Too bad our mayor, his leftist cronies and the spoiled Islanders/Harbourfronters don't see Porter like you do. The City could hook up with Porter and promote tourism here instead of setting up obstacles/roadblocks at every turn...

I'm certainly appreciative of environments issues, but I was lucky to get to go to the Air Show enclosure last year. Porter had one of their airplanes in the show, and I have to tell you, we were so astonished at how quiet they were. Ours was prop plane, and yes, the inside noise is a bit louder, but we were really surprised at the difference in the outside sound when that thing flew over. I will reserve commentary about politicians, however...that is NOT conducive to tourism!!!

I also flew on Porter on May 2 from Toronto to Ottawa. While it was annoying that the flight had to leave from Pearson I was impressed with how they handled it and with the 50 dollar credit they offered. If that was Air Canada they would have said, sorry we don't control the weather.

As for the noise issue, I live about 5 minutes from the airport at Spadina and Lakeshore and I hardly hear the planes at all. I think Porter is hugely convenient and seems to be a great business so far. I am happy when they offer more and more destinations, I wish them well.

Can you imagine an integrated program involving the convenience of Porter and tourism support from the City and the hotel industry?

Instead, the focus is on the (imagined) negative...and tourist dollars go elsewhere. I think management of Porter deserves special recognition and thanks given the "hoops" they have been put through. Also (unless something has changed very recently), a group STILL protests every Friday at the foot of Bathurst Street with support from some of our politicians...what message does that send out to our visitors?

Instead, we have "focus groups" of panhandlers and throw more millions that way...shameful.

Wow beermonger. Lots of political stuff about Toronto from someone from Mississauga. Lets keep this forum about positives shall we.

"The staff were all well mannered, and the captain even came out to see if everyone was okay after the extraordinary delay. As soon as he saw my son, he immediately offered to take him up to see the cockpit, and my son was thrilled with the private attention."

Wow! Did they let you see the cockpit. Last time I asked they asked me why I would like to see it, and after explained that I could not because of security.

Anyway; sounds like a great flying experience. There are still some airlines that actually "cares".

Yup, they took him right up there. And yes, I too was surprised; altho at that point the plane was still on the ground, so perhaps the security is a wee bit looser when the pilot is not actually flying. But as I say, the whole experience was very positive, bad weather or not!

Urbanfoodie, I am more than qualified to speak about Toronto, having been born there, lived there and collected a paycheque there. I also happen to live directly on the border of Miss/Tor.

My post(s) were positive about the success story of Porter (despite organized opposition) and since this is a travel website I opined about the possibilities concerning a tourism relationship with the various stakeholders.

Unfortunately, this won't happen and I pointed out why.

I was all excited about my Porter experience, but here I sit in their luscious lobby because I missed my flight because did not check in in time. Why?

First of all I spent 15 minutes trying to check in at the machines...they wouldn't work so I assumed that I had done something wrong, which is why I kept trying...after becoming frustrated with that, I had to go in the check- in line, that started out having two ladies checking in passengers and for some reason went down to one. One person checking in a lineup of about 30 people...does that make sense? By the time I got to the front it was 11:00, and my flight was 11:15...I was told it was too late to board. :( It was assumed and implied that this was our fault because we had arrived at the terminal 'late' when indeed, we had got there in time but had wasted time trying to check in at the machine, then wasted more time while we waited in line while one person tried to handle about 20 people trying to check in. I was then told that the machines "do not handle flights to Newark"...well gee whiz, if I had known that I would not have spent all that time trying to check in...a sign would have helped, ya think? Something along the lines off "all passengers flying to Newark please proceed to the formal check in line"...and in knowing this, KNOWING that you have a flight to Newark AND that the machines are incapable of handling Newark flights, why would you wait until 11;00 to then send out 3 more employees to assist people in check in? Shouldn't they have been there, oh, back when everyone was in line? They came out way too late!!

It is fortunate that I did not have any plans, or I would have been even more pissed than I am now!!! I cannot even enjoy this experience (which I was fully ready to enjoy) because of the past events. Fergoshsakes, it would not cost you even a red cent to post a sign up directing all Newark passengers to the formal check in instead of having them waste their time at the machines. And if you KNOW that all Newark flights MUST BE CHECKED IN with a person, EVERY KIOSK SHOULD BE MANNED in order to compensate for the machines not being able to do so. Sending out 4 employees when your passengers are starting to stress out 15 minutes before the flight takes off is helping no one...had they been out there before, I would have made my flight in time.

Not impressed. And I was ready to be.