Porter Airlines

Flight 0383 on Monday Dec 8 2014 the outbound was cancelled due to 'mechanical' reasons. Of course I was only notified of the cancellation when I was in a taxi half way to the airport. I paid $1450 for my flight to Chicago due to booking only 5 days in advance. In addition Porter charged me $26 each way for the one bag I checked. On the return flight 0392 on Dec 10 2014 my bag was 1 kilo (2.2 lbs) over the limit. I was told I could remove weight or pay an additional $75 excess bag fee. At the same time the passenger at check in next to me was advised that he should carry on the bag he was going to check because it was below the carry on weight. I removed some items from my bag and went back to check in. The check-in agent advised me that my bag was now 1 kilo under and would I like to put anything back in my bag. What a joke. Absolutely no common sense with respect to the check-in agent. The flight was half empty so weight and balance was not an issue. Flight left about 10 minutes late and after 20 minutes in the air the captain came on the PA system to advise that a latch had come loose on the cargo door and we would be required to return to Chicago. Another 'mechanical' issue I suppose. Flight eventually left one hour later so that we arrived about 2 hours late. So Porter wasted 4 hours of my valuable time yet wanted to charge me $75 for having 1 kilo excess baggage. I think the service was really unacceptable.

Newark to Sudbury via Toronto. I really wish I could give Porter Airlines a better rating. They have nice planes great staff the lounges are wonderful but their reliability makes me hesitant to use them again. More's the pity because it could be the best airline in North America. The flight from Newark to Toronto was on time and the service was faultless. On arrival in Toronto all looked okay for the next leg to Sudbury but then that flight was cancelled because of maintenance issues. I was shifted to a later flight scheduled to depart four hours later but was delayed by a further two hours. Many other flights were also delayed. Credit goes to the cabin crew on this flight for maintaining a positive demeanour despite being faced with a very grumpy passenger load. Based on comments I heard on the aircraft and have read on here cancellations and long delays have become commonplace at Porter. I think this airline is perhaps growing too fast and its aircraft inventory is too small to cope with anything but one of those extremely rare days when nothing goes wrong. It really needs to focus more on reliability.

I will never fly this airline again first and last time. Took a quick weekend trip to Montreal from Chicago. The outbound trip Saturday was fine the return trip on Sunday was a total disaster. Saturday's flights were nearly empty but the flights Sunday were packed so it seems that if there is a rush the airline has no idea how to handle it. There were no weather issues or anything to cause multiple delays on Sunday and I really was never given a clear answer as to why all of my flights were delayed. It was a mix of "technical issues" and "delays at other airports". I was leaving Montreal for Toronto then had a connecting flight to Chicago. When booking my tickets all I was offered was a 30 minute change over between flights for the flight home. Porter in Toronto has a small terminal so on a normal day this should be no problem. In the end I missed my connection in Toronto to Chicago because of the original delay of 45 minutes in Montreal and my new second flight (an hour and half after my original flight) was also delayed by an hour and a half. I was suppose to arrive home around 3:30pm and didn't until 7:30pm. Simply never ever again.

Very disappointed in Porter these days. Last 2 trips - to Toronto and to Sudbury - were delayed and delayed. Spent most of the day in the airport in Thunder Bay and Toronto. A 4 hour trip turned into a 10 hour. No explanations no information. Today I realized I made a mistake in booking a flight from Thunder Bay to Toronto. Called as soon as I noticed - $75 charge to cancel the flight and to rebook would have been double the price. I used to fly Westjet all the time - I think I will be returning to Westjet. Not happy at all and a weekend in TO ruined.

My flight from Toronto to a conference in Chicago was cancelled with no reason provided 12 hours prior to the flight. The only option Porter offered was to re-book 2 hours after the original departure time. If I had cancelled to rebook on a different airline (at a significantly increased cost given the short notice) I would have received only a flight credit not a full refund which is unbelievably bad customer treatment. I was forced to take the later flight and I missed the two sessions at the conference that were the primary reason for my attendance. I am 6 feet two hundred pounds. These planes do not accommodate above average sized people period.

I would not recommend Porter Airlines if you need to get someplace at a certain time and are depending on their schedule. Our experience was delays and more delays. First problem Porter changed our original flight time and we were not notified. We flew from Montreal to Toronto changed plans to fly to Boston with a connecting flight in Boston to Houston. We missed our connecting flight because of the changed schedule and then further delays. The flight leaving Montreal was approximately 1.5 hours late. Then our connection in Toronto was late as well. We originally were to arrive in Boston at 4.35pm but did not arrive until 5.50pm. Porter employees in both Montreal and Toronto were unwilling to help us find another alternative in order for us to arrive in Boston in time for our connection. Consequently we had to get a hotel and stay overnight.

Just awful! Used to be really great and easy. Lately (the last year and a half) they have been so unreliable. We do monthly flights from Toronto to Montreal and vice versa and every time without fail are delayed one way if not both and/or cancelled. There have been 3 times this year where the flight has left for Toronto only to turn around and come back to Montreal for one reason or another with no compensation. A free drink is certainly not worth all of the trouble it is faster to drive with all of the delays. They really need to get things back on track can't imagine how poor their on time service rate must be at this point.

Our family really used to look forward flying with Porter but in the last two years you feel like you have a 50/50 chance of having a significant issue with your flight. Yesterday August 30/2014 Flight 635 from Toronto to Thunder Bay. They announce a boarding 10 minutes earlier than scheduled due to the "air show". Ok no problem. We get on the plane and sit and sit in the hot cabin. You repeatedly hear cargo doors being opened and shut. The pilot/co-pilot leaves the plane and has discussions with the ground crew and also I think went into the terminal as well. Eventually one of the flight crew tells us that due to "technical issues" we will be flying to Hamilton to get fuelled up. I guess it was either that or take passengers and baggage off the plane. We leave about 15 minutes later than scheduled for a short flight to Hamilton which takes about 15-20 minutes. We sit on the tarmac in a hot plane for about 20-25 minutes while getting fuelled up. Finally leave for Thunder Bay and arrive one hour late although with the all the waiting and heat in the plane while on the ground it felt like the journey took forever. This is not our family's first time with significant issues with Porter but it will be our last because we will not be flying with them again.

My flight with Porter was cancelled due to engine problems and rescheduled for 7 hours later. All but 10 passengers were put on the 4.30pm flight I was one of the 10. I left the airport and returned when they told us to only to be told that the piece they were supposedly fixing the aircraft with had never even come and that our flight was rescheduled for 8.30am the next day 22 hours later that our original flight. My family went back and forth from the airport 3 times to drop me off and pick me up because they were not up front with us. As compensation I was told we will be getting at $100 dollar voucher which we probably already spend in gas and food. Not to mention time missed out friends during my yearly visit to the province.

Flew from Toronto City airport to Washington Dulles on 11 Aug. Service on the ground was good although a little more attention could have been paid to wheelchair users. A general announcement was made re boarding but that was all but there were no staff around to assist my mother for boarding. I decided to push her wheelchair myself. On board the flight attendants were pleasant and we were served drinks and cookies. The flight was pleasant with great views of Toronto city on taking off. Seat comfort was good and leg space was incredible for a small aircraft. A great experience.