Thanks for dropping by! I forgot to include the new direct flights from Ottawa (in 2024) in the video... so here they are! Calgary (Feb 14 ~) Winnipeg (May 16 ~) St. John's (June 6 ~) Las Vegas (Nov 1~) Fort Myers (Nov 28~)
I flew Porter myself last spring, but it was from my hometown of Thunder Bay (YQT) to Ottawa (YOW). I used Porter to get back home, but it was from Toronto-City (YTZ). It ended up like this because I had taken a Via Rail train from Ottawa to Toronto on the same trip. In any case, ever since Porter has been flying to and from Thunder Bay, they've done pretty well.
Ya, I flew them many times to Thunder Bay. They offer the best schedule currently. That direct flight to Ottawa is also very beneficial. I think soon they'll offer flights to YYZ which will also be a big boost!
I grew up in Thunder Bay and remember what it used to be like flying to Toronto.In the late 60s Air Canada flew the Vickers Viscount that I remember being very comfortable and a plane that would be just as fast and modern as the Dash 8 used today .After the Viscounts were taken out of service it was on to the jet age for Thunder Bay . Air Canada flew the DC 9 and CP Air flew the 737 . At one point AC flew the 727 as well . Back then the flights were much more premium with polite flight attendants and a hot meal and free flowing beer . You could even smoke back in the day if you can believe it . Flying was really special back then good food great experience and I can’t remember it being extremely expensive it was within everyone’s reach . Sadly today looking at Thunder Bay the only planes flying there are prop dash 8 with Porter or Air Canada . I hate flying on the dash 8 they are very uncomfortable and noisy not much room inside and never a smooth landing because with the high wing you don’t get that cushion of ground effect that you get on low wing planes . I would gladly fly on those Vicker Viscounts any day over the dash 8 . Oh well I guess that is the state of Canada these days going in reverse.
Wow! I'm sure you've seen much change since the 60's in terms of travel and Thunder Bay. The times definitely have changed haven't they. Sometimes Air Canada will use jet aircraft. They flip flop from Rouge, AC Express, and AC mainline fleet. In January I was on a Rouge 321 I believe. You're right about the dash 8, however, from those planes are just a work horse in Canada. They are cheap to operate (relatively speaking), and can facilitate smaller communities and airports. I think it was last year or two years ago they repaved one runway at YQT, so only dash 8's can land on that smaller north/south runway. Thanks for the comment!
@@theglobalpeasant There's been a lot more than whispers. There was an announcement from several levels of government in May of 2024. On Sept 27, 2024 there was an update presentation from both the US and Canadian governments including Anita Anand (federal transport minister), David Cohen (U.S. ambassador to Canada), RJ Steenstra (president and CEO of PortsToronto), Neil Pakey (president and CEO of Nieuport Aviation), Sandra Pupatello (chair of PortsToronto), and Robert Silvers (under secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) with further updates and confirming the 2025 date.
I flew Porter (and this particular aircraft) from Boston to Toronto. It was a night time flight and my seat was directly across from the prop engine. It was so loud I couldn't hear the music in my headphones. I will say the flight crew was very friendly and Customs at the Island Airport was relatively painless.
Curr on train 45. Equipment was substituted and I swear this car has one square wheel! Just announced that the wifi is fixed but there’s still no signal
Here's the problem. Four flight fares: Basic, Standard, Flexible, Freedom. No electronic boarding pass for the Basic fare and mandatory face to face counter agent check in resulting in massive lines. Total deal breaker. Absolutely idiotic business decision by Porter. No other airline is stupid enough to load their check-in area with self-check terminals that cannot be used. What kind of moron makes the decision to force their check in agents to deal with customers unnecessarily?
I hear your frustration. I've said that basic fare is purely a ploy for airlines to advertise cheap (but not practical) tickets..but not much good besides that.
Thanks for dropping by!
I forgot to include the new direct flights from Ottawa (in 2024) in the video... so here they are!
Calgary (Feb 14 ~)
Winnipeg (May 16 ~)
St. John's (June 6 ~)
Las Vegas (Nov 1~)
Fort Myers (Nov 28~)
Unsure why the YT algorithm suggested the video. However I appreciated it and subscribed to the channel. Looking forward to future ones 😀
Welcome aboard! Glad you found the channel! Enjoy!
Nice to see local video 👍👋
I always look forward to visiting the Ottawa area!
I flew Porter myself last spring, but it was from my hometown of Thunder Bay (YQT) to Ottawa (YOW). I used Porter to get back home, but it was from Toronto-City (YTZ). It ended up like this because I had taken a Via Rail train from Ottawa to Toronto on the same trip.
