Porter Airlines Review: Porter Classic vs Porter Reserve

In the USA, travelers have a lot of choices when it comes to airlines. Some offer exceptional pricing but limited services, and others offer more services with a higher price tag. In Canada, there are only a few options when it comes to airlines.

That's why Porter Airlines is making waves in the North American travel scene. They're setting new standards for economy-class travel to the most popular destinations in Canada. That's why we're excited about Porter Airlines, the lesser-known airline disrupting the Canadian travel industry and calling for new standards in economy-class air travel.

When did Porter Airlines start flying?

Porter Airlines began operations in Canada in 2006, with short-haul trips departing from Toronto’s Billy Bishop on Toronto Island. Since then, the airline has grown from a regional service to one of the favorite options for travel in Canada, all while keeping its commitment to outstanding service, speed, and convenience. They started flying to and from US cities in March 2008, beginning with New York City.

Where does Porter Airlines fly?

At the time of writing, Porter Airlines services 31 destinations in North America but has plans for growth through the next few years. With new routes planned out of Toronto and Ottawa, flying with Porter to your favorite North American destinations is about to get a lot easier.

In 2023, Porter Airlines added new routes from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to 7 Canadian cities as well as Tampa (TPA), Fort Meyers (RSW), Orlando (MCO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Miami (MIA).

And there's more to come! Watch for these new routes from Toronto coming in 2024:

Los Angeles (LAX)	January 16, 2024
San Francisco	January 25, 2024
Las Vegas	March 5, 2024

What is it like to fly with Porter Airlines?

Porter Airlines prides itself on its hospitality onboard, but based on the first-hand experience by one of our team members, there’s a lot to love about flying with Porter.

The Porter experience starts from the time you check-in to the time you pick up your luggage at the carousel.

At airport check-in, you’re met by friendly staff who have nailed customer service down to an art. They are welcoming, warm, and happy to go over any questions you have about flying with the airline.

For longer-haul flights into/out of Toronto Pearson International, Porter operates their new aircraft, the Embraer E195-E2. Short-haul flights are typically operated on the Dash 8-400, a propeller aircraft that is surprisingly quiet.

Find more travel tips from our travel industry experts here!

What classes of service can you choose from with Porter?

When you fly with Porter on their E195-E2 operated flights, you can opt from 2 classes of service, Porter Reserve and Porter Classic. The aircraft is an all-economy-class set-up, but you’ll get more legroom and more amenities with Porter Reserve.

Our team member was upgraded to Porter Reserve at check-in, due to the flight not being full, and was able to experience both classes on their round-trip flight.

What is the difference between Porter Classic vs Porter Reserve?

The amazing thing about traveling with Porter is that no matter which class of service you choose, you’re still getting the top-notch onboard experience with the Porter team. So, while Porter Classic doesn’t have all of the inclusions regarding meals, leg room, or baggage allowance, you’re not getting the Basic experience that most airlines offer.

What do the different Porter Classic fares include?

	Basic	Standard	Flexible	Freedom
Seat selection	From USD $12+	From USD $12+	Included Classic seat	Included Classic or Stretch seat
Carry-on bag	Not included	Included	Included	Included
Personal item	Included	Included	Included	Included
Checked baggage	For a fee	For a fee	1 included	1 included
Changes	Not permitted	For a higher fee + fare difference	In advance – fare diff only Same day – lower fee + fare diff	Fare difference only
Cancelation	No refund	No refund	No refund	Full refund
Electronic boarding pass	At airport counter	Included	Included	Included
Beverages (Beer, Wine, Soda)	Included	Included	Included	Included
Premium Snacks	Included	Included	Included	Included
Meal	For purchase	For purchase	For purchase	For purchase
Dedicated airport check-in	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included

What do the different Porter Reserve fares include?

	Navigate	Ultimate
Seat selection	Included PorterReserve seat (up front, extra legroom)	Included PorterReserve seat (up front, extra legroom)
Carry-on bag	Included	Included
Personal item	Included	Included
Checked baggage	2 included	2 included
Changes	Fare difference only	Fare difference only
Cancelation	No refund	Full refund
Electronic boarding pass	Included	Included
Beverages (Beer, Wine, Soda)	Included (Premium wine & liquor)	Included (Premium wine & liquor)
Premium Snacks	Included	Included
Meal	Included	Included
Dedicated airport check-in	Included	Included

Does Porter Airlines have business class?

While the airline doesn’t have traditional business class, their Porter Reserve is the next best thing. The front-of-plane seats are a total of 36 inches of legroom, allowing most passengers to be able to stretch out and fly comfortably.

The PorterClassic Stretch seats offer 34 inches of legroom, and the PorterClassic seats 30 inches, which is comparable to Air Canada or Westjet’s typical economy seats for the same route. The main point of difference on all of Porter Airlines flights is their “No middle seats” commitment! That means, wherever you fly with Porter, you’ll get a window or an aisle seat, and never get crammed into the middle. Nice!

Inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi to keep you connected

Another great point of difference with Porter is their in-flight Wi-Fi, which allows you to seamlessly connect to the internet and enjoy your favorite shows from your favorite platforms. For your business travelers who like to use the in-flight time to get stuff done, there is no need to expense anything! Wi-Fi is included in all classes of service, so you’ll never be out of touch with your people on the ground.

Simply sign up for a VIPorter account, watch a short video, and be on your way! Easy!

Porter’s in-flight entertainment is nothing to scoff at, either! They have a great selection of new and old movies, shows, etc. So, if you’ve already binged the rest of your latest show, you’ll easily discover something new to crack into.

What’s the food like on Porter Airlines?

This is a big point of difference when comparing North American airlines. Porter has completely smashed the idea that airline food is bad.

Sitting up in PorterReserve means you get a premium meal included, which comes with two tasty sides, and a main that is big enough to leave you feeling satisfied after a 5-hour flight. No instant mac n’ cheese to be found.

In PorterClassic, you might not get the entire meal, but the food on offer to purchase is reasonably priced, and tasty enough. Topped off with the included snacks and drinks, there’s no need to walk off the plane with a rumbling stomach!

Is it worth paying for Porter Reserve over Porter Classic?

We definitely think it’s worth it, but that’s really up to your company budget! A few things to consider:

Porter Reserve seats offer passengers more comfort and space to stretch out.
Porter Reserve tickets include all the bells and whistles that Porter offers – checked baggage, seat selection, premium meals, drinks, snacks, expedited airport check-in, pre-boarding, etc. Not to mention easy changes.
If flexibility matters to your business, investing in a Porter Reserve ticket ensures that your team are able to make the last-minute changes they need.

If you’ve been curious about trying out Porter Airlines for your next business trip, don’t think twice! The airline offers one of the best economy-class experiences in the industry, and is sure to set a new standard on comfortable economy flying.

Wondering about economy classes with other airlines? Learn more about what is included with other leading airlines here .