 464 kt cruise
- 2,010 nm range
Cabin 4 ft 11 in tall, 17 ft 2 in long. Baggage 84 cu ft.
Pilatus PC-24
- 8 seats
- 440 kt cruise
- 2,000 nm range
Cabin 5 ft 1 in tall, 23 ft long. Baggage 90 cu ft.
Leaving Los Angeles
Van Nuys, Burbank and LAX all launch nonstop flights to Cabo San Lucas, and the airport you pick changes your ground time more than the flight does. Van Nuys has an 8,001 ft runway and a short drive from the west side; Burbank's 6,886 ft strip sits closer to the studios and the valley.
LAX carries the longest runway at 12,894 ft but also the terminal traffic. If your empty leg departs from Van Nuys, then budget less time for security and parking than a commercial gate would take.
Landing at Los Cabos
Los Cabos International (SJD) is the arrival point for Cabo San Lucas flights, with a 9,843 ft runway set between San José del Cabo and the corridor hotels. The airport handles private arrivals through a separate terminal, so clearing customs takes minutes rather than a terminal walk.
This is an international leg, so CBP and Mexican immigration rules apply. If you arrive without a completed customs declaration, then expect a delay at the counter before your car is released. Plan the transfer down the corridor before the wheels stop.
| Airport | Code | Runway |
|---|---|---|
| Los Cabos International Airport | MMSD / SJD | 9,843 ft |
| Van Nuys Airport | KVNY / VNY | 8,001 ft |
| Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport | KBUR / BUR | 6,886 ft |
| Los Angeles International Airport | KLAX / LAX | 12,894 ft |
When prices and demand peak
Demand peaks from December through April, and empty leg listings thin out as the season fills. Spring break weeks and the holiday stretch around Christmas pull the most traffic, and one-way positions that appear in October can vanish by mid-December. Fares on the route sit between $8,500 and $13,000 for a light jet when nothing is discounted.
Book two to four weeks out if you want a guaranteed seat, and keep watching the week of travel if you want a repositioning price. Same-day round trips on this route are hard to arrange, because operators prefer to hold aircraft in Cabo for the return. If you can fly midweek and off-season, then the inventory is wider and the discount is deeper.
Private jet routes similar to Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas
These 6 private jet routes span 619 to 1,023 nautical miles; one-way light jet estimates run $7,000 to $16,000.
Questions about this route
What does an empty leg Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas trip cost?
A seat on an empty leg typically runs a few thousand dollars, well under the $8,500 to $13,000 a light jet charter costs one way. The operator is recovering a repositioning cost, not selling a full charter, so pricing depends on seats available and how soon the aircraft leaves. Get the quote in writing before you commit.
How long is the flight from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas?
About 2h 14m in a midsize jet and 2h 16m in a light jet over 808 nautical miles. A turboprop takes closer to 3h 08m. Winds and routing over Baja can add a few minutes, and the return leg often runs slightly longer.
Which Los Angeles airport do these flights leave from?
Van Nuys, Burbank and LAX all serve the route. Van Nuys is the common pick for private departures thanks to its 8,001 ft runway and short lines. Confirm the airport on the quote, since an empty leg may move to a different field to pick up the next trip.
Do I need a passport for a Cabo San Lucas empty leg?
Yes. This is an international flight, so every passenger needs a valid passport and the crew files the manifest before departure. CBP and Mexican authorities handle clearance at Los Cabos International. If a name on the booking does not match the passport, then the passenger can be denied boarding.
Who operates the aircraft on these empty legs?
The flights are flown by FAA Part 135 operators who hold operational control and carry their own certification and insurance. Our role is arranging the seat under DOT Part 295 as a broker, which means we match you to the operator but do not fly the aircraft. Ask for the operator's name before you pay.
Can I book a same-day return from Cabo San Lucas?
Rarely. Operators usually keep the aircraft in Mexico for the next booked trip, so a same-day turn needs both legs to line up. A light jet round trip at charter rates starts near $17,000, and empty legs on the return appear on their own schedule. Check the return board separately.