Chicago to Palm Beach

Chicago Departure: Chicago Executive Airport (PWK)

Located 18 miles northwest of downtown Chicago in Wheeling, PWK is the busiest corporate aviation airport in Illinois. It's the preferred departure point for North Shore residents to avoid O'Hare congestion entirely.

Top FBOs at PWK:

• Hawthorne Global Aviation: Often favored for its modern terminal and high-touch concierge services. Excellent for morning departures with quick ramp access.
• Atlantic Aviation: Features large heated hangars—essential for avoiding frost delays in winter. Located on the east side with swift access to I-294.
• Signature Aviation: Reliable network standard with extensive parking and crew amenities. Good loyalty program if you fly frequently.

Palm Beach Arrival: Palm Beach International (PBI)

Located just 2.5 miles west of downtown West Palm Beach and a short drive to the island. PBI is one of the busiest private aviation hubs in the world during winter season.

Top FBOs at PBI:

• Signature Flight Support: The dominant FBO at PBI with a massive campus. Handles the highest volume of traffic and offers a "resort-style" arrival experience. Most operators default here.
• Atlantic Aviation: Located on the southern side of the field, offering a slightly more private feel away from main commercial runway traffic. Good for quick ground transportation pickups.
• Jet Aviation: Another top-tier option known for handling larger cabin aircraft and international arrivals. Premium service level.

Seasonal Demand (The #1 Price Driver)

Peak High Season: Late November through January. This is the classic snowbird migration—Chicago residents fleeing winter for Florida. Demand explodes and expect 20-30% premiums during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's weeks.

Secondary Peak: Late March through April. Return migration creates aircraft shortages in Florida, driving up prices for northbound flights. Still busy but not as extreme as holiday season.

Lowest Prices: April through May (southbound). After snowbirds return north, operators are desperate to get planes back to Florida. You'll find excellent empty leg deals—often 30-50% off standard rates.

Wellington Equestrian Festival (January-April)

The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) creates massive sustained demand at PBI from January through April. During peak competition weekends (especially Saturdays), parking spots for jets can sell out, leading to "drop and go" fees or repositioning costs. Book early if traveling during WEF season.

Presidential TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions)

When the President is at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, strict airspace restrictions activate. This creates a 30-mile restricted zone that forces aircraft to use specific approach paths, often leading to holding patterns or ground delays that can slightly increase billable flight time.

Winter Weather (Chicago Departure)

Departing PWK between November and March often requires de-icing fluid, which is billed after the flight:

• Light Jet: $1,500-$2,000
• Midsize Jet: $2,500-$3,500
• Super Midsize: $4,000+ per application

At 1,150 miles, this route is perfectly suited for light and midsize jets. Flight time is typically 2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours 20 minutes depending on winds and routing around weather systems.

Light Jets (Best Value)

Embraer Phenom 300 or Citation CJ3+: The "Goldilocks" jets for this route. They have the range (2,000+ nm) to fly Chicago-PBI nonstop with full passengers, even against winter headwinds.

• Capacity: 6-7 passengers comfortably
• Flight Time: ~3 hours
• Best For: Families or couples looking for the most economical nonstop option (~$18k-$25k one-way)
• Note: Good storage but be careful with hard-shell large suitcases. If you have 4 passengers with 2 large bags each plus golf clubs, consider upgrading to midsize.

Midsize Jets (Premium Comfort)

Citation Excel/XLS+: Offers a 5'8" stand-up cabin which makes a 3-hour flight significantly more comfortable than a light jet.

• Capacity: 7-8 passengers
• Flight Time: ~2 hours 50 minutes
• Best For: Golf trips—the external baggage compartment is massive and easily fits 6+ sets of clubs, unlike many light jets
• Trade-off: About 20-25% more expensive than light jets

Super Midsize (Luxury Choice)

Challenger 300/350: Speed and runway performance. Can fly the route in under 2 hours 45 minutes and offers full galley service for lunch or dinner.

• Flight Time: ~2 hours 45 minutes
• Best For: Business teams or VIPs who need guaranteed Wi-Fi and flight attendant service
• Trade-off: 40-50% more expensive than light jets

How Empty Legs Work on This Route

Chicago to Palm Beach is excellent for empty leg opportunities due to highly directional seasonal demand. Here's how to find deals:

Best Times to Find Empty Legs PWK → PBI

Peak Empty Leg Season: April through May

After snowbirds return north in late March/April, operators are desperate to get planes back to Florida to prepare for next season. This creates a surplus of empty legs heading south, often at 30-50% discounts. This is the absolute best time to find deals on this route.

