Trip Report: YTZ-YQB
I added on a visit to Quebec City when I learned that it is Quebec City on which the Canada pavilion of EPCOT is based! I chose to fly Porter Airlines, because I was curious to try a new airline (for me), and while I would have flown Air Canada to stay within Star Alliance, the cheapest tickets weren't mileage-earning so my loyalty went out the window.
Porter flies from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), which is spitting distance from downtown Toronto. The airline offers a free shuttle from the Fairmont Royal York Hotel at Union Station. The buses are painted with graphics advertising their service to Quebec City (YQB), my destination! You'll see a lot of their raccoon mascot, Mr. Porter.
The shuttle takes you to what is probably the world's shortest ferry ride.
Here's the view from the ferry just as we left the mainland dock. You can see how close our destination already is, the island on which the airport is located.
After a very quick check in, you go through security and into the waiting area. It's like a big lounge, with plenty of seats, power outlets, a variety of Canadian newspapers, customer service agents...
...and a snack area with shortbread cookies, smoked almonds, bottled water, juices and soft drinks, Starbucks drip coffee, and automatic espresso machines. The "everyone's a VIP" attitude reminded me of my experience flying Bangkok Airways in Thailand (trip report here).
This was breakfast for me (plus seconds and thirds on the nuts and cookies).
Porter flies a fleet of Bombardier Q400s. Bombardier is based in Montreal, and the Q400s are manufactured in the Toronto area.
On this 1 hr 20 min flight, the flight attendants served drinks (in glassware, unless you get bottled water like me), and a breakfast snack box. I really liked the packaging with Mr. Porter on it, especially the water bottle where he's snorkeling in water.
Inside of the box was an Apple and Blackberry organic yogurt, a real chocolate chip muffin with a REAL crust on top (this is no Sara Lee muffin!), a towelette, napkin, and plastic spoon.
I would definitely fly Porter again. They often have discount codes on the homepage of their website, so be on the lookout for those.
