Here's what I consider to be the biggest single downside to flying Porter Airlines' new service from Toronto City Centre Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport (which, for the record, is in New Jersey, not New York): There's no newsstand at which to buy gum, trashy magazines and an overpriced bag of trail mix.
Which is to say, there's really no downside whatsoever.
This will come as a major relief to frequent fliers who would like nothing more than to bypass Pearson International Airport, the necessary evil between the Big Smoke and the Big Apple.
The new airline may not be able to consistently live up to its pledge to "dramatically cut your total travel time," but having completed the Newark round trip this week, I was amazed by just how civilized cross-border air travel can be.
Monday marked the official commencement of the route - nearly 18 months after the airline made its maiden voyage to Ottawa. Last Saturday, president and chief executive officer Robert Deluce filled a plane with VIPs and media, treating them to an indulgent weekend in hopes of generating buzz and cementing loyalty.
Since announcing the route at the beginning of February, Porter has offered bargain-basement airfare ($129 one way) and taken out full-page newspaper ads (designed by Tyler Brûlé's uber-agency Winkreative) to break Air Canada's hegemony.
I wanted to know whether Porter could live up to its promise of "Bay Street to Wall Street in a New York minute." So I purchased a ticket for March 31 at 9:30 a.m.Porter pointer: The cheapest fares must be booked more than seven days ahead.
To put my anticipation in context, my history with this route has been fraught with awful experiences.
New York was already a popular destination in my family before I moved there for university. Since returning home in 2003, I have visited Manhattan at minimum three times yearly. With the exception of taking Jet Blue from Buffalo, I have tried every possible permutation of airline, airport and flight time in order to avoid delays, cancellations and outright frustration. And I know I'm not the only one.
What excites people most is the idea that Porter Air's flight will shave time off what can often be a seven-hour door-to-door trip. Not just because Porter planes leave from downtown, but because the airport is so much smaller and, therefore, easier to navigate.
An airport, however, is still an airport, and for those who live nearby, increased traffic - both in the air and on the ground - disrupts their quality of life. Five years ago, the issue was so intense that David Miller promised to do away with it altogether as part of his campaign for mayor. Although a proposed bridge to the island did not get approved, neighbouring residents continue to express their frustration with the noise and air pollution. At least for now, all the buzz is likely to drown them out.
My apartment is closer to the City Centre Airport than to Pearson, which meant that reaching the foot of Bathurst Street took half as long - 16 minutes by taxi - as the typical trip to Pearson.
Porter pointer: Don't attempt to use the automated check-in kiosks before boarding the ferry; they are not yet designed to accommodate U.S. flights. Should be in place by fall.
Because the ferry distance is so short, the ride is somewhat fun. It certainly beats deciding between the express and collector lanes on the 401.
For a two-day trip, I could have packed carry-on, but I wanted to check a bag to factor in all time variables. Losing luggage is unlikely to happen on Porter, given that it's the only carrier to operate out of the TCCA. The worst possible scenario is that your Newark-bound bag ends up in
Montreal.