Secondary Opportunity: October

Before the main snowbird migration begins in November, some aircraft reposition south early. Not as many empties as April/May, but still good availability for southbound flights.

Worst Times (Almost No Empty Legs)

November through January: This is peak southbound season. Everyone wants to fly Chicago → Palm Beach, so empty legs are virtually non-existent and pricing is at maximum premiums. During holidays (Christmas/New Year's), empty legs disappear entirely due to fleet maximization.

How to Find Them

• Be flexible with dates: Empty legs are last-minute by nature. If you can move your travel by 1-2 days, you'll find significantly more options.
• Book 24-72 hours out: Operators post empty legs when they know a plane needs to reposition. Check daily during April-May for best results.
• One-way bookings work best: If you only need PWK → PBI (not a round trip), you're the ideal empty leg customer.

Realistic Savings

This route is highly directional. When you find a true empty leg in April/May, expect pricing like this:

• Light Jet: $10,000-$14,000 (vs $20,000-$25,000 retail)
• Midsize Jet: $14,000-$18,000 (vs $28,000-$32,000 retail)

Can I bring my dog?

Yes. Both PWK and PBI are extremely pet-friendly. However, Florida heat is a factor on the ramp at PBI. Request that your car is pulled plane-side immediately so your pet doesn't have to walk on hot tarmac (which can reach 140°F+). Some operators charge a small cleaning fee ($100-200).

Is Palm Beach International the closest airport to Wellington?

Yes. PBI is only a 20-30 minute drive to the Wellington International Equestrian Center. The alternative, Boca Raton (BCT), is further south and has a shorter runway that limits some jet types.

Can we fly into PBI late at night?

PBI operates 24/7, but has a voluntary "fly quiet" curfew between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM. While you can land, operators try to avoid it to respect noise ordinances. Some jets may be restricted from departing late night if they're older/louder models.

How much luggage can I bring on a Light Jet?

Be careful here. A Citation CJ3 or Phenom 300 has good storage, but hard-shell large suitcases can be tricky. If you have 4 passengers with 2 large bags each plus golf clubs, you should upgrade to a Midsize Jet (Citation Excel) to ensure everything fits.

Is Wi-Fi guaranteed?

Not on Light Jets. On a Chicago-PBI flight (3 hours), this matters. If you need to work, specify a "Wi-Fi equipped aircraft" when booking. Most Super Mids (Challenger 300) have it standard; Light Jets often do not.

How early should I arrive at PWK?

15–20 minutes before departure is standard at Chicago Executive (PWK). There's no TSA and no long check-in lines—you drive up, walk through the FBO, and board. One of the biggest advantages of flying private.

What's Included in the Price?

Understanding private jet charter costs helps you budget accurately and avoid surprises. Here's exactly what you're paying for on this route:

Base Hourly Rates (2025)

Light Jet (Citation CJ3, Phenom 300): $6,500/hour

• Flight time: ~3.0 hours
• Base cost: $19,500
• Capacity: 4-6 passengers

Midsize Jet (Hawker 800XP, Citation Excel): $9,000/hour

• Flight time: ~2.9 hours
• Base cost: $26,100
• Capacity: 7-8 passengers

Heavy Jet (Gulfstream G450, Falcon 2000): $15,000/hour

• Flight time: ~2.75 hours
• Base cost: $41,250
• Capacity: 10-12 passengers

Additional Fees & Taxes (Included in Quote)

Our estimates include a 15% markup that covers:

• Federal Excise Tax (FET): 7.5% on domestic flights
• Fuel surcharges: ~3-5% (varies by fuel prices)
• Landing fees: $250-$500 per airport
• Crew expenses: Included in hourly rate
• Overnight fees: Only if crew stays (typically not on this route)

What's NOT Included (Optional Add-Ons)

• Catering: $25-$75 per person (budget $200-$400 total)
• Ground transportation: $100-$300 for luxury car service
• De-icing (winter departures from PWK): $1,500-$4,000 if needed
• Pet cleaning fee: $100-$200 if bringing animals
• WiFi: Usually included, but some older aircraft charge $50-$100

Why Prices Fluctuate

Seasonal demand: Peak snowbird season (Nov-Apr) = 10-20% premium

Event pricing: Art Basel Chicago (Dec) and Chicago 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)