Is Porter Airlines Good? – YVR to YOW Porter Airlines Review

With the introduction of its Embraer jet service, Porter Airlines has been making waves as it tries to stand out amongst Canada’s expanding commercial airline providers. You may have noticed ad campaigns with intriguing flight offers and wondered, “Is Porter Airlines good?” Well, in this Porter Airlines review, we’ll answer just that.

I recently pulled the trigger on a flight between Vancouver and Ottawa and will share insights on my experience along the way. We’ll cover everything from the booking experience to the service onboard, dive into the fare classes (Porter Resver vs Porter Classic), and ultimately answer if Porter Reserve is worth an upgrade.

So buckle up; this is my Porter Airlines review between Vancouver and Ottawa.

What is Porter Airlines?

Before diving into this Porter Airlines review, let’s take a deeper look at this up-and-coming airline.

Founded in 2006, Porter Airlines is a Canadian regional carrier with its headquarters situated at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). The brainchild of Robert J. Deluce, the airline started with the vision of providing convenient and efficient air travel options, particularly for downtown Toronto residents. This vision led to the establishment of a regional airline that not only prioritized accessibility but also aimed to offer a distinctive and comfortable flying experience.

Porter Airlines Fleet and Aircraft

Porter Airlines stands out not just for its commitment to customer service but also for its distinctive fleet. The airline primarily operates a fleet of Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop aircraft. Known for their fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness, these aircraft allow Porter to connect passengers to various destinations, focusing on short to medium-haul flights.

In 2023, Porter Airlines added Embraer E195-E2 to its fleet. This narrow-body jet offers improved fuel efficiency, advanced aerodynamics, and increased passenger capacity. With its spacious cabin, cutting-edge avionics, and reduced environmental impact, the E195-E2 has unlocked destinations across Canada and the United States.

Porter Airlines Destinations and Network

While initially, Porter Airlines focused on serving the Toronto market, it has steadily expanded its reach. The airline connects passengers to numerous destinations across Canada and the United States. Porter’s strategic positioning at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, located conveniently close to downtown Toronto, facilitates quick and hassle-free travel for its passengers.

Porter Airlines Flight Map

Porter Airlines operates flights to a comprehensive list of major cities in Canada, covering coast-to-coast connectivity. Additionally, their network extends to select destinations in the USA, showcasing the airline’s commitment to expanding its reach. Passengers can now enjoy Porter’s distinctive travel experience on routes that include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Washington, New York, Boston, and various cities in Florida. As Porter Airlines continues to grow and diversify its network, travelers can anticipate even more options for seamless and comfortable journeys.

Beyond that, Porter Airlines has a growing list of partners unlocking global destinations. This includes Qutar Airlines, Icelandair, Alaska, and Jet Blue to name a few.

Porter Airlines Fare Types

Porter Airlines offers two classes of service, Porter Classic and Porter Reserve. This is much easier to navigate than competitor WestJet with their new UltraBasic fare.

What is Porter Classic?

Porter Airlines Classic is the airline’s economy class, providing an affordable and comfortable travel option. While ensuring essential in-flight amenities, such as comfortable seating, it’s important to note that extras come at an additional cost.

Under Porter Classic, there are four fare types;

• Basic: All extras come at a cost (seats, carry-on baggage, and check the luggage), and no changes are allowed.
• Standard: includes a carry-on bag, and changes are allowed for a fee.
• Flexible: includes seat selection in rows 8+ (jet service), one carry-on, and one checked bag. Advanced change fees are waived, and same-day changes are lower than Porter’s Standard fare.
• Freedom: Porter Classic Freedom fare is all-inclusive for standard seat selection, baggage, change fees, and cancellation fees.

What is Porter Reserve?

Porter Reserve is the airline’s most expensive class and is in line with the premium economy service on Air Canada (more like Rouge business class actually)or WestJet. On top of a roomier seat at the front of the plane, it’s also Porter’s all-inclusive offering baggage, seat selection, meals, and premium drinks included.

Porter Reserve comes in two fare types: Navigate and Ultimate, with the only difference being that Ultimate is fully refundable.

