*Includes fuel, landing fees & FET. One-way pricing.
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The Chicago to Miami corridor is one of the busiest Midwest→Florida private jet routes, connecting executives, families, and snowbirds with South Florida. Often called the "Snowbird Route," it links Chicago business leaders and high-net-worth families with Miami's beaches, Art Basel, and tax-friendly residences.
Commercial flights from O'Hare or Midway mean long lines, delays, and crowded terminals. Flying private from Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) lets you arrive 15 minutes before departure and land at Opa-Locka Executive (OPF)—just 20 minutes from Miami Beach or Bal Harbour.
Most travelers choose a Light Jet like the Phenom 300 or Citation CJ3 for this 2.5-hour flight. For larger groups or extra luggage, a Midsize Jet like the Hawker 800XP offers more cabin space and still makes the trip non-stop with ease.
Demand spikes from October through April as Midwesterners escape winter. Book early during Art Basel (December), Super Bowl, and holiday weeks when availability tightens and prices rise 20-30%.
Click any section below for insider tips on flying this route
Do not fly out of O'Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW) unless you're connecting to a commercial flight. Both airports are congested with long taxi times that eat into your private jet advantage.
Alternative: Waukegan Regional Airport (UGN) if you're coming from the North Shore (Lake Forest, Winnetka, Highland Park). It's less busy than PWK but farther from downtown Chicago.
Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF) handles more private jet traffic than Miami International. It's 35 minutes to South Beach and 20 minutes to Bal Harbour—significantly faster than dealing with MIA's commercial chaos.
Top FBOs at OPF:
Why not Miami International (MIA)? Commercial traffic, longer ground times, and you'll sit in traffic getting to South Beach. Private jets use OPF for a reason.
Chicago to Miami is the second-busiest snowbird route in America. This creates predictable pricing patterns you can exploit:
Peak Season (November – April): Massive migration of Midwest families and business leaders to South Florida. Demand is highest, prices are premium.
November – January:
April – May:
Art Basel Miami (first week of December) and the Miami International Boat Show (February) cause massive spikes in both charter prices and parking fees at OPF. Book 2-3 weeks ahead during these periods.
This is a comfortable 2.5 to 3-hour flight depending on headwinds. Here's what works best:
Citation CJ3 or Phenom 300: Can easily make this trip non-stop in approximately 2h 45m to 3h. This is the most popular "value" option for this route.
Hawker 800XP or Citation Excel: Preferred if you have 6+ passengers and golf clubs, or if you want more cabin room for a longer flight.
Turboprops: Not recommended for this route. What should be a 3-hour flight becomes a 5-hour ordeal. The cost savings aren't worth the extra time.
This is one of the best routes in the country for empty leg opportunities because of the massive directional imbalance during snowbird season.
Southbound (Chicago → Miami) Empty Legs:
Northbound (Miami → Chicago) Empty Legs:
A Citation CJ3 that would normally cost $22,000 one-way often goes for $11,000-13,000 as an empty leg. Operators would rather get half-price than fly completely empty.
Yes. Both PWK and OPF are extremely pet-friendly. Unlike commercial flights, your dog can sit in the cabin with you (no crate required in most cases). Just mention this when requesting your quote—some operators charge a small cleaning fee ($100-200).
Private jets operate on your schedule, not the airline's. If you're running 15-20 minutes late, just call the operator. They'll wait. If you're going to be significantly delayed (1+ hour), there may be additional standby fees, but you won't miss your "flight" like you would with commercial.
Industry standard is $50-100 per pilot for shorter flights, or roughly 5-10% of the charter cost for longer trips. Cash is preferred. If the pilots went above and beyond (handling complicated luggage, accommodating schedule changes), lean toward the higher end.
Absolutely. Chicago has excellent high-end catering options (Lettuce Entertain You, local restaurants) that service PWK. Most operators can arrange catering with 24-48 hours notice. Budget $25-75 per person depending on the level of service you want.
Light Jets (CJ3/Phenom 300): ~500-700 lbs of luggage, which is roughly 2-3 large bags per person. If you're bringing golf clubs or skis, mention this upfront—the operator needs to ensure weight distribution.
Midsize Jets (Hawker 800XP): ~1,000-1,200 lbs of luggage. Much more flexible if you're traveling with a group.
15 minutes before departure is standard. There's no TSA, no long check-in lines. You drive up, walk to the plane, and go. One of the biggest advantages of flying private.
Understanding private jet charter costs helps you budget accurately and avoid surprises. Here's exactly what you're paying for on this route:
Light Jet (Citation CJ3, Phenom 300): $6,500/hour
Midsize Jet (Hawker 800XP, Citation Excel): $9,000/hour
Heavy Jet (Gulfstream G450, Falcon 2000): $15,000/hour
Our estimates include a 15% markup that covers:
Seasonal demand: Peak snowbird season (Nov-Apr) = 10-20% premium
Event pricing: Art Basel Miami (Dec) and Miami Boat Show (Feb) cause spikes
Day of week: Friday departures and Sunday returns are most expensive
Booking window: Last-minute (< 48 hours) = 20-30% premium
Empty legs: Repositioning flights = 40-60% discount (when available)
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