Porter Review: Disappointing Experience from Hamilton to Vancouver

Introduction & Booking

Two days ago, I flew with Porter for the second time and out of the Hamilton airport (YHM) for the first time on a direct flight to Vancouver (YVR). My first time flying with Porter was in early December on a YVR–YOW flight, and I was looking forward to it because I had heard positive things. I was also looking forward to flying out of Hamilton because of the calmer, quicker and more pleasant experience that small airports usually bring (like YOW and YYJ). However, this experience didn’t live up to my expectations.

I booked the standard fare ticket last minute using Porter’s Boxing Day promotion, which offered 25% off. Even with the discount, the one-way fare came to $430. As a frequent last-minute traveller, I’m somewhat used to higher prices, so it didn’t shock me. I earned 1,706 VIPorter points on this flight.

Check-In & Airport

YHM Check-In Area

I arrived at YHM at 6:25 am for my 8:15 am flight. The airport itself is quite nice. The drop-off/pick-up area wasn’t crowded. It was such a nice change from YYZ and YVR. I had already checked in online, so I expected baggage drop-off to be quick. Instead, I walked into a long, slow-moving line. I waited over 30 minutes just to drop my bag. At one point, all four Porter agents were assisting a single passenger with an issue, leaving the rest of the line completely stalled. It was frustrating.

Porter Check-In

Poter Check-In & Baggage Drop

Porter Baggage Drop Line

Security also took much longer than anticipated. Once airside, I grabbed some snacks at Dark Horse Café, which offers a decent selection of pastries, sandwiches, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The only other food option in the terminal is Tim Hortons.

Dark Horse Cafe Seating Area

The terminal itself is small, with just three gates, but there’s plenty of seating. One downside, though, was that the exterior doors were constantly opening, and with it being around -10°C outside, there was a noticeable very cold draft throughout the seating area.

Terminal Seating

Terminal Seating

Terminal Seating – Gate A

Terminal Seating

Gate A

Cabin & Seat

One of the biggest perks of flying with Porter is the 2-2 seat configuration, meaning there’s no middle seat. I understand that for infrequent flyers, it’s a nice feature, but for people who have status with other airlines and can choose their seat at no extra cost, it doesn’t make much of a difference.

Boarding

My biggest issue with Porter – and the main reason I’d hesitate to fly them again – is the seat comfort. The seats are extremely firm, lack cushioning, and offer no lumbar support. I couldn’t get comfortable at any point during the flight, which isn’t something new for me as I’m always changing positions, but it was extra difficult on this flight. I have no idea how other people got comfortable, let alone slept on the flight.

Porter Cabin

The cabin also wasn’t clean. The floor had lots of dirt and salt on it. When I arrived at my seat (23C), there was visible dirt and water residue, and I had to wipe it down myself. To make matters worse, there was no running water on board due to a technical issue. The crew announced this before departure, noting that the toilets wouldn’t flush and there would be no water to wash your hands. As a result, I avoided using the washroom entirely for the duration of the flight.

Dirty Arm Rest

Tight Legroom

Seats 23C & D

Service & Snacks

Service onboard was perfectly fine, and I’ll give Porter credit where it’s due – the snack selection is better than what you’ll find on other airlines like Air Canada and WestJet. They let me take more than one snack. I chose the roasted fava beans and a shortbread cookie.

Porter Snacks

Another Porter perk is complimentary beer and wine. I don’t drink either of those, so it doesn’t add much value for me personally, but I know this is a big plus for many passengers. There were also standard non-alcoholic drink options available.

Takeaway

Porter does a few things well: no middle seats, complimentary alcoholic beverages, and above-average snacks. However, it falls short in areas that matter most to me on longer flights, namely seat comfort and overall cabin condition.

Because of this, I wouldn’t choose to fly Porter on any flight longer than about two hours unless the price was significantly lower than that of competitors. For short hops, it’s a great option, but for longer cross-country routes like Hamilton to Vancouver, comfort is non-negotiable for me, and this experience just didn’t deliver.