TO to MTL: The Porter Experience
I make a habit out of making a trip out to Montreal just about every year as time permits. Up until this year I've always made my way out there using VIA Rail. But now with new kids Porter Airlines on the scene, offering a flight to Montreal for a scant few more dollars than taking the train (not to mention saving nearly four hours of transit time - Porter takes about an hour), it's now a tempting alternative.
Granted, it's not the cheapest option for traveling, and its long-term viability has been called into question on a number of occasions, but I figured it worth it just for the experience alone. As it turns out, not only was it a totally painless way to travel, but pleasant even. Who knew air travel could be enjoyable?
Porter offers about six flights to and from Montreal a day. Since this would be a four day weekend for me (score!) and to maximize my vacation time, I chose the earliest possible time, a 8:55 flight. Arriving at the Porter terminal area at the south end of Bathurst, I took what was quite possibly the shortest ferry ride in the world at the Western Gap dock.
It's absurd, really; The ferry is maybe a 500 metre run through the water and one can't help but wonder about the enormous waste of resources and time that this method takes compared to that of a light bridge. (even if just an enclosed pedestrian bridge for passengers to make their way across).
Aside from the absurdity of the ferry, location is one of the key advantages that Porter has over the competition. Not only is the Island Airport extremely easy to get to, but it makes getting in and out of the city an entirely trivial matter. Porter runs a shuttle bus to and from Union Station, so passengers are easily connected to the rest of the city's transit services.
Once on the Island, along with a few dozen other passengers, it was through security and baggage checking. Security is on par with that at Pearson International, but it takes a fraction of the time to get through thanks to a large part to the Porter staff and security. Not only were they highly professional, but, more importantly, they were all very courteous. The same nonsensical, completely idiotic and reactionary anti-liquid rules applied, but passengers were less affronted about it than I've seen at Pearson because of how they were treated. Customer service - imagine that!
After having made it through security, I made it into the much lauded Porter Lounge. Here's where they started to really impress. Comfortable leather chairs were plentiful inside the clean, minimalistic-styled lounge. Here, they offered complimentary (and constantly re-stocked by a dedicated staffer) coffee, bottled water, and munchies like biscotti and cookies. I'm told the place also offered free WiFi, but barely had the chance to down my latté before they began boarding the plane.
Once aboard the small Bombardier Q400, it wasn't long before we were in the air. The view of the Toronto skyline from this perspective was interesting; Something you'd never see unless aboard a chartered heli tour. Leg room inside the plane was really impressive. I'm a pretty tall guy, and have had my fair share of knee-crunching experiences on Air Transat and some of the other cheaper airlines. I easily had about 3-4 inches of room in front of my legs on this flight, though.
For a flight that lasts a scant more than an hour, I was pleasantly surprised to see the flight attendants come around to not only offer complimentary drinks, but also a small meal. Inside the cleverly designed and consistently branded box was a cheese sandwich and fruit cup. Yummy!
Speaking of branding, everything Porter from luggage tags to bottled water sports the cute looking raccoon motif. (care of design agency, Winkreative) Friends I was traveling with remarked how appealing the whole experience felt from check-in to touchdown, but I couldn't help but think that using an animal that is predominantly known as a scavenger is a little questionable. Who knows though, maybe they're trying to position themselves as a necessary nuisance of the contemporary urban lifestyle.
Before I knew it, the pilot came on the PA to announce that we had started our descent to the Montreal city centre. A few minutes later around 10am, we were on the tarmac, and awaiting our bags at the carousel. The advantages of travelling in these small planes are two-fold; First, it takes nearly no time to disembark a plan with only 70-80 passengers. Also, if you checked a bag, the wait at the luggage carousel was fairly minimal, especially considering that maybe only around 3/4 of the passengers chose to check a bag to begin with.
After arriving at Pierre-Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montreal, you can catch a cab to downtown Montreal for a maximum flat rate of $35 that will take 15-20 minutes.
Overall, it was a completely painless and smooth traveling experience. I say painless in the most endearing way, as I don't think I've ever come off a plane feeling at or near the same energy level that I had when I went aboard. It was certainly preferable to the stop-and-go traffic I would have faced had I chosen to take the 401, or the claustrophobic Via rail economy ride.
There's some tips that I can offer that will make your flight even better (and potentially quicker):
- Reserve your seat by using the Web Check-In feature on Porter's site as soon as possible. Not only will this allow you to sit closer to the front of the aircraft, but also print a boarding ticket that you can use at the gate.
- Pack light. Although it won't take you a lot of time to check & retrieve your bag, it's a heck of a lot easier to just walk on and off the plane with a carry-on and not have to worry about hauling a big suitcase around.