In any case, ever since Porter has been flying to and from Thunder Bay, they've done pretty well.
Ya, I flew them many times to Thunder Bay. They offer the best schedule currently. That direct flight to Ottawa is also very beneficial. I think soon they'll offer flights to YYZ which will also be a big boost!
@theglobalpeasant I think they are flying to YYZ from YQT now.🙂
It was supposed to start a week ago with the E2, but they quietly changed the first flight to December 10th.
@@charlesprouse6915 Ya I couldn't find that direct flight from YYZ when I looked the other week for a flight in late December.
I grew up in Thunder Bay and remember what it used to be like flying to Toronto.In the late 60s Air Canada flew the Vickers Viscount that I remember being very comfortable and a plane that would be just as fast and modern as the Dash 8 used today .After the Viscounts were taken out of service it was on to the jet age for Thunder Bay .
Air Canada flew the DC 9 and CP Air flew the 737 . At one point AC flew the 727 as well .
Back then the flights were much more premium with polite flight attendants and a hot meal and free flowing beer . You could even smoke back in the day if you can believe it .
Flying was really special back then good food great experience and I can’t remember it being extremely expensive it was within everyone’s reach .
Sadly today looking at Thunder Bay the only planes flying there are prop dash 8 with Porter or Air Canada .
I hate flying on the dash 8 they are very uncomfortable and noisy not much room inside and never a smooth landing because with the high wing you don’t get that cushion of ground effect that you get on low wing planes .
I would gladly fly on those Vicker Viscounts any day over the dash 8 .
Oh well I guess that is the state of Canada these days going in reverse.
Wow! I'm sure you've seen much change since the 60's in terms of travel and Thunder Bay. The times definitely have changed haven't they.
Sometimes Air Canada will use jet aircraft. They flip flop from Rouge, AC Express, and AC mainline fleet. In January I was on a Rouge 321 I believe.
You're right about the dash 8, however, from those planes are just a work horse in Canada. They are cheap to operate (relatively speaking), and can facilitate smaller communities and airports.
I think it was last year or two years ago they repaved one runway at YQT, so only dash 8's can land on that smaller north/south runway.
Thanks for the comment!
US pre clearance is coming to Billy Bishop in 2025.
Love flying Porter!
I heard whispers of this. Has it actually been confirmed or is it some plan that may be delayed by x number of years?
@@theglobalpeasant There's been a lot more than whispers. There was an announcement from several levels of government in May of 2024. On Sept 27, 2024 there was an update presentation from both the US and Canadian governments including Anita Anand (federal transport minister), David Cohen (U.S. ambassador to Canada), RJ Steenstra (president and CEO of PortsToronto), Neil Pakey (president and CEO of Nieuport Aviation), Sandra Pupatello (chair of PortsToronto), and Robert Silvers (under secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) with further updates and confirming the 2025 date.
When Porter first started they had a lounge for all their passengers with free dinks and snacks. They have since changed it though.
I remember this, but completely escaped my mind until you mentioned this! It was a great lounge indeed!
Dinks ?😊
I flew Porter (and this particular aircraft) from Boston to Toronto. It was a night time flight and my seat was directly across from the prop engine. It was so loud I couldn't hear the music in my headphones. I will say the flight crew was very friendly and Customs at the Island Airport was relatively painless.
Ya, I've done that more than a few times, so I always avoid those rows when possible!
The approach into YQT is probably the best in the country
It's definitely up there on the list!
Interesting how you got a Toronto beer in Ottawa and an Ottawa beer in Toronto lol!
Curr on train 45. Equipment was substituted and I swear this car has one square wheel! Just announced that the wifi is fixed but there’s still no signal
Avoid the Q400 at all cost; Noisy, Cramp, bumpy. It's one of the worst plane to fly.
Unfortunately, on some routes it's the only option. Crampness aside, I think it flies pretty smooth.
Here's the problem. Four flight fares: Basic, Standard, Flexible, Freedom. No electronic boarding pass for the Basic fare and mandatory face to face counter agent check in resulting in massive lines. Total deal breaker. Absolutely idiotic business decision by Porter. No other airline is stupid enough to load their check-in area with self-check terminals that cannot be used. What kind of moron makes the decision to force their check in agents to deal with customers unnecessarily?
I hear your frustration. I've said that basic fare is purely a ploy for airlines to advertise cheap (but not practical) tickets..but not much good besides that.