This morning, I tried Porter Airlines (www.flyporter.com) for the first time. I welcomed the convenience of departing from Toronto island airport on my way to Montreal for the day, including the chance to pass through airport security in about two minutes, and the small luxury of drinking a decaf latte out of a heated cup!
Though Porter’s island terminal is small, it has all the expected airport features and produces the familiar sensations of air travel: filling the idle time until boarding, being surrounded by strangers taking the same journey, and feeling your pulse quicken as the engine revs up at the head of the runway.
For my flight home, I arrived at the ‘regular’ Trudeau International Airport in plenty of time. When I arrived at Gate 7 it was empty, save for the overhead monitor confirming I was at the right place. Over the next 30 minutes, I watched the scene come to life. First, the Porter counter attendant arrived, setting up a laptop and printer behind the front counter. Other passengers arrived at the gate and began filling up the nearby benches. Then, the counter attendant reached into the cupboard and pulled out an elegant glass vase with a bold bouquet of white flowers – the final touch of the Porter brand experience!