- Take the stairs down from the second floor instead of the escalator if you're in a pinch for time when returning to Toronto. It will fast-track you to your waiting ride, cab, or shuttle. The number of cabs around at arrival in Toronto don't seem to be able to accommodate the number of passengers that are looking for one.
The big question now is sustainability. Can Porter stay afloat among harsh criticism from city council, waterfront revitalization plans, and the persistent, yet undeniable complaints from Island residents?
There's talk that the airline will soon offer flights to New York and other major US destinations. Porter boldly proclaims that they want "to become North America's premium short-haul carrier." I for one would love to see this happen, seeing how well my experience with them went.
Photos by blogTO Flickr pooler ariehsinger (top, bottom) and Porter (middle).
Comments (27)
I am not squeamish about starting up the (off topic) debate here!
I think there should be no island airport. It would be nice if the island was one big park with a walking bridge at either end, connecting to the Martian Goodman trail.
On a side note, I took a bus ride back from Montreal on Saturday on Coach Canada and it was excellent. It was roomier and more comfortable than a greyhound. Also, I slept for a fair bit of the way, and it did not seem to take too long.
I did bicycle to Montreal last summer though, so taking 6 hours to get back does not seem excessive to me.
I usually save my Aeroplan miles for my yearly trip to Montreal so I can fly there for free, but on the odd occasion I need to go to Montreal more than once a year, I usually take VIA. It's pretty comfortable, but still remarkably time-consuming. Glad to know the Porter experience is quite comfortable as well, I might have to try it sometime.
Nice write-up, by the way. And the raccoon mascot always confounded me as well...
Thanks.
I've taken Via before as I mentioned, and I always come off the train feeling totally exhausted, but what's more is that if you're going there for vacation, you've likely just wasted half of the day on travel.
I took the Greyhound home from Ottawa once and that was even worse. You make a stop along the way, and the driver seemed to be taking backroads the whole way home. The advantage to this is that it's cheap though.
I paid $270 for a return flight on Porter. Via was asking for $240 in the cheapest seats available, so the decision was a no-brainer. Especially considering it would be two hours round-trip, compared to four times that much on Via.
Ben, it would be great to have parkland there, but until they make Pearson more accessible from downtown, I think the island airport is a nice solution for the business types that have to do a lot of business in Montreal, Ottawa, and so forth.
Don't know where you get the idea that Porter is not necessarily the greenest option. It's absolutely greener than driving yourself for one. It's also massively greener than flying from Pearson.
Those Q400's are pretty fuel efficient. All of the data you see out there on sites like the Suzuki foundation are comparing jets to european electrified rail not more efficient turboprops to Diesel powered rail. I suspect that your Porter flight has a smaller carbon footprint than taking the train, I just don't have the data to prove it.
It's easy to get to the Island Airport, but how long did it take to get from PET Airport to Centre de Ville? My experience flying into MTL is it's a pain -- pain enough that I usually opt to take the $40-50 cab ride in. Anyway, this time must be factored in.
I disagree with feeling tired after a via ride -- it's the most relaxing thing, and no security and etc to deal with, and you arrive downtown.
Adam, where does the flight fly into? Is there easy shuttle to downtown MTL from there, or will I need to rent a car? Because If I can get around via transit and not have to rent a car, thats wicked. If I have to rent a car, not so much.
I think it's naive to assume that if the TCCA was torn down, the real estate it occupies would be turned into parkland.
Clearly, city councillors prefer condos to parks, therefore the choice is not between a downtown airport and a park, but rarther between a downtown airport and an eyesore that only a moneybags developer could love.
That being said, give me a high-speed light rail link between Union and Pearson, and I'd have to agree that TCCA no longer has a real reason to exist.
You fly into YUL (Dorval/PET), there are several options to get downtown, you can take a cab for $35 flat rate, you can take the Aerobus for $14 one way/$26 return or you can take a free shuttle to the gare Dorval and take a commuter train downtown, schedule permitting.
<i>I think it's naive to assume that if the TCCA was torn down, the real estate it occupies would be turned into parkland.</i>
Agreed, the city is on record that they want the site for the Expo bid.
<i>That being said, give me a high-speed light rail link between Union and Pearson, and I'd have to agree that TCCA no longer has a real reason to exist.</i>
I disagree on two counts 1) TCCA is a critical link in the provincial medevac system that cannot be replaced with helipads or a more distant airport, as long as the General has the largest hyperbaric chamber in the province some small number of people will die without that airport 2) YYZ is still a green horror show with long taxis and circling etc. Change that to High Speed Rail from Windsor to Montreal and I'll agree that TCCA has not reason to be used as a passenger airport.
