Leaving on a jet plane....

A collection of airline related links:

How many of you heard about Air Canada's new policy that pets are no longer welcome on their flights, and they have to be shipped via Air Canada Cargo? Air Canada says they need the room for luggage, so Fido has to either be kenneled or shipped separately. Working animals (seeing eye dogs) are still allowed in the cabin. Claiming your cat is your life partner won't get him a seat though.

So here are some articles on some new players on the block.

Porter Air is a small boutique airline that's been operating out of the Toronto Island Airport for under a year. They use twin-propeller planes, and specialize in short-haul routes between Toronto to Montreal, Halifax, and Ottawa, with a New York run starting in the new year. For only a bit more than you'd pay for a Via Rail fare to Montreal, you get there in about an hour. Bonus: no trip to Pearson Airport, you actually fly in and out of downtown Toronto.

From all reports I've heard, the planes are quiet, comfortable, and the service is excellent, especially compared to "cattle class" experiences among modern carriers. It's like what if Wallpaper magazine created an airline, which is what we're meant to think. Wallpaper founder Tyler Brule established the Winkreative creative design agency, which is responsible for all of Porter's branding, including the little racoon logo and in-flight magazines. Porter really sells you on making a customer feel like a guest: the lounges are business class quality, with free drinks, nibbles, and Wi-Fi. The snack and beverage service on all flights are included, with complimentary soft drinks, wine and beer. That's novel in these days of no-frill flight travel.

Blog TO recently took a Porter flight from Toronto to Montreal and had a great experience, also offering tips to lessen some of the hassles associated with air travel. Looks like it's ideal for weekend getaways and business. Postive word-of-mouth and the expectations of more US destinations means that Porter Air would be the first airline I'd look to for travel.


Now this looks like the modern ideal of an in-flight experience: Virgin America is now flying in the US and the perks are sweet: in-flight multi-media, movies on demand, instant messenger network on the flight, comfortable coach class (those words don't normally go together), massage chairs. Check out BoingBoing for why Virgin Rules the Future of Flight


A good idea/bad idea to pass the time on a Iqualit - St. John's flight, via Townie Bastard:

Loading a bunch of comedy albums onto my iPod was both a good and bad thing. Listening to Patton Oswalt was about the only thing that prevented me from going insane sitting on the tarmac in Iqaluit. The downside is I think I ruptured something trying not to laughout loud.

The worst of it was during the end of one of his records when he was imitatinga series of radio ads done for ESPN by a coked out 70s movie producer. I actually had to stop the record and compose myself before I exploded. The people sitting next to me (including one reading bible pamphlets)must have thought I was insane.

I tend to use the comedy albums on car trips, where I can giggle in privacy. Also not recommended for in-flight albums: David Sedaris at Carnegie Hall