Porter Airlines
#1
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.
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Paradise NL
Posts: 1,511
Re: Porter Airlines
plus the Steam Whistle beer is awfull
#3
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
Re: 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.
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.
#5
Re: Porter Airlines
Incidentally, the weekend was fully occupied with family stuff so I didn't contact you about meeting up. Another time maybe.
#6
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
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.
Incidentally, the weekend was fully occupied with family stuff so I didn't contact you about meeting up. Another time maybe.
You left too soon. We have a beer festival this weekend.
#8
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
Re: Porter Airlines
At least Reg didn't try to rewire a stereo system while listening to it.....
#9
Re: 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.
#10
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
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 ...
The only thing missing at Billy Bishop is a bar.
#12
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
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.
#13
Re: Porter Airlines
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.
Last edited by Atlantic Xpat; May 25th 2012 at 2:12 pm.
#14
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
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.
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.
#15
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.
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.