Porter Airways has been steadily increasing its footprint over the previous 12 months, rolling out new routes and forming strategic partnerships with each Air Transat and Alaska Airways.
As a part of this broader progress, VIPorter members can now redeem VIPorter factors for flights operated by these accomplice airways, unlocking extra alternatives for journey throughout North America, Europe, and past.
Whereas this can be a welcome improvement, this system remains to be evolving—and with that comes a number of quirks and unknowns.
On this information, we’ll stroll by way of the accomplice airways you may at present redeem VIPorter factors for, spotlight some instance redemptions, and talk about the strengths and rising pains of this new providing.
Which Airways Can You E book with VIPorter Factors?
With the brand new redemption choices, VIPorter factors are not confined to Porter-operated flights. You now have entry to partner-operated routes on each Air Transat and Alaska Airways.
That features worldwide leisure routes to Europe, the Caribbean, and choose locations in South America and North Africa with Air Transat, in addition to transborder and home US flights with Alaska Airways.
Porter advertises beginning redemptions from 9,500 factors for Alaska Airways flights, 21,500 factors for Air Transat flights to the Caribbean, and 25,000 factors for flights to Europe.
All bookings should be made by way of flyporter.com or through Porter’s contact centre.
How Do Associate Airline Redemptions with VIPorter Factors Work?
Porter hasn’t revealed an official award chart, however primarily based on present searches, redemptions seem to comply with a dynamic pricing mannequin with a decrease restrict. Whereas some redemptions supply stable worth, others seem much less compelling, as we’ll discover under.
There appears to be an absolute ground that redemptions don’t drop under (so-called “Beginning at” costs), although the complete pricing construction stays unclear as this system continues to evolve.
There are a number of restrictions travellers ought to pay attention to when trying to redeem VIPorter factors on accomplice flights.
Because it stands, Alaska Airways redemptions should embrace a Porter-operated leg; you can’t ebook a standalone Alaska Airways itinerary utilizing factors.
This reduces flexibility, particularly for travellers who solely desire a quick home hop inside the US.
Moreover, baggage guidelines depend upon which airline operates the primary flight. If the journey begins with Porter, their baggage coverage applies. If the itinerary begins with Alaska Airways, Alaska’s baggage guidelines will apply to the whole journey.
Availability on Air Transat seems broader however nonetheless inconsistent. Some routes don’t present up regardless of being out there for money buy.
Others are solely provided with additional Porter legs added, even when a continuous Air Transat flight is the extra logical possibility. These points could also be the results of system limitations or just early rising pains within the integration.
Whereas Porter’s phrases point out their baggage coverage on Customary fares ought to apply to Air Transat bookings so long as they’re booked on Porter’s web site, some travellers have reported seeing baggage charges at checkout, suggesting there could also be nuances in how baggage advantages are utilized when flying with companions.
It’s additionally value managing expectations for cabin class. Air Transat doesn’t function a conventional enterprise class cabin. Whereas it does supply a premium product known as Membership Class, it’s extra similar to a home premium financial system expertise than to long-haul lie-flat seats.
Which means these redemptions might not enchantment to travellers searching for high-end, aspirational flight experiences.
Examples VIPorter Redemptions with Associate Airways
Primarily based on dwell searches, listed below are some pattern redemptions at present out there on accomplice airways.
VIPorter Redemptions for Alaska Airways Flights
For Alaska Airways, travellers can ebook a Toronto (YYZ) – Vancouver (YVR) – Seattle (SEA) itinerary for 9,500 factors. Though Alaska operates a continuous flight between Toronto and Seattle, VIPorter requires a connecting Porter section, which means you’ll must route by way of cities like Vancouver (YVR) or Los Angeles (LAX).
The same itinerary from Hamilton (YHM) to Seattle (SEA) through Vancouver (YVR) additionally costs out at 9,500 factors, which is a helpful possibility for these primarily based in Hamilton who need to keep away from driving to Toronto Pearson.