Porter Reserve vs Porter Classic

The main difference between Porter Classic and Porter Reserve are the seats and the inclusion of meals and premium drinks.

Porter Reserve also includes all the fees (seat selection, baggage, changes, etc…) and offers a dedicated check-in line at the airport.

It’s important to note that Porter Airlines offers all passengers free beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and premium snacks. This certainly plays a role when considering whether Porter Airlines Reserve is worth it.

Booking a Porter Airliners Flight

Initially, I debated Porter Reserve vs Porter Classic and set out to book a Porter Reserve ticket for my flight. After seeing the price difference, I ultimately opted for a Classic fare.

At the time of booking, a Porter Reserve ticket between Vancouver and Ottawa was going to cost me $630 compared to a classic fair at just $230. After paying for my carry-on and getting a seat, my ticket came to just under $300.

Since I was on an early flight, the allure of premium drinks seemed less enticing, and the prospect of adding a hot meal for just under $20 presented a cost-effective alternative. It’s worth noting, particularly for those pondering the value of Porter Airlines Reserve, that these hot meal options are identical to those offered as part of the Porter Reserve service. This is another consideration that becomes pivotal when evaluating if Porter Airlines Reserve is worth it.

My Porter Airlines Review Experience

With the tickets sorted, let’s delve into my flight experience and unpack my thoughts on whether Porter Airlines lives up to the question on everyone’s mind: is Porter Airlines good?

Porter Airlines Ground Experience

My Porter Airlines review kicked off with an early morning arrival at YVR. Since I was traveling carry-on only, I bypassed the Porter Airlines check-in counter and went straight to my gate. I did note that the counter as a whole was not busy, so even if I were checking a bag, there would be little to no wait.

At security, I noticed a flight attendant in disagreement with security, seemingly trying to jump the line for priority access. Though I didn’t hear the full conversation, it appeared she wanted to bypass regular security. I believe the flight crew can use the Nexus lines; however, it is unclear if they can push to the front of the line – can anyone comment on this? Either way, she ended up being one of our Porter Airlines flight attendants, and the incident left me with a less-than-ideal first impression.

Porter Airlines does not offer lounge access for any of its passengers, so I leveraged my Priority Pass for a quick breakfast at the Plaza Premium lounge before making my way to the gate.

My flight was not very full so boarding was quick and efficient.

Porter Airlines Seats

Another huge plus with flying Porter Airlines is the omission of a middle seat on their aircraft. This makes the service more comfortable than Air Canada or WestJet flights with 3–3 configurations.

That being said, the Classic seats do come with a bit of a space constraint, offering only 30 inches of legroom and a mere two inches of recline. Fortunately, my flight was relatively quiet, and I had the luxury of an unoccupied seat beside me, allowing for a bit of extra stretch.

In contrast, the Porter Reserve seats offer a noticeable upgrade in space, providing a generous 36 inches of legroom and an additional four inches in recline. For those on the Embraer jet service, rows 5-7 feature Porter Classic Stretch seats, striking a comfortable middle ground with 34 inches of legroom and four inches of recline space.

All seats onboard are equipped with a small bi-fold tray, adjustable headrest, and in-seat power. It’s worth noting, however, that there’s no USB power port, so don’t forget to bring along an adapter for your devices.

You will find a menu in the seat pocket with all available meals and drinks at applicable costs. You will also find a copy of the cleverly titled Re: Porter, Porter Airlines in Flight magazine.

Porter Airlines Inflight Service

What truly distinguishes Porter Airlines from its competitors is its exceptional service, highlighted by the complimentary beer, wine, and snacks to all passengers. Adding to the allure, Wi-Fi is also complimentary for everyone on board.

Porter Airlines Drinks and Snacks

Shortly after takeoff, staff came around, offering a selection of drinks and snacks. The highlight for me is that they serve Balzac coffee, a Toronto favorite of mine. I had a cup of dark roast along with banana bread and enjoyed it.

