Evaluate: Porter Airways PorterReserve Vancouver to Toronto

I just lately had the chance to fly Porter Airways from Vancouver to Toronto. On this flight, I attempted out the brand new PorterReserve seats and repair onboard the Embraer E195-E2.

Porter Airways advertises itself as providing an elevated financial system expertise, with complimentary beer and wine, no center seats, and free in-flight Wi-Fi out there to all passengers. PorterReserve is the airline’s most premium providing, and it comes full with premium floor providers and an enhanced in-flight expertise.

After masking the airline’s rising fleet and increasing community for the previous couple of years, I used to be excited to see how Porter’s latest product would play out in actual life.

Porter Airways PorterReserve – Cabin

Earlier than boarding, I loved the devoted check-in and expedited safety that comes with each PorterReserve reserving.

Passengers with PorterReserve seats are additionally given precedence boarding, so when it was time to go, I boarded early and was in a position to absorb the whole thing of the cabin whereas it was nonetheless empty.

My flight was on Porter Airways’s Embraer E195-E2, which has 132 seats throughout 33 rows. The seating is organized in a 2-2 configuration, that means that there’s no center seat (which is definitely the case for all of Porter’s seating configurations).

PorterReserve seats took up the primary 4 rows of the cabin, adopted by 5 rows of PorterClassic Stretch seats, and 24 rows of PorterClassic seats.

Notably, there’s no divider between any of the seat sorts, which implies there’s minimal visible distinction between PorterReserve, PorterClass Stretch, and PorterClassic seating.

Porter Airways PorterReserve – Seat

The PorterReserve seat measures 46.5 inches vast, has a recline of as much as six inches, and offers 36 inches of legroom.

By comparability, the PorterClassic seat additionally measures 46.5 inches, however solely has as much as two inches of recline and 30 inches of legroom. On the Embraer 195-E2s, Porter additionally provides the PorterClassic Stretch seat, which provides as much as 4 inches of recline and 34 inches of legroom.

It’s price noting that the Stretch seats are situated within the rows simply behind the PorterReserve seats, and though they’re almost the identical dimension because the PorterReserve seats, they don’t include the identical perks and facilities.

That stated, I assumed the PorterReserve seat was pretty comfy, and consistent with what I might anticipate from a premium financial system seat on the same airline.

It was undoubtedly good to have the additional legroom in comparison with common financial system, and I used to be in a position to retailer my bag at my ft with out sacrificing the flexibility to stretch out my legs. 

I additionally appreciated the adjustable headrest and the extra couple inches of recline, each of which helped make me extra comfy throughout my flight.

The seat additionally got here with the usual desk that was saved within the seat-back in entrance of me; nevertheless, I loved that the desk was designed with a bi-fold, which meant I might use it to carry my drink and smaller gadgets with out having it take up all of the area.

Porter Airways PorterReserve – Meal Service

Since my flight was later within the day, I used to be given the selection of 4 completely different entrées for my meal, in addition to a big selection of refreshments.

The meal service was introduced in a intelligent meal field format, with the 7-layer Mexican dip and the zucchini loaf arriving first alongside the cutlery and a enjoyable amenity (extra on that later).

Moments after receiving this, the workers introduced round my chosen entrée: the soba noodle salad.

I assumed the meal field was an effective way to maintain issues contained, and it made for a novel and revolutionary presentation.

When it comes to the meals high quality, I assumed the Mexican dip appetizer was nice, however I felt the soba noodle salad entrée was solely so-so because it was just a little dry, and the noodles didn’t have the springiness I’d have favored.

As a part of the elevated financial system expertise, Porter Airways provides all passengers a alternative of free snacks and complimentary wine, beer, and different refreshments.

For these like me who had been seated in a PorterReserve seat, we had been moreover provided an expanded collection of premium snacks and refreshments.

I assumed the beverage menu had a very good vary, providing some lesser-seen choices like cold-pressed juices and pre-mixed cocktails.

It’s additionally nice to see Porter focus their picks on Canadian choices, comparable to Beau’s and Steam Whistle beers, Jackson-Triggs wines, Balzac’s espresso, Greenhouse Juices, Sloane Tea, and Tumbler & Rocks cocktails.

Moreover, it was refreshing to see actual glassware being utilized in an financial system cabin, and it undoubtedly added a contact of sophistication to the entire expertise.

Porter Airways PorterReserve – Different Facilities

As a wholly financial system airline, Porter doesn’t supply lots in the way in which of in-flight facilities.

Nonetheless, a stand-out characteristic is free high-speed Wi-Fi on all flights working on their Embraer 195-E2 plane.

The free Wi-Fi was superior to have, and it labored nicely at any time when I wanted it.

Every seat on the flight was additionally geared up with a common energy outlet, which all the time turns out to be useful.

Lastly, as a enjoyable and considerate amenity, Porter offered a folding cellphone stand with the meal field that permits you to watch content material in your cellphone with out having to carry it in your fingers the entire time.

This was a very good contact for the reason that cabin isn’t geared up with any in-flight leisure techniques.

Conclusion

Porter Airways is certainly doing the work to set itself aside from its competitors, by providing free snacks, free refreshments, the promise of no center seats, and even free Wi-Fi (on eligible flights).

With PorterReserve, the additional legroom and the expanded foods and drinks choices additional add to the elevated financial system expertise that the airline strives to offer.

On my latest journey, I had an general pleasant expertise, and I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest PorterReserve to these on the lookout for a barely extra premium expertise with out paying additional for premium financial system on different carriers.