Travelling from Montreal (YUL) to Los Angeles (LAX) through Toronto (YYZ) is on the market for 10,500 factors.
VIPorter Redemptions for Air Transat Flights
For Air Transat, a continuous flight from Toronto (YYZ) to London Gatwick (LGW) prices 25,000 factors.
Travellers departing from Thunder Bay (YQT) may redeem 30,500 factors to fly to London Gatwick (LGW), which is notable given the smaller origin metropolis.
Continuous flights to Paris (CDG) from both Toronto (YYZ) or Montreal (YUL) can be found at 25,000 factors.
Amsterdam (AMS) additionally costs at 25,000 factors from Toronto (YYZ), whereas a redemption from Toronto (YYZ) to Barcelona (BCN) through Montreal (YUL) is available in at 32,500 factors.
Toronto (YYZ) to Rome (FCO) is now additionally bookable—a route that wasn’t initially out there when accomplice redemptions first launched.
These examples fall broadly inside the marketed beginning factors vary. That stated, there are clear inconsistencies relating to availability.
Flights to the Caribbean and South America are both lacking solely or priced considerably larger than anticipated.
Searches for some cities, like Dublin and Marrakech, return error messages indicating {that a} accomplice airline isn’t out there. In a number of circumstances, itineraries that needs to be out there as continuous Air Transat flights are solely proven with a pressured Porter connection in Toronto or Montreal.
How May VIPorter Factors Change into Even Extra Priceless?
Now that VIPorter factors can be utilized for flights throughout North America and Europe, a pure subsequent step for Porter’s loyalty program can be including a transpacific airline accomplice.
This may assist shut a serious hole of their present redemption map and supply members extra long-haul worth.
For instance, partnering with a provider like T’manner Air, which not too long ago launched flights from Vancouver to Seoul, might supply an reasonably priced choice to East Asia.
One other risk may be Hong Kong Airways, which operates flights between Vancouver and Hong Kong. Both partnership might give VIPorter members entry to Asia utilizing factors—an amazing various, particularly for travellers in Western Canada.
Whereas nothing has been introduced but, including a transpacific accomplice can be a logical manner for Porter to spherical out its worldwide choices and make VIPorter a extra well-rounded loyalty program.
Enhance Your VIPorter Stability & Flight Expertise with a BMO Credit score Card
With the launch of the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* and the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®* , incomes VIPorter factors has by no means been extra accessible.
BMO VIPorter Credit score Playing cards
The BMO VIPorter World Elite® Mastercard®* earns 3 VIPorter factors per greenback spent on Porter purchases, and a pair of factors per greenback on eligible classes like fuel, transit, eating, groceries, and resorts.
Cardholders additionally obtain VIPorter Enterprise Avid Traveller standing, which comes with precedence check-in, early boarding, and a free carry-on and checked bag for the cardholder and as much as eight company on the identical reserving.
For many who don’t meet the earnings requirement for the World Elite card, the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®* affords a decrease annual charge and no minimal earnings requirement.
It earns 2 factors per greenback on Porter purchases and 1 level per greenback on different journey, eating, and grocery purchases.
This model comes with VIPorter Passport Avid Traveller standing and comparable entry to precedence companies.
Insurance coverage protection is one other profit. The BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* affords journey insurance coverage on award redemptions, so long as taxes and costs are charged to the cardboard.
Conclusion
The flexibility to redeem VIPorter factors on Air Transat and Alaska Airways provides significant flexibility to the loyalty program.
It opens up extra locations, notably throughout Europe and the US, and indicators Porter’s ongoing ambition to develop its community and loyalty enchantment.
That stated, the system isn’t good. Pressured connections, restricted accomplice availability, and obscure pricing guidelines present that there’s nonetheless work to be completed.
If these areas are improved, VIPorter might change into a extra compelling possibility for Canadian travellers searching for a broader—and probably extra worthwhile—vary of redemption alternatives.
