Intro
December 1, 2023, marked Porter Airlines’ inaugural Fort Lauderdale to Toronto service, and I happened to be there for the celebration.
A chance encounter with one of their PR representatives at check-in led to an unexpected upgrade to Porter Reserve!
The atmosphere was genuinely festive, with Porter treating passengers to tea, coffee, cookies, and even a raffle draw.
It felt more like a community celebration than typical airline operations.
Porter Reserve
Porter Reserve passengers get priority boarding and spacious seating at the front of the cabin.
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What sets this apart is that premium meals, extensive snacks, and beverages are all included rather than charging extra for everything.
The crew distributed menus and wellness shots shortly after takeoff before taking drink orders.
Three meal options showed genuine thought:
- Savoury breakfast oats with fresh fruits
- Cheese and fruit tray
- Croissants filled with smoked salmon
I selected the breakfast oats, which arrived in thoughtful packaging that made unboxing feel special.
The oats had a creamy texture and proper consistency, not the gluey mess many airlines serve.
Fresh berries with flavour and apple pieces that provided a pleasant crunch were mixed throughout.
The fruit bowl featured genuinely ripe berries, sweet melon pieces, and seasonal fruits.
A freshly baked scone with jam completed the presentation with that proper crumbly texture and buttery flavour you’d expect from a good bakery.
This wasn’t just airline breakfast, it was genuinely satisfying food that was well thought out.
Porter Reserve includes a cardboard mobile phone holder, brilliant but straightforward for watching content during a flight.
These small innovations show Porter considers actual passenger needs.
Sustainability
Porter serves drinks in reusable glassware, making beer and wine taste better than plastic cups.
Compostable paper cups and biodegradable agave fibre cutlery show genuine environmental commitment while feeling sturdy enough to use.
The crew offered extensive snacks throughout the flight, including nuts, banana bread, cookies, and fava beans.
The banana bread was moist and had genuine banana flavour, while the cookies had the proper texture, crisp outside and slightly soft inside.
Compostable paper cups and biodegradable agave-fiber cutlery further demonstrate the airline’s eco conscious approach.
Porter Brands
Porter partners with Canadian producers like Jackson Triggs wine and Balzac’s Coffee Roasters, giving passengers a genuine taste of Canada while supporting local businesses.
Economy Class
Even in Porter Classic (the main cabin), passengers receive complimentary beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages served in real glassware.
For flights over 2.5 hours, you can purchase fresh meal options similar to Porter Reserve.
This inclusive approach sets Porter apart from most North American carriers who charge for beer and wine.
Service Quality
What impressed me was Porter’s genuine Canadian hospitality rather than mechanical efficiency.
Crew interactions felt authentic, from the inaugural flight celebrations to individual passenger attention throughout the journey.
This level of personal service has become rare on short haul flights as airlines cut costs to compete.
Conclusion
Porter Airlines delivered exceptional experience through attentive service, sustainable practices, and thoughtful Canadian touches.
The inaugural flight celebration showed genuine enthusiasm, while the service proved they can execute on promises.
Porter Reserve successfully elevates a premium economy through inclusive amenities, quality food preparation, and genuine hospitality.
The breakfast oats, sustainability efforts, and Canadian brand partnerships create a great experience.
Porter’s commitment to passenger comfort feels refreshingly different in an industry racing toward cost cutting.
They’ve proven the hospitality isn’t just marketing it’s a genuine operational approach that creates better flying experiences.
