*Includes fuel, landing fees & FET. One-way pricing.
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The Miami to Boston corridor is a primary snowbird return route connecting South Florida residents and seasonal visitors with New England. Peak northbound season runs April through May as warm weather returns to Boston. Excellent empty leg opportunities November through January as aircraft reposition south after dropping passengers in Florida.
Departing from Opa-Locka Executive (OPF) means skipping Miami International's commercial chaos entirely. Located just 11 miles north of downtown Miami, OPF is the undisputed king of private aviation in South Florida—you can drive your car directly to your aircraft. Land at Boston Logan (BOS), only 3 miles from downtown, or opt for Hanscom Field (BED) if heading to the suburbs.
Most travelers choose a Light Jet like the Phenom 300 or Citation CJ3—the most economical nonstop option with range to spare for this 1,260-mile flight. For families returning north with heavy luggage, a Midsize Jet like the Citation Excel offers stand-up cabin height and massive baggage capacity for golf clubs and wardrobe boxes. Business travelers often choose Super Midsize jets like the Challenger 300 for speed (~3 hours flat) and guaranteed Wi-Fi.
Demand spikes from April through May as snowbirds return north to New England. Boston Marathon weekend and university graduation season (Harvard, MIT, BU) create additional surge periods. Book early during these weeks when availability tightens and prices rise 20-30%. The best pricing is found June through September when Florida's summer heat keeps travelers away.
Click any section below for insider tips on flying this route
Located 11 miles north of downtown Miami, OPF is the undisputed king of private aviation in South Florida, handling more private traffic than MIA. No commercial flights means zero congestion, and you can drive your car right up to the plane.
Top FBOs at OPF:
Located just 3 miles from downtown Boston, offering the fastest access to the financial district, Seaport, and Back Bay. Signature operates the sole private terminal on the South Cargo side, well-separated from commercial terminals.
FBO at BOS:
Alternative: Hanscom Field (BED)
Many private flyers prefer Hanscom Field (BED) in Bedford, 20 miles northwest of Boston. It avoids Logan's massive congestion, landing fees, and potential ground delays. If you live in the suburbs (Weston, Wellesley, Lexington), BED is superior.
Peak High Season: April and May. As the weather warms in New England, wealthy residents mass-migrate back North. During these months, finding a "deal" is difficult—one-way pricing is firm because demand is high.
Secondary Peak: Boston Marathon (mid-April) and University Graduations (May). Boston's massive university population—Harvard, MIT, BU, BC—drives significant private traffic in May for commencement ceremonies.
Lowest Prices: June through September. Summer heat keeps travelers away from Florida. You'll find the best northbound pricing during these off-peak months.
Landing in Boston between December and March carries the risk of snow and ice. While you won't pay for de-icing when departing sunny Miami, your aircraft may need de-icing if it sits on the ramp at Logan before a return flight.
Good news for this direction: northbound flights often benefit from the jet stream, making the trip slightly faster than the southbound leg. A flight that takes 3 hours 45 minutes going south might only take 3 hours 15 minutes heading north.
At 1,260 miles, this route is well within range of most jet categories. Flight time is typically 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes depending on jet stream conditions.
Phenom 300 or Citation CJ3+: The efficiency champion. A modern Light Jet handles the 1,260-mile trip nonstop with ease, especially with favorable northbound winds.
Citation Excel/XLS+ or Learjet 60: For a 3+ hour flight, the stand-up cabin (5'8" height) is a major upgrade. The Excel also offers better baggage capacity for golf clubs and wardrobe boxes returning North.
Challenger 300/350: Shaves 20-30 minutes off the flight time and offers a full galley. Speed and luxury for those who want the best.
Miami to Boston is a highly directional snowbird route. Empty legs occur when planes fly EMPTY—meaning you find deals when flying against the migration flow.
Peak Empty Leg Season: November, December, and January
Thousands of planes fly south full to drop off snowbirds in Miami. They often fly back to their Boston/Northeast base empty immediately after drop-off. You can snag these repositioning flights for $12,000-$15,000 (vs $24,000+ retail).
Why This Works: Operators based in the Northeast need their planes back home. After dropping a client in Miami, they'd rather sell you the empty return at a discount than fly it completely empty.
April and May: Since everyone is flying North, empty legs are extremely rare in this direction. This is when you're flying WITH the crowd, so expect full retail pricing.
When you find a true empty leg in November-January:
Yes, 100%. OPF is dedicated to private jets, meaning no commercial traffic delays, shorter taxi times, and you can drive your car right up to the plane. It is actually closer to Miami Beach and Bal Harbour than MIA is.
If you are heading to Downtown, Seaport, or Back Bay, BOS is unbeatable (10-15 min drive). If you are heading to the suburbs or want to save money on landing fees, BED is the smart choice.
Yes. The 1,260-mile distance is well within the range of modern light jets (Phenom 300, CJ3). Older light jets (Beechjet 400) might need a fuel stop if winds are exceptionally strong, but it's rare on the northbound leg due to favorable jet stream.
If you are moving back North for the summer, you likely have heavy bags. A Light Jet holds ~6 standard suitcases. If you have wardrobe boxes or golf clubs, you must upgrade to a Midsize Jet.
Yes. This is a primary pet-transport route. Both OPF and BOS/BED are extremely pet-friendly. Just ensure your pet is on a leash at the FBO.
No. You will never pay for de-icing on departure from Miami. You would only face de-icing charges if your plane encounters snow/ice after landing in Boston (which is possible in winter/early spring).
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 return season (Apr-May) = 10-20% premium
Event pricing: Boston Marathon and graduation weekends cause temporary 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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