Porter Airlines
 

Finally flew with Porter yesterday YOW-YHZ-YYT. Comfy planes and nice service, particularly the lounge and the teaspoons just the right size for feeding toddlers, but bloody hell the plans are slow compared to AC and WJ jets. And no seatback TV. Make sure you take a good book or idevice to pass the time. Or a three year old and a four month old. That'll keep you busy.;)

Re: Porter Airlines
 

plus the Steam Whistle beer is awfull :)

Re: Porter Airlines
 

They may be slower on the longer routes but Porter are actually faster on Toronto-Ottawa (gate to gate). Plus, you don't have the expense and aggro of getting to/through Pearson.

I've learned a trick with Porter. I know well in advance when I am going to Toronto and I know what day I'm coming back. I book the cheapest firm ticket, with a late afternoon return. I often end up finishing what I'm doing much earlier. Porter are very good at answering the phone and will happily tell you what the availability is on earlier flights (and there are lots of flights on that route). You change your ticket at the airport, not over the phone. Sometimes they charge you; sometimes they don't. Even if they do, it's way less than the difference between a firm and flexible ticket.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Tried it this past week in Ottawa. Wasn't impressed. Hop City Barking Squirrel on the other hand, is rather nice. Available at all good LCBO's but sadly, not the NLC.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

I can see that. On the other hand, I couldn't imagine flying from St John's to Toronto on Porter. YYT-YHZ-YOW-YTC? I'd rather fly directly in 3.5hrs and put up with the hassle of getting from Pearson to wherever.

Incidentally, the weekend was fully occupied with family stuff so I didn't contact you about meeting up. Another time maybe.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

That's OK. I was working all weekend anyway. Apart from the few minutes I took off to maim myself under my neighbour's deck. Only I can do these things. Neurofen sandwich, anyone?

You left too soon. We have a beer festival this weekend.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

You are Reg Prescott AICMFP.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Oh dear. That really is me.:o

At least Reg didn't try to rewire a stereo system while listening to it.....

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Porter's amazing. I'll have nobody knock Porter at all. I was at Billy Bishop today and when I decided to buy some mineral water I was told to not bother because they were offering it for free in the lounge, along with latte. Every flight is like being treated first class no matter what rate you pay, whatever people think of the Steam Whistle ...

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Couldn't agree more. That is what short-haul flying should be like.

The only thing missing at Billy Bishop is a bar.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

The keywords being "short haul". I agree, Porter is a good experience here. For longer journeys not so much.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Porter is a short haul carrier. The business model is based on using Billy Bishop. That's a short runway. The Q400s are limited by a range of about 1,500 miles.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Well yes and no. They offer longer flights in a succession of shorter hops. I understand the business model & the standardisation on the Q400. WJ do similar using the 737. The limitation of the business model is that it is less attractive to fly between points further apart, e.g. St John's & Toronto, on Porter because of the time involved in multiple stops and the slower cruising speeds of the turboprops compared to jets.

In planning my travel last week, I did explore the possibilities of using Porter to get to DC - a destination they serve, so I could use the opportunity of the family being away for the week to do some business travel that a) wouldn't take me away from a normal family week at home and b) put me in Ottawa at the latter part of the week to catch up with the family for the long weekend. Using Porter would have involved 4 hops and all of the day. That simply wasn't a good use of time so I elected to use AC and go further afield (Houston/Louisiana) prior to heading to Ottawa. Call it taking the scenic route to Ottawa from the Rock.;)

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Sounds reasonable. Four hops is a bit iffy, particularly if the connections are tight.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

But from what I can see they only fly into Dulles. :thumbdown:

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Porter is what flying used to be like before it got bad over the last just over a decade. Brilliant airline, but yes they are a regional and they'll never have jets as they're not allowed to land at Toronto City Centre.

But damn is it annoying when you're trying to take off yourself and Porter keep coming in to land.

Don't know why Air Canada bother flying out of City Centre other than for pure spite.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Pure spite? Commercial competition innit?

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Nah, it's spite from Air Canada over having been evicted years before. They only go to Montreal and the planes are almost empty.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

I flew Porter for the first time yesterday, and I really liked it - wine in glasses, tea in proper cups, lovely staff, plus v.nice root vegetable chips! It was to Montreal so no need for US security checks but it was really very quick and nice to be able to jump in a cab and be home within 30 minutes from landing on the tarmac. We were early for our flight back to TO. and so asked at the gate if we could get on an earlier flight and they changed it no problem, and at no extra cost. The attendant could not have been lovelier. So it is definitely worth just buying the firm fare and taking a chance. Compare that to the Air Canada desk next door where the attendant was verbally berating a passenger about his boarding pass/seat allocation for EVERYONE to hear. Really pleasant.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

I'm pleased that Porter fly to Newark several times a day. Billy Bishop airport is within walking distance of our condo...and Newark is only a 30 min drive to where we live in the US.

Re: Porter Airlines
 

And there's almost always a sale on. :)

Re: Porter Airlines
 

Anyone else get a rather strange email from Porter this morning?

Most odd, and their website is down.