How it works
A private plane costs the same whether one person is on it or eight. So we find the other seven.
- 1
You say where and what you'd pay
Two airports, a day or a few days, how many seats, and the most you'd pay for one seat. No card, no account.
- 2
You join other people going the same way
Anyone travelling the same route on the same days lands in the same group. Every person who joins splits the plane further, so the price drops for everybody.
- 3
A charter company takes it
They see the trip, how many people are on it, and what it's worth. They name one price for the whole plane — or say “I'll fly it once it hits six people”, and it goes by itself when it does.
- 4
Everyone pays the same
We divide the plane's price by the people on it. That's your seat price. It's never more than the number you gave us, and usually less.
A real example
Six people want to fly Scottsdale to Aspen on the same Friday. Here's the most each one said they'd pay:
| Traveler | Would pay up to | Actually pays |
|---|---|---|
| Traveler 1 | $2,400 | $1,500 |
| Traveler 2 | $2,200 | $1,500 |
| Traveler 3 | $1,900 | $1,500 |
| Traveler 4 | $1,800 | $1,500 |
| Traveler 5 | $1,700 | $1,500 |
| Traveler 6 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
A charter company offers the plane for $9,000. Six people, $9,000 — that's $1,500 each. Everyone said they'd pay at least that, so everyone flies, and the person who would have paid $2,400 pays $1,500 too.
If the plane cost $12,000 instead, this group couldn't cover it and nobody would be charged a cent. The flight just wouldn't happen.
More people, smaller share
The plane costs the same whoever is on it. So every person who joins makes your share smaller — including after you've paid.
| People on the $9,000 plane | Each pays | Back to you after the flight |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | $3,000 | — |
| 4 | $2,250 | $750 |
| 6 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
Three people are enough to get this one flying. If it fills up before departure, those three end up paying half — refunded in one go once the flight has gone. The charter company is paid the same $9,000 either way.
So the fastest way to pay less for a seat you already bought is to bring someone.
Common questions
- When do I pay?
- Not when you start a trip. Only when there's a real plane and a real price. And if more people join later, part of it comes back.
- What if nobody joins?
- The trip quietly expires and you're never charged. You can raise your price any time to make it more likely — you just can't lower it, because a charter company may already be pricing against it.
- Can my price go up after I book?
- No, never. Once a plane takes the flight your price is locked, and from there it can only fall. Everything it falls by goes back on your card once you've flown.
- Can I get a refund?
- Before you're on a booked flight, there's nothing to refund. After — the plane and crew are committed, so it's yours. If we cancel, you get everything back.
- What does Encore charge?
- 8% of your seat price, minimum $49 a seat, shown as its own line before you pay. Charter companies pay us nothing.
- Who actually flies the plane?
- An FAA-certificated charter company. We check their certificate, their DOT registration and their insurance before they can see a single trip. We don't own or fly aircraft.
- Can I book the whole plane?
- Yes — tick the box and nobody else joins. You cover the whole charter, so your price has to carry it on its own.