lordmandeep
Banned
YYZ or Pearson is mostly going to benefit for its wide range of international connections to the rest of the world. Its domestic service is getting eaten away...
And who says it needs to be relocated even then? Porter's fine where it is until all its routes are served by high-speed trains that are competitive with it--and I don't see the New York, Chicago, or Boston, or Maritime routes being supplanted by high speed any time soon. New York and Boston maybe in the long-term, but for the average traveller, the flight is still going to be more appealing.
True enough. Though for me personally, I'd be willing to sacrifice the airport if there was HSR to Ottawa and Montreal with a travel time of less than 3 hours and a service timetable approaching that of Porter's service today.
Yeah, but HSR is still a vision and somewhat a fantasy in this country, It could be 25-30 years before we see any electrified fast rail, meanwhile lets enjoy City Centre Airport while its still around.
I'll drink to that....with a beer in a glass (only for those privileged enough to pay Porter's low fares) on my next Porter flight.
I'll drink to that....with a beer in a glass (only for those privileged enough to pay Porter's low fares) on my next Porter flight.
Though for me personally, I'd be willing to sacrifice the airport if there was HSR to Ottawa and Montreal with a travel time of less than 3 hours and a service timetable approaching that of Porter's service today.
Clearly, you're experience shows that 2.5 hrs is achievable with Porter for a regular traveler. I'd be curious about your breakdown. How do you achieve 2.5 hours? You must get there right before the counter closes! And do you cab it on the other end?
If I drive its 2.5 hrs prior in good traffic and 3-3.5 hrs in poor traffic.
The breakdown is something like this:
5:45 am Call for Cab
6:00 am Take cab from Yonge-and-Eglinton to Airport ferry (about 10-12 minutes)
6:12 am Check in at Ferry Terminal check-in machine
6:15 am Take ferry to Airport
6:16 am Arrive at Airport
6:17 am Go through security
6:20 am Pick up a coffee and newspaper, check email, etc. in Porter Lounge
6:45 am Board flight to Ottawa
7:00 am Flight takes off
7:50 am Arrive in Ottawa
8:00 am Grab cab outside terminal
8:20 am Arrive downtown Ottawa at destination
If you miss the 6:15 ferry, the 6:30 ferry is fine. They will often hold the plane if you are running just a little late. Their schedules have some delay time built in. If the ferry is there when I arrive at the terminal, I'll take the ferry and check in on the other side.
None of this involves any level of hurrying.
I don't usually check baggage in Toronto. If I do have a suitcase (which I usually don't), I "gate porter" it so I can grab it on my way off the plane in Ottawa. I will often check it in Ottawa though, as it takes almost no time for them to unload luggage at YTZ.
The cab is about $25 for me at either end ($100 total for the trip). Later in the day, the cab from my apartment to the airport might take a little longer.
NOTE: With "Gate Porter", you carry your suitcase to the door of the plane and give to the attendant there. It will be waiting outside the door of the plane when you get off at the other end.