Midway through the flight, feeling quite thirsty, I rang the call button and requested water and a beer. The response I received was that the second drink service was about to commence shortly. However, I found myself waiting for at least 10 minutes. While I understand the efficiency of scheduled services, it was disheartening not to receive a glass of water promptly. Whether this would be an issue in Porter Reserve is uncertain, so if you’re contemplating whether Porter Reserve is worth it, this is something to factor into your decision.

Once the service commenced, I opted for a Beau’s lager paired with a pack of cheddar fava beans. Both choices proved excellent, and I commend the airline for showcasing Ontario craft beer and snacks.

Porter Airlines Meals

Again, meals are complimentary for Porter Reserve passengers; nevertheless, all passengers have the option to purchase items from the identical menu. I was going to sample some items for this Porter Airlines review; however, I just wasn’t hungry. Despite not having much of an appetite after my lounge visit and snacks, a glance through the menu revealed enticing options such as a smoked salmon crossing sandwich, breakfast croissant, a Raspberry chia bowl, and a mango chicken bowl.

Interesting to note, there are no hot meal options on Porter Airlines. If you are looking for something warm, the best you can do is a cup of noodles. This is likely due to the aircraft’s size. That said, I was recently surprised with a decent hot meal service on board Air Canada CRJ-900, a much smaller aircraft, so the commission of hot meals is likely to be cost-related.

Porter Airlines Inflight Entertainment

Porter Airlines doesn’t provide in-seat entertainment systems across any aircraft or classes. However, they make up for it with complimentary Wi-Fi, and I must say, it’s quite impressive.

The connection is strong enough to watch shows from their streaming service or the likes of Netflix and YouTube. While the catalog selection may be somewhat restricted, it does incorporate some outstanding Canadian content—a thoughtful addition that enhances the overall experience.

Porter Airlines Free Wi-Fi

To access Wi-Fi, guests can opt to watch an ad every 30 minutes or sign up for the Porter VIP service and view a single ad. As a VIP member, I watched a brief Dukoral commercial in French and was on my way.

Conducting a Speedtest mid-flight yielded impressive results, surpassing or equaling my experiences in business class with airlines like Turkish Airlines or Etihad.

Throughout the flight, I made full use of the Wi-Fi, seamlessly enjoying my Spotify year-end wrapped playlist on my phone while efficiently tackling work tasks on my laptop.

Wrapping Up This Porter Airlines Review

My journey with Porter Airlines from Vancouver to Ottawa was fantastic. The absence of a middle seat (and a neighboring passenger) contributed to a remarkably comfortable flight. The inclusion of free Wi-Fi enhanced productivity, and the complimentary snacks and drinks were a delightful addition to the overall experience.

So, Is Porter Airlines Good?

Porter Airlines stands out as an excellent choice for travelers by offering complimentary and reliable Wi-Fi, along with free drinks and snacks that go beyond the typical peanuts, all at a competitive price point.

As its network continues to expand, now including destinations like Las Vegas and San Francisco, Porter Airlines is clearly on an upward trajectory. My review, noting the availability of empty seats, encourages more travelers to consider Porter Airlines. Broader patronage can not only provide Canadians with more travel options but also contribute to maintaining competitive prices for the benefit of all passengers.

Is Porter Airlines Reserve Worth it?

Given that I found myself in a Porter Classic seat with a Flexible fare, it’s clear where I stand on whether Porter Airlines Reserve is worth it or not. Opting for a similar experience à la carte comes at a fraction of the cost, making the cost difference and benefits associated with this particular product seem negligible.

If Porter Airlines included perks like lounge access, hot meals, or other distinguishing features, I might reconsider opting for their Reserve service. Even the addition of simple amenities like blankets and pillows could enhance the offering.

As of now, the existing benefits don’t justify the price difference, especially considering you can acquire comparable seats and add meals for under $20. Until any substantial enhancements are made, I suggest booking a flexible fare and purchasing a “Stretch” seat along with a meal separately, securing a similar level of service at a significantly lower cost.

• READ MORE: Is Westjet Premium Economy Worth It?
• READ MORE: British Airways Premium Economy Review
• READ MORE: Norwegian Airlines Premium Economy Review

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