Palm Beach to Chicago

Palm Beach Departure: Palm Beach International (PBI)

Located just 2.5 miles from downtown West Palm Beach and a short drive from the island. PBI is the central hub for Wellington equestrians and Palm Beach residents. Peak departure banks run 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM during season.

Top FBOs at PBI:

• Signature Flight Support: The largest campus at PBI, designed for high volume with "resort-style" amenities. It can get busy during peak departure times, so arrive early during season.
• Atlantic Aviation: Located on the southern perimeter. Often preferred by owners seeking more privacy away from main commercial runway traffic.
• Jet Aviation: Excellent for larger cabin aircraft with very efficient, professional service. Great choice for VIP travelers.

Chicago Arrival: Chicago Executive Airport (PWK)

Located 18 miles northwest of downtown Chicago in Wheeling/Prospect Heights. PWK is the preferred arrival point for North Shore residents in Winnetka, Lake Forest, Kenilworth, and Highland Park—often just 15-20 minutes from the ramp to your driveway.

Top FBOs at PWK:

• Hawthorne Global Aviation: Features a modern, lodge-style terminal with excellent concierge services. Often praised for hospitality and quick turnarounds.
• Atlantic Aviation: Offers large heated hangars—crucial if your aircraft is staying overnight during Chicago winters. Reliable ground handling.
• Signature Aviation: A reliable network option with extensive ramp space for parking. Consistent service quality.

Snowbird Return Migration (The #1 Price Driver)

Peak High Season: March through May. As the Florida season ends, demand for flights back to Chicago skyrockets. This is the absolute highest pricing period for this northbound route—everyone is heading home at once.

Lowest Prices: Late August through September. Few people are leaving Florida for Chicago right before winter begins. This off-peak window offers the softest pricing and best availability.

Wellington Equestrian Festival End (April)

The end of WEF creates a massive surge in departures from PBI. When thousands of horses ship out, their owners follow. "Drop and go" fees may apply at PBI if the ramp is congested, though this typically affects operators more than passengers.

Chicago Arrival Weather

While you depart warm Palm Beach weather, landing in Chicago from November through March can present challenges:

• Snow Removal: If PWK is under active snow removal, arrival slots may be spaced out, causing delays.
• Potential Diverts: In severe blizzards, you may be diverted to O'Hare (ORD) or Waukegan (UGN) if PWK's shorter runways are contaminated with ice or snow.
• Ground Delays: Even after landing, getting from ramp to car can take longer in heavy snow.

Jet Stream Advantage

Good news for northbound travelers: flying north/northwest often benefits from a tailwind assist from the jet stream, making this leg slightly faster than the southbound trip. A typical southbound flight of 3 hours 15 minutes becomes 2 hours 55 minutes heading north.

At 1,148 miles, this route is well within range for most jet categories. Flight time is typically 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes, often with favorable tailwinds heading north.

Light Jets (Most Economical)

Phenom 300 or Citation CJ3+: The most efficient choice for this route. The Phenom 300 easily handles the distance nonstop with range to spare.

• Capacity: 6-7 passengers
• Flight Time: ~3 hours 10 minutes
• Best For: Couples or families returning home with moderate luggage (~$22k-$26k one-way)
• Caution: If returning from a 3-month stay with heavy bags, verify the weight limit. Six passengers with two large bags each may exceed capacity.

Midsize Jets (The Comfort Choice)

Citation Excel/XLS+ or Learjet 60: For a 3-hour flight, the stand-up cabin (5'8" height) is a significant comfort upgrade. The Excel also has superior luggage capacity for "end of season" heavy packing.

• Capacity: 7-8 passengers
• Flight Time: ~3 hours
• Best For: Golfers (clubs fit easily) or families moving an entire season's worth of wardrobe back north
• Trade-off: About 25-30% more expensive than light jets, but worth it for luggage capacity

Super Midsize (Speed & Luxury)

Challenger 300/350: Speed is the key advantage. A Challenger 300 can fly this route in approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, shaving 20+ minutes off a light jet. Full galley and flight attendant available.

• Flight Time: ~2 hours 45 minutes
• Best For: VIPs who need a flight attendant, families with 9 passengers, or executives who want a "flying office"
• Trade-off: 40-50% more expensive than light jets

How Empty Legs Work on This Route

Palm Beach to Chicago is a highly directional route, creating strong empty leg potential if you fly against the seasonal grain. Thousands of planes fly Chicago → Palm Beach full during snowbird season—many return north empty. That's your opportunity.

