Originally Posted by
PDXPremier
As long as I can get decent seats and free checked baggage as an AS elite, this would work for me but if Porter is going to nickel and dime me for "extras", I will stick with an extra connection (or two) on AA. Also, would AS Lounge members still get admitted in LAX or SFO given the fact that next year they are requiring an AS or other OW boarding pass for entry? I don't see Porter becoming a OW partner anytime soon.
I wouldn't expect elite treatment on Porter. They use an ULCC model for the ticket, baggage, and seating, but after that the service is actually quite excellent on board. It's an interesting contrast to carriers like Flair, Air Transat, etc. Free (fast!) wifi, two snack basket passes on a transcon, free alcohol, 2x across seating... there is a lot to like about the in flight experience. It's akin to an AS premium economy experience for the entire cabin, aside from legroom (which you have to pay for).
Originally Posted by Altaflyer
I can see Oneworld being pretty desperate to have a partner covering Canada so I’m hoping Porter will be it. Their rapid expansion worries me though….it takes time to develop routes and during that time they will bleed cash.
I agree with you on the rapid expansion. I get this feeling that they are one major IRROPS event away from melting down and creating a lot of ill will. They don't have a lot of alternatives or redundancy in their route map.
I could see them trying to get into OneWorld eventually, but I think they'd have to abandon their pricing model and adopt something more conventional.