@Chester: Sorry, I probably phrased that wrong when I said it wasn't the greenest option. I know the Q400s are relatively fuel efficient aircraft, but what I meant was it would be better for the city on smoggy days not to have planes taking off/landing right downtown.
I think you're right to say that it's likely one of the greenest options overall in getting to Montreal.
@brokenengine: As Chester mentioned, there's cabs that go from PET International right to downtown Montreal for a flat rate of $15-$35, but most, if not all, charge the max $35 rate. It's about a 15-20 minute cab ride. That's the option I went with.
Just a quick note to say I've changed 'greenest' to 'cheapest' just to stay factually accurate. Thanks, Chester.
It would be interesting to see the actual environmental cost of traveling using train, plane, and car, but in reality there's an inumerable number of factors involved that you have to take into account when you look at something like this.
Hmm... does it matter the speed of the vehicle, or time elapsed between origin and destination. I live downtown, so I'd never go to Pearson to fly to Ottawa or Montreal when VIA is less trouble and takes little more time. I suppose Porter is not as crap as Air Canada, and it starts downtown. I still want Porter, and the Port Authority, to die: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Waterfront-Fantasy-Path
My estimate is that it would take me four hours door to door on Porter, and almost five on Air Canada. Don't forget getting to/from, lines, security and luggage. Via is six to seven. As for price, Adam, you said " $270 for a return flight on Porter. Via was asking for $240 in the cheapest seats available". You must have looked for a Via seat on short notice. I got $165 for a ticket several weeks in advance. Nevertheless, I'd rent a car for a weekend at a similar cost to Via, esp. if I had someone to share the cost.
I can't stand the existence of Porter Airlines on the island. Seeing those planes coming and going over Ashbridges Bay while playing volleyball every week is quote disheartening. Having planes of this size and flying with this frequency has a negative effect on the appearance of our waterfront.
That said it's hard to argue with how easy it is. I've travelled to Ottawa and Montreal using everything but my feet or a bike and flying from the island is definitely the easiest option. You can't beat the bus for the cost, but the cramped seats and smelly confines make the trip less than pleasant. Driving sucks, it's a waste of fuel and traffic can add 2+ hours to the travel time (took over 7 hours from Montreal to Toronto on Monday). Taking the TTC to Pearson is gruelling at best.
VIA is still my preferred method of travel. I've always found it comfortable and simple. On our last VIA trip we were particularly excited to use the onboard wifi. You can share login between two people so we both had our laptops going. The reliability was a little sketchy sometimes, but was still nice to be able to get online and update Facebook (I mean, do work...).
@Adam: re: smog, given that the alternative is, lets face it, multiple single rider taxi trips to YYZ and don't kid yourself that YYZ doesn't dump it's fair share of smog into the city core given the prevailing winds I still don't buy that even smog from YTZ is a real issue
@aidan: seriously even if you assume an hour at the Montreal end crawling through the Turcot yards in rush hour traffic which is the worst case scenario, there's pretty much no way that flying on Porter can take 4 hours, seriously until you've actually done it you just won't beleive how little time really is needed for lineups/luggage/security
Chester, I said it was an 'estimate'. No, I have never flown Porter, nor will. I would like to hear from someone their travel time door to door for any of these three options: Air Canada, Porter and Via. Mine for driving Little Italy to downtown Montreal was six and a half hours last week, but my girlfriend needs to stop to pee every hour. Autoshare cost (includes gas/rental/insurance) for three days is $250.
@aidan: Well, you have my travel time. I woke up at around 7, was at Porter for 8am, boarded at 8:30, took off at 8:55, and was on the ground in Montreal at 10am. I think we were checking into our hotel at Delta Centre-Ville (on University) at 10:30-10:45.
It's pretty astounding.
Chester Pape: You're right, I forgot about TCCA's role in medivac operations.
But aren't these flights always by helicopter? And wouldn't it therefore be better to land them directly on helipads on hospital roofs?
I was wondering how long it would take to turn this comment thread into a a playground for Spacer™-style anti-island-airport ideologues.
Chester Pape: You're right, I forgot about TCCA's role in medivac operations.
But aren't these flights always by helicopter? And wouldn't it therefore be better to land them directly on helipads on hospital roofs?
