Empty Leg Flights for Monterey Car Week
37 flights available from $4945 — Monterey, CA
Available flights for Monterey Car Week
Monterey Car Week
Monterey Car Week runs for eight days in mid-August, centered on the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on the final Sunday. The week includes the Monterey Jet Center Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the Quail Motorsports Gathering on Friday, and a string of manufacturer preview events, auction previews, and private dinners. RM Sotheby's, Gooding & Company, and Bonhams each run collector car auctions during the week with combined sales routinely exceeding $400 million.
The private aviation demographic for Monterey Car Week is distinct from festival and sports event crowds. The attendees are high-net-worth collectors, automotive executives, and classic car dealers. European marques send C-suite representatives from Germany, Italy, and the UK, which generates international arrivals through San Jose or San Francisco. Domestic attendees arrive primarily from Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, and Chicago.
Aircraft volume peaks Thursday through Sunday. Thursday brings the Quail and auction previews; Friday is the Quail itself and RM Sotheby's preview; Saturday is the Concours on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach; Sunday wraps with private events. Monday departures thin quickly as the week's events conclude.
Where to land for Monterey Car Week
Monterey Regional Airport (KMRY) is the primary airport for Pebble Beach and the Concours, 6 miles from the Lodge at Pebble Beach. It handles midsize jets and lighter aircraft. Pacific Rim Aviation and Del Monte Aviation operate FBOs at Monterey. During Car Week, KMRY ramp coordinates advance reservations for peak weekend parking; operators arriving without pre-arrangements on Thursday or Friday may find space limited. Ground time to Pebble Beach is 15-20 minutes.
Salinas Municipal Airport (KSNS) is 20 miles southeast of Monterey and handles overflow traffic when KMRY is saturated during Car Week. It has a longer runway than Monterey and accommodates large-cabin jets that are tight at KMRY's facilities. Ground time to Pebble Beach from Salinas is 30-40 minutes. The tradeoff between aircraft size capability and drive time is the primary consideration when choosing between the two airports.
San Jose International (KSJC) is 75 miles north and is the practical option for ultra-long-range jets and wide-body aircraft carrying European manufacturer delegations. Signature and Atlantic Aviation both operate at SJC. The longer drive (75-90 minutes) is offset by the airport's ability to handle any aircraft and its customs clearance infrastructure for international arrivals.
When to book empty legs for Monterey Car Week
Wednesday arrivals work best for guests attending the full Car Week program. The Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance runs Wednesday morning and is a popular first event; arriving Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning positions guests before the auction preview circuit begins Thursday. KMRY ramp is more accessible Wednesday than Thursday-Saturday.
The Concours Sunday is the culminating event but also the busiest departure day. Aircraft depart throughout Sunday afternoon and evening as the day's events wrap. Operators who pre-coordinate Sunday departure logistics with FBO staff handle the wave faster. Monday morning departures face no congestion and often see below-market positioning legs as operators return aircraft to Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
European delegations typically arrive Thursday or Friday on long-range aircraft through SJC or SFO, attend the manufacturer events through Sunday, and depart Sunday night or Monday. Those repositioning flights on Monday from Northern California to transatlantic destinations sometimes appear as partially-available legs.
What it costs to fly private to Monterey Car Week
Current empty legs arriving near Monterey, CA range from $4,000 to $4,200, with an average around $4,100. By aircraft size: light jets at $4,000, midsize jets at $4,200.
Among the routes with current inventory: from Las Vegas, NV at $4,000; from Sacramento, CA at $4,200. These prices change as operators update their schedules, so the specific routes and rates shift from week to week.
Of the 35 active legs in our system heading toward this area, 2 have published prices. The rest require contacting the operator for a quote. Empty legs without a listed price are often negotiable, especially closer to the departure date.
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