(Traveled 09/15/25 MO @ 12:50pm): No porters were needed on this airline!
I recently flew one-way with Porter Airlines from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to visit a dear friend and our lil' black beast. An apparent airline partner with Alaska Airlines, the company was founded in 2006 by Robert Deluce. They focused on an upscale regional model initially within the Province of Ontario with planes that omitted middle seats, offered complimentary beer and wine regardless of international flight or not, and eventually expanded into Eastern Canada and bordering United States major cities, such as Boston, Chicago, and New York. Today, they are Canada's 3rd largest airline, flew domestically coast-to-coast, and continued to expand into the continental U.S.. Would I consider this airline important enough to continue using it if they offered a needed travel route!?
PURCHASE(S)
One-Way PorterClassic Fare ($161.54): Nowadays, I booked one-way flights because I usually had more flexibility when I needed to return. Since I booked the flight less than four weeks before its departure, I was kind of screwed for international air travel on short notice versus during a certain travel season. On an afternoon direct flight that arrived in Newark around 2:20pm the same day, it barely allowed me to enjoy the complimentary snacks... which I was fine with.
Checked Luggage (Varied; N/A this instance): A budget airline that had various tiered baggage AND carry-on fees (which airline didn't these days?), the ticket I purchased "included" one carry-on bag. I honestly had no idea how much they charged. I traveled very light, especially for a quick trip such as this, so I only had a carry-on and backpack.
FLIGHT EXPERIENCE
~Check-in: I checked-in online 24-hours prior, downloaded their QR code boarding pass into my Google Wallet, and traveled with only a carry-on and backpack, so I was ready to go! I had Global Entry & TSA PreCheck, so my time with security checkpoints and the necessary TSA pleasantries was efficient and minimal. When it was time, passengers were queued-up in order of their boarding group (I couldn't remember the sequencing). The flight literally arrived shortly after it departed.
~Seat(s): 19B Aisle - Come on, it was the same sardine can like all airplanes these days. I always favored a window seat towards the back of the plane close to the restroom and snacks. Alas, my aisle seat allowed me to stretch my legs a bit more.
~In-flight Meals (Varied; FREE this instance): They offered complimentary beer, wine, and snacks, so I ordered a beer I've never had before (Moosehead Breweries Cracked Canoe Ultra Premium Light Beer 3.5% ABV 12floz Can), and some salted almonds. I was just stoked for the free beer!
~Lavatory: I'd done my business at the terminal before we left, so I had no idea of the condition of the restroom closest to me.
~Service & Amenities: All uniformly-dressed flight attendants were adequate and spoke perfect English. None of the seats had video monitors for movie/show watching, music listening, and games playing. The seats themselves were roomy enough, and this particular plane (De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft) had no middle seats. No blankets, headphones, or pillows were provided. The drink/snack cart rolled out shortly after the plane leveled off after takeoff.
PARKING
(Varied; N/A this instance): There were parking structures with both short- and long-term options. However, this airport had a very good transit system that consisted of buses, taxi cab service, and Lyft or Uber stations. So, why would you park!? But, if you needed to park a vehicle, hourly rates up to a 2-hour maximum were about $5.00CAD per 20 minutes. Daily rates from self-parking to valet started from $35.00CAD and up.
ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE
With only a lone passenger terminal, I departed out of Gate 10 where there were limited eateries and duty-free shops around, and few flight monitors along the way. There were sufficient places to sit in the terminal with plenty of natural and electric lighting. Once on the airplane, this was what I called a "puddle-jumper" - small, turboprop, and felt every air pocket and bump in the sky.
ATTIRE
Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. I liked to be unencumbered and unfettered, so the least amount of clothing, especially while I traveled through an airport, the better!
OVERALL
My one-way non-stop flight on Porter Airlines out of Toronto (YTZ) was fine and got me to Newark (EWR) safely which truthfully was all that mattered to me on any flights. I wished there were seat video monitors that helped pass the time. However, I'd fly with them again. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $162.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice...AMEX! 4.0 STARS read more