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I'm someone who generally likes to reserve my travel budget for cool, deluxe experiences at my intended destination, so unless I can get a really, really good flight deal, I almost always fly economy- premium economy if I'm feeling fancy. Economy gets me from Point A to Point B just fine, but like most economy flyers, I sure wish it was a little more luxurious.
In most people's minds, "luxury" and "economy-class seating" are two concepts that just don't mix. But what if that wasn't the case... what if economy flights could be swanky? Enter Chris Dong, a Travel + Leisure writer who recently took a spin on a little-known airline that he claims has "the most luxe economy flight experience in North America." Do tell...
Those might have technically been economy seats , but they sure didn't look like it! Reporting for @travelandleisuremag , Chris Dong was pleasantly surprised by the chic, boutique economy flight he took with Porter Airlines, an airline that's actually been around for a while, but has remained relatively obscure due to its small size.
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Good things can come in small packages, though, and Porter Airlines is clearly a hidden gem. Chris had plenty of praise for the perks of his economy class set up: plenty of spacious leg room , no awkward middle seats, free wine and beer, and meals that looked like they'd rival food I've eaten while flying business class before! Are we sure this was really an economy flight?
About Porter Airlines
Despite starting service in 2006, Porter Airlines has stayed out of the limelight by prioritizing its " commitment to speed, convenience, and service " rather than endless expansion. Based out of the Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto, Porter Airlines currently flies to 30 destinations, 15 of which are US cities, though they're gradually branching out to newer places. Their Los Angeles route, which Chris Dong flew, was only added to their Toronto roster in January, and Phoenix, Arizona will also be added before the end of the year.
On their website, Porter Airlines breaks down their "fare experiences" into two main "economy" types: the basic PorterClassic, and the all-inclusive PorterReserve which adds early boarding, up-front seating, and other additional perks. Of these, each fare experience is broken down into several different fare tiers, from the lowest "Basic" tier (which has the usual basic economy pitfalls like no free flight changes) up to the super-premium "Ultimate" tier under PorterReserve, which comes with really swanky perks including deicated check-in, boarding and security- it's basically first class at that point. It's very customizable!
Based on a couple cursory glances, Porter's prices seem to range from slightly higher to fairly comparable to equivalent fares from other larger airlines on the same routes (though of course, these prices can be quite variable, so your mileage may vary). The only real "downside" I noticed upfront was its relatively limited route map, though that's par for the course with boutique airlines. Because of that, I probably won't have the opportunity to fly with them anytime soon. After what I've seen today, though, I'd be excited to try Porter's "luxe economy" experience if I ever get the chance!
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