Porter Airlines has entered into the jet age as of February 1, 2023. Over 100 Embraer E195-E2s are expected to enter the fleet. Along with their new aircraft many new routes have been added out of Toronto Pierson (YYZ) . These routes include Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver. As Porter Airlines receives more aircraft, additional routes may emerge. Porter has revamped their onboard experience including a new class of service called Porter Reserve. This includes extra legroom seats, priority boarding and enhanced meals. Even the Porter economy experience has been elevated with the arrival of the new jet aircraft. We booked an evening flight between Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Montreal Trudeau (YUL) on board the brand new Embraer E195-E2 jet.
In this article
✈Teething Issues
✈First Impression Of The Aircraft
✈Economy Seat
✈Onboard Experience
✈Final Approach
Teething Issues
Our flight was on the second day of Porter’s jet operation. We had a bit of an issue connecting in Toronto. Our first flight was from Seattle to Toronto aboard Air Canada. Toronto airport staff in the customs and connections area were unsure on where to properly send us. One employee thought that we needed to go to downtown to Billy Bishop Airport and had no idea Porter started flying out of Pearson. After the supervisor of the transfer area made a few phone calls we were then directed to the arrivals hall to transfer to terminal 3 since we were in terminal 1. Past baggage claim there was the automated train that connected us to the terminal 3 ticketing hall. While this issue was not related to Porter Airlines many of Toronto’s airport staff did not seem knowledgeable in Porter Airlines Toronto operations especially when it comes to connecting passengers. However, this is a connection that you would not normally be able to make while booking a ticket, as the airlines do not interline, so you do have to buy two separate tickets and create your own connection. Porter Airlines gate staff appeared to have some confusions of their own. Many staff including baggage handlers appeared to be undergoing some training. During the boarding process we had a larger sized carry on bag that needed to be gate checked. The agent working did not seem to know where the bag sizer was. The supervisor overseeing the agents did a courtesy gate check. The agent scanning boarding passes was unable to scan ours and had to manually input our information, Upon reaching the jetway the ramp worker was unsure what to do regarding where to put our bags. After a phone call with the supervisor he was able to place the bags to the cargo hold.
First Impression Of The Aircraft
Stepping onboard , the aircraft had a clean and crisp appearance. The first 4 rows in the cabin are Porter Reserve seats. Porter Reserve offers the most legroom and are denoted in a sharp blue and grey color. Another 3 rows are Porter stretch seats in a grey color scheme. The same colors are denoted for the economy seats which offer 30 inches of pitch. Given our light load of around 30 passengers there was no issue finding overhead bin space. Our small duffel bag fit in the bin without difficulty.
Economy Seat
Our economy seat known as Porter Classic has 30 inches of legroom, 18.3 Inches seat width (46.5 cm) and up to 2 inches of recline (5.08cm). Just like Porter’s Q-400Dash 8s, Porter’s E195-E2s have no dreaded middle seats. Sitting down we felt that the economy seats were on the tighter side. I am roughly 5’8″ and found the legroom barley adequate. Our flight to Montréal was only 45 minutes but on a longer flight, passengers on the taller side may want to opt for an exit row, Porter Stretch or Porter Reserve. Power outlets are located in-between each seat.
Onboard Experience
Porter has reimagined their onboard experience. During our short flight the crew successfully managed a full snack and beverage service. Aboard our flight we had the option of either farro beans, almonds or chocolate chip shortbread cookies. We were offered the option to select more than one so we opted for each snack option. Porter Airlines gives most drinks in a real glass. Porter Airlines offers a wide array of complimentary beverages, including both red and white wine, beer, soft drinks, water, juices, coffee, and tea. On longer flights such as Toronto to Vancouver snack boxes are available free of charge. All of Porters jet aircraft are equipped with WIFI that is free of charge if you have a VIPorter account or sign up for free. Complimentary inflight entertainment is available through streaming Viasat WIFI. On our flight the WIFI system was down for the entire duration of the flight. Porter does have a great inflight magazine to read to pass the time. In the magazine are various articles about the airline and the many destinations they serve. The inflight menu is located here too.
Final Approach
Our quick flight soon came to an end as we descended into a blistering cold Montreal. Overall Porter Airlines has many great traits going for them with their brand new Embraer product. The seat was comfortable with the only shortfall being the tight legroom. Just like their Q-400 Turboprops the snack and beverage options were outstanding. In comparison our last Alaska Airlines and Air Canada flight had only one snack selection and those flights were in excess of 6 hours. Another great perk is the free onboard WIFI. Like our previous Porter flight we found the crewmembers and porter staff to be both professional and personable. While many of the crewmembers including the ground staff were still in training each one we encountered was very friendly and conversed with many of the passengers. While Porter Airlines is still learning to operate out of Toronto Pearson along with their new airplane, the tight seats in Porter Airlines economy product were ultimately the only downfall. Porter Airlines holds a strong value in a very saturated competitive Canadian market.