Best Times to Find Empty Legs PBI → PWK

Peak Empty Leg Season: November through January

During peak southbound snowbird season, planes constantly drop passengers in Palm Beach and need to return to their Chicago-area base empty. These "deadhead" repositioning flights are available at 30-50% off retail pricing. Best time to find deals flying north.

Secondary Opportunity: Early December

Right after Thanksgiving, there's a surge of southbound traffic. Planes that flew full to Palm Beach often return immediately, creating a brief window of excellent northbound empty legs.

Worst Times (Almost No Empty Legs)

March through May: This is peak northbound season. Everyone is flying Palm Beach → Chicago, so operators can fill every seat at full retail price. During April's WEF exodus, forget about finding empty legs entirely.

The "April Trap": If you see a "deal" in April, be skeptical. It's likely on an older aircraft or a turboprop, not a genuine repositioning flight.

Southbound Empty Legs (The Opposite Strategy)

If you need to fly Chicago → Palm Beach, the best empty leg opportunities are in spring (March-May) when planes drop returning snowbirds in Chicago and fly back to Florida empty.

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 in November-January, 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 winter for best results.
• Tuesday/Wednesday are golden: Most full-price charters fly Thursday-Sunday. Midweek repositioning flights are most common.

Realistic Savings

When you find a true empty leg in November-January, expect pricing like this:

• Light Jet: $11,000-$15,000 (vs $22,000-$26,000 retail)
• Midsize Jet: $15,000-$20,000 (vs $30,000-$36,000 retail)

Can I fly into O'Hare (ORD) instead of Chicago Executive (PWK)?

Yes, but most private flyers avoid it. O'Hare has high landing fees ($500+), massive congestion, and long taxi times that can add 30-45 minutes to your arrival. PWK is closer to the North Shore suburbs. Only use ORD if you're connecting to an international commercial flight.

Is there a weight limit for luggage on a Light Jet?

Yes, and this matters on this route. If you're returning from a 3-month stay in Palm Beach, you likely have heavy bags. A Phenom 300 has strict weight limits for the baggage hold. With 6 passengers and 2 large heavy bags each, you'll likely need to upgrade to a Midsize or Super Midsize jet.

Do I have to pay for de-icing departing Palm Beach?

No. You're departing warm weather, so no de-icing is needed for takeoff. You only pay de-icing fees if the plane was stuck in snow before it came to pick you up—which is rare and usually negotiable with your operator.

Are pets allowed on the return flight?

Absolutely. It's a very popular pet route. PBI has dedicated pet relief areas near all three private terminals. Just ensure your pet's vaccination records are handy for the trip.

What's the flight time difference between aircraft types?

A Light Jet (Phenom 300) takes about 3 hours 10 minutes. A Super Mid (Challenger 300) can do it in 2 hours 45 minutes—saving about 25 minutes. Both benefit from typical tailwinds on this northbound route.

Can I land at PWK late at night?

Yes. PWK is open 24/7 for domestic arrivals. You can land anytime, but be aware that ground transportation options (Uber, car services) may be slower after midnight. Pre-arrange a car service for late arrivals.

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: ~3.1 hours
• Base cost: $20,150
• Capacity: 4-6 passengers

Midsize Jet (Citation Excel, Learjet 60): $9,000/hour

• Flight time: ~3.0 hours
• Base cost: $27,000
• Capacity: 7-8 passengers

Heavy Jet (Gulfstream G450, Challenger 604): $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 needed 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 at PWK
• Pet cleaning fee: $100-$200 if bringing animals
• WiFi: Usually included, but some older aircraft charge $50-$100
• De-icing: Not applicable—you're departing warm weather

Why Prices Fluctuate

Seasonal demand: Peak return season (March-May) = 20-30% premium over summer

WEF exodus: End of Winter Equestrian Festival (April) causes temporary price spikes as everyone leaves at once.

Day of week: Sunday/Monday departures from Palm Beach are most expensive (weekend-to-weekday return pattern)

Booking window: Last-minute (< 48 hours) = 20-30% premium

Empty legs: Repositioning flights = 40-60% discount (when available in Nov-Jan)