No many medivac flights are by fixed wing air ambulance, Helicopters have several limitations
1) they can't always land on a Helipad, which for the University Ave Hospital Campus is on the roof of Sick Kids, due to winds and other tall buildings nearby 2) not all of the Hospitals have helipads (e.g. Western which is the local destination of choice for head injuries) 3) The helicopters have limited range, so they can't be used to transport people in from more remote/rural locations
Realistically most of the trauma stuff where minutes matter goes to Sunnybrook or Hamilton anyway so the main issue is pediatric trauma where the expertise is at Sick Kids and multiple cases of smoke inhalation where only TGH has a room sized hyperbaric chamber.
I had enjoyed the convenience and comfort of flying Porter for a few business trips - with much guilty conscience. However, looking at the bigger picture, instead of thinking of only the efficiency or environmental footprint of *the trip*, do we as Torontonians / Canadians want a downtown airport at the harbourfront of our city? The people of Chicago did not. The traffic to Charles de Galle in Paris is terrible, but do the Parisans want to have an airport in the middle of the city of light? How about New York City - what will the security risk they have to take to land small commercial jet on Staten Island? I think there are always pros and cons in these decisions. If we do want a city with a beautiful and accessable waterfront, we need to make the decision. A high speed train linking the airport to the downtown core is essential for a big city like ours. We need the vision and political leadership to make it happen.
Sometimes, I feel what we need is a friendly, customer-centric airline. Aside from the Bombardier regional jet, some of those trains we see in commercials would be nice. Isn't it ironic and sad to have a Canadian point at a Bombardier train in a foreign city and says 'that's my train' - one that we never get to see in our own country.
You've bought into one of the urban myths that the airports opponents spread (that's kinder than calling then what they are lies). Chicago's sitation does not compare, Miegs field was smaller and even less used than YTZ and had no commercial traffic. Chicago still has an urban airport, Midway. Of course New York lands large commercial jets in Queens within view of Manhattan, at Laguardia, you can see Lower Manhattan and Ground Zero from Newark Airport, and Teterborough is also only a short distance away. Yet the 9-11 planes originated in Boston.
There's also London City Airport in the docklands of London, UK, beside the Canary Wharf Financial District. Hey, with the Leslie Spit washing the islands away we won't have to worry about it in maybe 20 years!
I've travelled by Porter to Ottawa a number of times this past year. I can leave home (by cab) near Yonge and Eglinton at about 6am, catch the 7am flight for Ottawa and be downtown Ottawa at 8:30. This leaves me time to have some coffee before a 9am meeting.
From where I live, going through Pearson isn't going to take a lot longer, but I don't find Pearson a particularly pleasant experience at 6 o'clock in the morning. Taking a ferry ride to the Island is a much better way to start your day. It's also going to be about $30 cheaper ($20-25 vs $50-55) to go to the island by cab versus Pearson.
Getting home from Pearson at 5-6pm at the end of the day can be an adventure and takes about an hour by cab. Coming from the island is much quicker and cheaper. This of course varies depending where you live.
Going to montreal, getting from the airport to downtown can take quite a while, but you still should be able to make a 9am meeting if you take the 6:45 am flight -- which means you should be aiming for the 6:15 ferry.
You simply can't take VIA to get to morning meetings in Montreal or Ottawa unless you go the night before. At it means coming home pretty late at night (I think there is a 6pm train from Ottawa that pulls in around 10pm).
Back in the days when it cost $800 to go to Ottawa, I took VIA a few times. My biggest issues with it were that it took too long (4 hours is starting to be a bit of a journey -- like flying out west) and you can't smoke. If they added a smoking car, I'd give it consideration.
When the price is similar between flying and taking the train, I don't think the train looks like an attractive option at all.
Also consider, that for people coming TO Toronto for meetings, it is much easier to get from the island to downtown offices that it is to come in on the Gardiner and 427 at 8am.
people, please don't fly with porter. the staff are rude and obnoxious. my flight was delayed for 4hrs and they gave me free donuts to compensate. the attendents knew my the plane from Toronto hadn't left yet and just told everyone that it was only a half an hour delayed. When we finally arrived in toronto (2am) they didn't even tell us that we would be landing in the middle of no where and that a shuttle bus was coming.
I got home at 4am.
I hate porter and will never fly with them again.
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I DO NOT recommend taking Porter. My experiences have been horrible. When I fly from NY (really the NJ airport) to Toronto there are constant delays and cancellations. Furthermore, they NEVER reimburse you, (even after I submitted a formal written letter with their customer service office.) What they don’t tell you when you book your flight is that if your flight is scheduled to land after 11pm (which frequently happens when there are delays) YOUR ARE LANDING AT PEARSON, completely eliminating the convenience of the airline, which is a main reason to fly with them. DONT DO IT. It may sound tempting but you will regret it later, when you are delayed for 4 hours, or sitting in an airport lounge when they cancel flights because they are not full enough.
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